Nissan Juke
A statement first, a car second
ANY visitor to Japan who could manage to look past the antiseptic streets, gaily lights, Uniqlo shops or ramen stalls should be able to notice the country’s bizarre cars, many of which are tiny and toy-like. A lot of such cars are not meant to be sold elsewhere, and so do not have to conform to stifling global regulations, or to merely appeal to the aesthetic tastes of the gaijin. The Nissan Juke, with its odd styling, seemed destined to remain in its home country ( however it may have been primed for sales overseas). But it slipped past the norm and ended in markets across the planet, where its looks and function somehow won consumers’ hearts.
Though the Juke first appeared in 2010, its face-lifted version (done in 2014) only reached local Nissan showrooms in early 2016. In a year on the market the model has proven to be a steady seller with deliveries of 2,417 units, comprising 14% of Nissan Philippines, Inc.’s total sales in 2016. It’s easy to see why this is so.
There’s its pricing, for starters — it slots a hair below the P1-million mark. For this price the Juke, which as a subcompact crossover is basically a small hatchback on stilts, offers the practicality of better ground clearance and taller tires on top of adequate cabin space for which subcompact hatchbacks are known. So for people concerned about things like bad pavement and flash floods, the Juke seems like a better proposition. Its price (the fancier N- Style trim costs more) also puts the Juke below compact crossover
SUVs, which are only marginally bigger but are more expensive.
Despite this the Juke does not scrimp on amenities. Its audio has the requisite large touch screen panel and cross-platform connectivity via Bluetooth. It also packs a smart entry system with push-button engine start/ stop, automatic climate control and a 12-volt socket. And then there’s the Nissan I-CON device that throws together the driving mode selector ( economy, normal, sport), cabin temperature settings and multi-information display. All functions are easily decipherable, with legible visuals and blessed with actual, physical buttons.
As a subcompact the Juke is passably spacious inside, able to seat four comfortably, five a tad intimately — obviously the case for the trio in the rear. But legroom is not an issue in front, and may only become an annoyance in the back if the pair in front is inconsiderate. The front seat, according to a passenger who normally does not notice things related to cars, hugs one’s body excellently — a huge compliment, then. Aft of the seats, cargo space is reasonable.
In contrast to an extravagantly styled exterior, the Juke’s cabin is sedate. The fabric on which people sit is thankfully plain and black. Other panels, mostly in black, are brightened up in places by silver trim. The plastic covering the dashboard and other surfaces may not be mistaken for anything other than plastic, but it seems durable enough. In the past I have owned a succession of Nissan Sentras, B12 - B14, and though the cabin material in those cars looked cheap it’s worth noting that nothing did break. This could be an indicator of how the Juke’s cabin will weather the years.
With a 1.6- liter engine the Juke is peppy enough, a surprise considering it’s a CVT — which are notoriously sluggish — that sends the power to a front wheel. The CVT itself shifts smoothly, and is relatively quick to respond. Combine this with the car’s compact acreage and the higher- than- average driver’s perch, and the Juke becomes quite a handy tool on the slog to the office.
That same height advantage comes at a price though. When the road frees up to allow for a bit of spirited driving, the Juke can feel wobbly during moderately fast cornering. Maybe the tires can be faulted here, although at 215/55 they are not exactly tall enough to flex that much. Whatever the case, hustling a Juke around a bend is a little too exciting.
Insulation is also not a strong suit of the Juke, and it does not help that its engine note sounds gruff. The car could definitely improve on its noise, vibration and harshness levels, which, frankly, show the Juke was first built back in 2010.
Call it cute, call it weird, but what the Juke really is a lifestyle statement first, a mode of transport second. If it appeals to you, its shortcomings won’t matter. —