Vehicle Detail

The Nissan Juke was a pioneer when it launched nine years ago. It packed the attitude and altitude of a crossover, and out-there styling, all shrunk into a supermini’s length span. It sold like crazy from the start to the end of its life. Here’s the new one. Different in very many ways, but the spirit is supposed to remain.

OK, what was the first Juke’s spirit? It was about style, and it was impractical without being sporty. A latter-day Ford Capri 1300.

In the years after its arrival, most manufacturers launched small crossovers and we lazily called them ‘Juke rivals’ because the Juke had been about the first. But they weren’t rivals because they weren’t as useless. You could swing a cat in them. Not like the first Juke. Its driving position was hunched, its back seat cramped and dark, and its boot little more than a rear-mounted glovebox.

The new one is much bigger inside. Grown-ups can fit in the back. The boot is bigger, and you get to it via a decent-size hatch aperture.

Nissan could have chosen to achieve this the lazy way: make the Juke much bigger and boxier. Like its so-called rivals. Trouble is that would have made it heavier and less city-friendly. Admirably, Nissan didn’t; the increase in length is actually rather smaller than the 10cm growth in wheelbase. So it’s still short enough to be easily parked. And it’s lighter.

The new dimensions shove the wheels further to the corners, an effect boosted by their hugeness. The upper specs have 19s as standard. The designers love that, but from a dynamic point of view it’s bogus. Have a look through the spokes. If you only need that little brake, you don’t need this much tyre.

The design is modernised and takes advantage of the stronger stance, yet has lost none of the sheer chutzpah of the old one. The front still has those big round eyes, but their lighting function is no longer circular, rather a trefoil LED. A giant arrowhead is imprinted into the front doorskin. The roof, contrast-toned if you choose, has a channel stamped down the centre. Rear door-handles are tucked behind the windows. The back numberplate and badge live in a huge hexagonal plinth. Yet this craziness does somehow cohere.

Under it all the Juke shares much with the Micra and Renault Clio, but is built in Sunderland. The only engine is a three-cylinder petrol, the only driven wheels the fronts. It’s an essentially flippant car, so it doesn’t bother with diesel or 4WD. There’s no longer this gooey CVT, the auto option being a DCT.

Nissan talks of better refinement, cabin quality and tech too. Let’s see.

NISSAN Juke 1.0T 117 PS Energy

Verdict

It’s thanks to the commercial success of the original Nissan Juke that the market segment known to some as B-SUV (‘B’ being the prefix traditionally used to identify superminis) exists at all; and, arguably, also that the compact crossover hatchback has become Europe’s biggest automotive market growth area. Proof the engine downsizing isn't necessarily the way forward unless pottering is your way forward, and hardly the last word in handling, the Juke offers significantly improved interior design, accommodation and infotainment countered by corporate styling, lacklustre performance and un-engaging dynamics.

Interior & Practicality

7.6

Running costs

7.8

Performance & drive

6.7

Feelgood factor

6.4

Safety

8.1

Reader Rating1 Vote

7.8

Pros

Distinctive looks, rich interior, undemanding to drive

Apparently finely honed, moderately sporty ride and handling Much improved practicality and ergonomic layout Retention of distinctive looks

Cons

Hatches ride and handle better

Performance is a little weak and the engine response can be found wanting Perceived cabin quality isn’t consistently high Mechanical and rolling refinement could be better

7.3

Wildcard