Juke: Nissan’s funky little extrovert

A MASCULINE, agile and dynamic design makes the 2016 Juke the most eye-catching compact crossover of the year.

You either like it or you hate it. That’s the typical reaction to the Juke, Nissan’s funky entry in the subcompact SUV sweepstakes starting next year.

Despite its flamboyant, defiantly different styling, the Juke has gained a niche following since it made its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. 

Nissan Motor’s intro of a Juke Nismo and a limited edition 600 hp GT-R Juke generated a lot of buzz among car enthusiasts.

The variant that will be offered by Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NPI) dealers beginning in January 2016 is more of a daily driver, manufactured in Japan.

Equipped with a 1.6-liter, inline 4 cylinder, 16-valve DOHC gasoline engine mated to a new generation Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), the Juke to be sold here produces 116 hp and 154 Newton-meters max torque.  It is a front-wheel-drive, 4×2 vehicle.

RAKED front pillars, a sloping rear roof line, a muscular lower body, 17-inch alloy wheels.

Naturally, the locally available Juke is quite different from the 215-hp, turbocharged Juke Nismo RS that I and other journalists covering the Nissan GTA Academy Asian Race Camp got to drive and drift at the Wet Grip skid pad of the Silverstone racing circuit in England last August.

Just the same, I enjoyed test-driving the demo unit that I persuaded NPI to lend me for four days before the Juke will begin to be sold next year.

Boomerang LED lamps

BOOMERANG LED combination lamps above the large round headlights

I think what sets the Juke apart from other subcompact crossovers are the boomerang LED lamps above its large, round headlights and the boomerang LED taillights at the back—not to mention its rakish front pillars, sloping rear roofline, 17-inch alloy wheels and embedded rear door handles that make the Juke look like a two-door sports coupe.

The Juke has an eye-catching profile, sporty stance and extrovert, fashion-forward styling.

Interior flair

VIEWED from the rear, unmistakably the Nissan Juke

The interior has a lot of hard plastic but I like the hooded gauges and the multicolor integrated control system touchscreen that allows you to select the drive mode (normal, sport and eco) and the interior temperature and airflow settings of the climate mode.

The 2 DIN display audio has six speakers.

The fabric-upholstered seats are supportive and well-bolstered at the front and back and the driver’s seat, which manually slides, reclines and lifts, and has a nice seating position.

Flat cargo room

LIKE the front seats, the back seat is well-bolstered and comfy.

Space is a bit tight in the back but the 60/40 split rear seat folds forward very easily to increase flat cargo room.

The ride quality is a bit firm, which is to be expected of a sporty crossover. Independent MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam axle at the rear constitute the suspension.

The 1.6-liter engine is not turbocharged as it is in other markets, but it delivers enough power to enable the Juke to perform nimbly in urban traffic. 

On the highway, it was able to hit 150 kph, although with some effort.

THE 60/40 split back seat folds down easily to increase flat cargo space.

Fuel economy is not the Juke’s best value, but that is counterbalanced by a nice array of safety features such as intelligent key, push button start/stop, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, dual front airbags, rear parking camera and cruise control.

Summing up, the Juke is a flashy, funky alternative to most other subcompact SUVs, perfect for those who want an agile little runabout that stands out in traffic.

What’s more, its retail price is less than a million bucks at only P980,000.