A GRANDER JUKE
A raft of tech upgrades allows Nissan’s junior SUV to mix it with the grown-ups
Nissan knows how to sell softroaders. Its X-Trail is the top-selling SUV in the world, while the smaller Qashqai is a big hit in Europe.
Unfortunately, their funky stablemate, the Juke, missed the mark in Australia.
Launched in 2013, three years after its global debut, the baby SUV has never challenged rivals such as the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V.
That could be all about to change, as the new Juke is bigger and better equipped to turn heads in this growing segment.
It retains its cartoon-like exterior styling but has a more grown up look and feel.
“Based on the fact that this vehicle is bigger, better and bolder than the first generation Juke we have very high expectations,” says Nissan managing director Stephen Lester.
He admits the previous Juke was showing its age, but claims the new model addresses any shortcomings.
“It’s a really good offering that from our standpoint encapsulates the best parts of the light and small SUV segments, where people may want a little bit of extra room but they may still want a small package and not grow up into something considerably larger,” he says.
He says the Juke will speak to a “very broad consumer base”. “You get second car households, you get downsizers and you also get entry buyers,” he says.
Competitors in the crosshairs include the Mazda CX-3 and CX-30, Toyota’s C-HR and Hyundai’s Kona.
Powered by a turbocharged three-cylinder engine matched to a dual-clutch auto, the lightweight Juke delivers lively performance around town combined with impressive fuel economy. But the big news is the car’s armoury of standard driver assistance technology, certain to appeal to first car buyers — and perhaps their nervous parents.
Even the cheapest Juke has safety tech you have to pay for on German prestige cars. For $27,990 plus on-roads ($30,490 drive-away), the Juke ST will automatically slam on the brakes if it senses a collision with another car, a pedestrian or a cyclist. It will brake a wheel to keep you in your lane if it senses you are drifting out, check your blind-spot, read traffic signs and check for cars when you’re backing out of a driveway or parking spot. Independent crash test body ANCAP awarded it five stars.
Spend more on the $33,940 ST-L — which Nissan predicts will make up 50 per cent of sales — and its 360-degree parking camera will detect objects potentially moving into your path. On the freeway, it will keep a safe distance between you and the car in front.
In a sign of these increasingly techconscious times, the headline act on the topspec TI (at $36,490) is a set of Bose speakers embedded in the front head rests to deliver a more “immersive” audio experience.
The new Juke is longer, wider and taller than before and Nissan says there are notable improvements in knee and head room for rear passengers. Designers have also made the rear door openings wider, while the rear load lip is lower, creating more cargo space. With a load area of 422 litres, the Juke has one of the biggest boots in the class.
Nissan claims the new body is lighter and
stiffer than before, with thicker acoustic insulation to make the car more composed and the cabin quieter at freeway speeds.
The outputs of the three-cylinder are almost identical to Toyota’s C-HR at 84kW and 180Nm, although the Juke is noticeably lighter. The maker has moved away from the continuously variable automatic transmission on its predecessor to a dual-clutch arrangement designed to give a sportier driving feel. To reinforce that, there are paddle shifters to change gears manually.
The base model ST comes with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 4.2-inch digital readout in front of the driver. For roughly $3000 more the ST+ has satnav, front parking sensors, heated front seats and LED fog lights.
Step up to the ST-L and you get bigger 19inch alloys, ambient lighting in the cabin, partial leather trim, an electric park brake, a larger display in front of the driver and an extra USB outlet for the back seats. Both the ST-L and more expensive TI have the ability to switch drive modes between eco, standard and sport settings. In sport mode, throttle response is sharper, gear shifts are quicker and weight is added to the steering. In Eco mode, responses are dulled for maximum efficiency, while the stop-start feature kicks in more often and the aircon performance is lowered.
The top-of-the-range TI offers leather and alcantara seats, more soft-touch materials in the cabin, different alloys, tyre-pressure monitoring and illuminated Juke logos on the door sills.
The get-in price is exactly the same as the new Volkswagen T-Cross and slightly cheaper than the Mazda CX-3.
ON THE ROAD
The first thing you notice about the new Juke is that it feels more solid and capable all-round. On the freeway, it cruises quietly and feels stable, the little three-cylinder humming along without too much noise intruding into the cabin. Around town, the turbo takes a little time to wind up — and there’s the odd hesitation from the auto when you floor the throttle — but it’s punchy enough for city work.
Real world fuel economy is impressive — we used roughly 6.5 litres per 100km in a mix of city and freeway driving, not far off the official claim.
Through the corners, the Juke feels poised and predictable. It copes with bumps and uneven surfaces well, staying planted when asked to brake or change direction.
The ride is comfortable for a car its size, but it can get a little jiggly on rougher roads, while the steering could do with a little more feel. Overall, though, it’s a pleasant driving experience.
Nissan has really lifted its game in the cabin. The front seats give plenty of support and the cabin surfaces have a quality feel, especially as
you move up through the grades. The infotainment system is easy to navigate and the top-of-the-range Bose audio delivers a fantastic live sound.
There’s ample head room up front, while rear passengers have above average knee-room and the load area is generous. The only complaint from a driver’s perspective is that vision isn’t great over the shoulder.
VERDICT
The new Juke is a big step forward for Nissan. It’s well equipped, roomy for its class and a solid performer on the road.