By Paul Gover.
The new Nissan Juke is way better than expected.
The original Juke, which drove away from the small SUV scene with bug-eyed styling on the nose and the promise of sports car handling, was a failure.
This time around, Nissan has done everything better on the Juke to create a car that is worth more than a second look.
It’s bigger, more refined, has 5-star safety with the latest gadgets, and even picks up an infotainment system that ticks the right boxes.
The new Juke still steps away from the SUV pack on styling, but that’s not a bad thing with so many baby boxes on the road.
Power for the newcomer is completely new, with a three-cylinder turbo engine feeding a six-speed DCT gearbox and the front wheels. It’s definitely not a firebrand, but gets the job done unless you’re looking for strong thrust for freeway passing. Fuel economy is very good, in the 6 litres/100km range with a light foot.
Overall, the driveline makes the Juke far more refined in 2020 and it’s a similar story with the suspension.
Juke I was rough and bouncy, pretending to be sporty, but this time with Juke II there is far more compliance and comfort. It still has big alloy wheels for a sporty look but it can handle speed humps and lumpy country roads without annoying the driver and passengers.
It’s still not the biggest in class, but now has reasonable space in the back seat and enough room in the boot for family work.
Comfort is also improved, in everything from the improved ride to lower freeway noise levels and seats which feel to have more support. The infotainment screen is big and clear and mirroring through Apple CarPlay works well.
The safety package is good, although there was one time when the auto safety braking went crazy through a dip on the exit of a service station. He decided we were in danger, jammed on the brakes and then refused to move until I got very heavy on the accelerator pedal.
So there is still work to be done on the safety side.
The Juke still has stand-out looks that set it apart, but the baby SUV class is now more competitive than ever and that means the Juke is unlikely to get the showroom support it – now – deserves.
THE BASICS
Nissan Juke
Price: from $27,990
Power: 85W/180Nm
Transmission: 7-speed DCT, front-wheel drive
Position: hot hatch with a twist
Plus: bigger, safer, better
Minus: tainted name
THE TICK: at last
Score: 7/10
