This baby was a trendsetter for compact crossovers, which is all the more surprising since the Nissan Juke has now begun to lag behind its competitors. The update brought changes that needed to be added to somehow catch up.
It seems like not so long ago that we met the second generation of the sensational crossover, which is constantly on everyone’s mind and lips. All classmates are still compared to it, and it is still taken into account when designing new models. And the Juke itself continues its streak of successful solutions. So the update didn’t impress us as much as we would have liked, and next to the modern and quite advanced Yaris Cross or Peugeot 2008, the Japanese compact is somehow lost. And we want to shout: add a little drive and brightness to remind us of your personality!
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Molecular changes
I love spending time with the Nissan Juke and remembering how it grew and matured. I remember very well the admiration it caused. Observers couldn’t help but smile when they saw it. It was a combination of bright colors, unusual shapes and a funky interior. But I also remember the cramped interior, the modest luggage space, and how difficult it was to get into the second row.
The kid’s enthusiasm lasted for 10 years, and the new one Nissan Juke is completely different. The new generation brought changes that made it less outrageous and larger, which contributed well to increasing its practicality and expanding its audience. At the time, I was impressed by the richness of the design and the wide range of equipment. It became much more pleasant for long-distance travel and city traffic.
The restyling should have added improvements. However, at first, it is impossible to see these changes without additional comparisons. If you have ever eaten molecular food, you will understand what we are talking about. You see a strange liquid, but it tastes like a familiar strudel, so it’s almost the same here, only the opposite — you know for sure that there are changes, but you’re trying to guess what they will look like.
I walked around it five times, even with the image of its predecessor, and noticed only superficial differences in minor details. Although, stop. There is a new package on offer. There was no such thing yet: black wheels, door side plates, a slightly different front cover. I look in the files — it’s true. The fresh maximum equipment is now called N-Sport, except for N-Design, as we had on the test, and Tekna.
The N-Sport is distinguished by a special interior with a colored insert on the dashboard and seats, black leather upholstery with special stitching, bucket seats, and black 19-inch wheels. And the price tag for this version is the highest at 1,253,120 hryvnias ($29,503), compared to the rather rich but simpler Tekna — a difference of 134,440 hryvnias, which is three thousand dollars. So you’ll have to pay more for a special design.
The same thing, only better
I am still amazed at how well and thoroughly the Nissan Jukeand in all trim levels. Now there is also a 12.3-inch screen in all trims, without exception, and a digital instrument panel of the same size is present from the second trim. Yes, it looks standard with traced colored instrument wells, but in the middle you can already select information from the on-board computer to your liking.
The central display with branded fonts is touch-sensitive, and some buttons are duplicated below it for quick access. It’s a handy thing, especially when you can turn on the surround view cameras as needed. You can also adjust the brightness here. And the smartphone connection via Apple CarPlay Android Auto is wireless in all configurations. But wireless charging will be available only in the maximum versions. That’s the update. Given that the standard navigation has long been without such functionality, you forget about it altogether. But in Nissan, it is not only Ukrainian-speaking, but also provides good directions. That is, if your smartphone is outdated.
The new screen looks better, of course, but I was happy with the old one. I don’t understand this race for large displays. You didn’t get in the car to watch a movie. And the cameras here are still outdated, so the image quality hasn’t improved. It seems to me that even the Qashqai has better cameras than this one. And I would like to have the quality of the Chinese. They have such a great view that you’ll get pumped up, and even at night you can see clearly.
I love the latest Nissan. You get into the cabin like a capsule of comfort. Well-thought-out ergonomics, pleasant materials wherever your hand touches or your eye falls. A minimum of excess, everything is minimalistic, but with a special style. Everywhere you can see design ideas, whether successful or not. There is a separate panel for the climate, which is a pleasant rarity in modern cars. And even though the seats do not have electronic adjustments everywhere, it is easy to get comfortable and there are enough settings for both the seat and the steering wheel.
The first generation was pleased with the release of driving versions of the Juke R, Nismo and Nismo RS. The GTR engine gave the small compact so much charisma that it spurred sales around the world of even the basic versions, but the Juke R was produced in a limited edition and then for special customers. The more practical version of the Nismo RS already had a 1.6 DiG-T with 214 hp paired with a variator. And now there is very little left of that, even less than before: a three-cylinder, one-liter DIG-T engine with 114 hp paired with a Getrag robot with two wet clutches and seven steps.
And although you don’t expect much from this pair, there is still a slight disappointment during sharp accelerations. Although, according to the manufacturer, there are small improvements to the robot’s algorithms. It seems to work faster in microparticles than before, and the shifts are softer and not so noticeable. I would like to see more work done on the vibrations from the engine. It lacks a balanced operation. Some three-cylinder units, like Suzuki, suffer from such errors, but Toyota was able to remove the misunderstanding, so it’s real.
What I miss here is the 1.6-liter engine paired with a variator. They worked better here than this set. Not to mention the powerful versions. But marketing and downshifting have played their part. Therefore, there are no other units for the compact, there is only the option of purchasing the basic configuration paired with a 6-speed manual.
According to marketers, these 114 hp with 200 Nm should be enough for a Nissan Juke driver. By the way, torque has increased here. By a small amount of 20 Nm, but still nice. And to be honest, most of those who choose a beetle for everyday will have enough of it. A woman who drives a car calmly in the city and monotonously drives on the highway — this is exactly the manner that marketers see. Moreover, at such a pace, fuel consumption is kept within a pleasant range, which does not exceed seven liters. If you try to squeeze a little more maneuverability out of the engine, your appetite will increase to nine liters.
It is also worth remembering that the practicality of a three-cylinder engine is not in its performance, but in its economy, which is not so much in fuel consumption as in maintenance. Changing oil and other liquids is more economical than in a four-cylinder engine, and the engine itself has already proven itself on the market and has been running without complaint for hundreds of thousands of kilometers.
A good list of security systems will be installed by default from the base, and this is the minimum set for today. The maximum trim will only offer additional surround view cameras, which is a little bit different from what you expect both in terms of quality and visibility. So it’s just nice that they are on the list. In general, there are many nuances in the operation of these security systems.
It seems that the Juke has had a rest, or simply forgotten about it. In the Nissan Qashqai, everything worked so well, from adaptive cruise to the usual warning about the car behind, that you are simply disappointed. The lane departure warning system is annoying, and it doesn’t keep you in the lane. There is no adaptive cruise — only the usual one with a speed limiter. Only the warning of cross traffic behind and the presence of obstacles in blind spots works well.
What to expect from Nissan Juke and it’s not worth it. So it’s better suited for those who don’t really like all those annoying active assistants because most competitors like Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Venue Peugeot 2008 have them by default. Maybe the only one worse in this regard is Skoda Kamiq because there it is only an additional option that everyone can choose if they wish.
Conclusions and positioning
Nissan Juke — is still one of the most desirable and perhaps the most popular in the compact segment. It has not lost its style, but has only become more pleasant and comfortable. Perhaps it’s already a preference for practicality more than style, which is sad. The whole charm of the «Zhuk» was precisely in its non-standardization. Such a bold step has encouraged many importers to be more attentive and bold in their approach to appearance and design.
Having set the trend, it is necessary to maintain it, and now even Toyota offers an equally interesting product that is superior in terms of drive, fuel consumption and richness of equipment, but also costs more. The equally eccentric, and perhaps even more stylish, Peugeot 2008 offers even more comfort, several engines to choose from, a reliable and much more agile automatic transmission. It also offers a pleasant driving experience with low fuel consumption.
Today, every brand offers compact crossovers in its model lineup, and it’s not easy to stand out among them, even for a trendsetter. Its advantages are still a big name, recognizable features, and time-tested reliability. With a price tag starting at 923,800 hryvnias ($21,206), the baby has every chance of gaining a larger share of fans, those who need a good companion for every day. And when they add hybrid versions to choose from, that’s it, it will definitely overtake the competition.
PROS: compactness, handling, comfort, suspension.
CONS: sluggish operation of the box, too much noise and vibrations from the engine, annoying algorithms of the security systems.
Technical characteristics of the Nissan Juke 1.0 DIG-T 7DCT N-Design
| Body, type | SUV |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4210x1827x1593 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2 636 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm | 172 |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 4221340 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1268 |
| Engine | R3 turbo boost |
| Working volume, cubic cm | 999 |
| Power, hp. | 114 (84) |
| Torque, Nm | 200 |
| Type of drive | Front |
| Suspension in front of. | Macpherson racks, stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam with stabilizers |
| CHECKPOINT | 7CVT |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 11,8 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 180 |
| Fuel consumption, l (mixed) | 7,5 |
| Cost, UAH | From 923 800 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 1 253 120 |
| Competitors | Toyota Yaris Cross |
| Peugeot 2008 | |
| Skoda Kamiq | |
| Hyundai Venue | |
| Kia Stonic |
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