Drive with us: Nissan Juke Review

Is the Nissan Juke worth considering as your next compact SUV lease?

The Nissan Juke is infamous for being one of those 'marmite' cars, with the phrase 'love it or hate it' being thrown around about what was a notoriously quirky design that pleased some, and repelled others.

This new generation has caused quite a stir because a design that was once called ‘marmite’ has suddenly become ‘a bit of alright’. 

Nissan claim this re-shape has also led to improved aerodynamics and less road noise. It's also seemingly become the inspiration for the recently revealed next-generation Nissan Qashqai. And if Nissan are prepared to make the best-selling Qashqai copy its looks, they must believe it's a winner. Let's take a closer look. 

Design

If we were to pick one word to describe the old shape Nissan Juke, it would be 'bulbous'. A narrow grille ran the width of the front, indented by circular headlights with angular indicators sitting seemingly on top of the bonnet. Round and pronounced wheel arches combined with a striking flank made for an overall design that was undeniably eye-catching, for the right or the wrong reasons, we’ll leave you to decide.

While this new Nissan Juke doesn’t exactly shrink into the background, it’s certainly toned down some of its lesser liked features to create a compact SUV that is still striking, though now much more refined.

Sleeker indicators now sit lower and blend almost seamlessly into a wider, more aggressive-looking grille. Fans of the rounded headlights need not worry, they still feature, though are slightly less pronounced.

The rear of the car has also had an upgrade, with those wheel arches becoming slightly less pronounced and the entire back end becoming more angular and robust, with all models benefiting from a sporty rear spoiler as well black painted mirrors. 

Model Lines

There are six variants to choose from when it comes to the Nissan Juke range. Spanning from the entry-level Visia to the range-topping Tekna+. While entry-level models are quite basic, the Juke can be kitted out to include some nice features that are both practical and stylish. Here’s an overview of the models and their features…

Visia

• Rear Spoiler
• Mirrors in Pearl Black
• Welcome Light & Console Tray Ambient Lighting
• Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian & Cyclist Recognition*
• Lane Departure Warning*
• Intelligent Lane Intervention*
• High Beam Assist*
• Traffic Sign Recognition*
• Two rear ISOFIX childseat anchorage points with "Top tether"
• 4.2" full-colour TFT screen combi meter
• Cruise Control & Speed Limiter
• Front and rear electric windows with One Touch Driver window
• Idle Stop/Start System
• Manual air conditioning
• LED headlamps, rear lamps, Daytime Running Lights and rear fog lamps

Acenta (In addition/replacement to Visia)

• Body-coloured door handles
• Driver and passenger sun visor with vanity mirrors
• Interior Chrome door handles
• High Beam Assist*
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• ABS with EBD and Brake Assist
• NissanConnect 8" Touchscreen Entertainment System* with Apple CarPlay® + Google Android Auto®
• WiFi and Voice Recognition
• NissanConnect Services
• Rear View Camera
• Steering wheel mounted Gearshift Paddles (DCT transmission only)

N-Connecta (In addition/replacement to Acenta)

• Shark Fin antenna Pearl Black
• Rear privacy glass
• 3 adjustable rear head restraints
• Grab handles passenger & rear
• Rear Coat hanger (Driver side)
• Front Armrest
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Leather Shift Knob
• Cardholder on Driver Sun Visor
• Syntech Leather Knee Pad
• 6 speakers
• 7" full-colour TFT screen combi meter
• NissanConnect navigation with TomTom Traffic
• Rear console USB port
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Luggage Board
• Heated & Auto-folding mirrors
• Intelligent Key and Start push button
• Electric hand brake with Auto Hold Function
• Drive Modes (Sport, Normal, Eco)
• Automatic Climate Control
• Rain sensing wipers
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

Enigma (In addition/replacement to N-Connecta)

• Textured stickers on door mirrors and roof
• Electrically adjustable Door Mirrors with integrated indicators
• Heated & Auto-folding mirrors
• 19" Black Akari alloy wheels
• Metallic Paint

*Model lines and prices correct at the time of publication

Tekna (In addition/replacement to Enigma)

• Gear Console Ambient Circle Lighting
• Door Ambient Lighting
• Driver Seat Back Pockets
• Passenger Seat Back Pockets
• Intelligent Around View Monitor (360° colour camera)*
• Intelligent Cruise Control*
• Intelligent Driver Alertness*
• Blind Spot Intervention*
• Rear Cross-Traffic alert*
• Traffic Jam Pilot* (DCT transmission only)
• Moving Object Detection*
• 8 Bose® Speakers: 4 speakers and 2 headrest speakers for Driver & Passenger seats
• Bose® Personal® Sound stage controls
• Heated Front seats
• ThermaClear® heated windscreen

Tekna+ (In addition/replacement to Tekna)

• Two-tone Metallic Paint
• Exterior personalisation pack: Fuji Sunset Red, Pearl Black or Blade Silver inserts on the front bumper, rear bumper and side skirts
• Interior personalisation pack: Enigma Black, Energy Orange or Light Grey
• Satin silver front bumper finisher

Engines and Drive

Depending on the model line you go for, the new Juke is available with a 1 litre, 114 PS petrol engine with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic gearbox.

Though this may not sound particularly exciting, we were pretty pleased with this Juke's performance. It felt reasonably punchy off the mark and eager to go well on the motorway.

The steering was a little bit light and flighty, and we’d argue that a bit of weight behind the steering would help create a drive that felt more like you’d expect to find in the BMW X1. Although it fell short of the beloved BMW driving experience, it will certainly please most.

Nissan claim to have reduced road noise in this latest generation Juke, however, we found it was still a little noisy – though that was easily aided by the premium Bose sound system that plays directly from the front seat headrests!

A random observation, but when the lane departure warning was activated, the warning was like an Xbox controller when your character dies in a game combined with the weird fuzzy blinking sound you’d get from an old warehouse strip light. If you know what I mean?

Technology

You’ll need to upgrade through the range if you want to experience the best of the infotainment system on offer in the Nissan Juke. And whilst this Tekna+ model had all the bells and whistles; the entry-level models are somewhat lacking. The Visia and Acenta models only offer a 4.2” touchscreen, though the Acenta does get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, with N-Connecta models getting the larger 7” touchscreen.

The driver's display is nothing to write home about in terms of form, especially if compared to that in range-topping Skoda Kamiq models, but the function is good and has some easy-to-navigate steering wheel controls. 

You can upgrade through the range to access features like a really nice 360-degree camera or heated front seats. As a higher spec model, this car also had dual-zone auto climate control and a 12v socket and USB ports in the front and the back for passengers.

In terms of safety, entry-level models get Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, Cruise Control and a Speed Limiter as standard, and the Juke itself received a five-star euro NCAP rating.

Tekna and Tekna+ models also get the Advanced Safety Shield Pack, which includes: Intelligent Driver Alertness, Blind Spot Intervention, Lane Keep Assist and Moving Object Detection and a few other features.

Space and Practicality

First things first, the new Juke is wonderfully comfortable. The new seats are not just aesthetically pleasing but provide a good amount of support for the legs and back. Things in the rear, however, are a little more cramped, and there doesn’t seem to be a great amount of head or leg room if you’re anything over the 5ft 10'' mark. 

There is 422L available in the Juke's boot, although Nissan do note that this is without the spare wheel being considered (this car didn’t have one). This is just short of the space in the Volkswagen T-Cross or a Renault Captur, with the latter also benefiting from that adjustable rear bench. Fold the seats down in their 60:40 configuration and the space becomes 1300L.

In terms of drive, the Juke is agile enough and its compact nature works in its favour when it comes to town driving and tighter parking spots. Though it gets sensors as standard, the visibility even without the help of these is good and manoeuvring is relatively stress-free.

There are pros and cons when it comes to choosing the Juke as your next lease vehicle, with the choice needing to be made between its compact size and practicality for its passengers. Other little missing touches include no USB port in the armrest, and cup holders seem a bit too large – smaller cups run the risk of toppling over.

Verdict

Well, this Juke is certainly leaps and bounds better than the older model, though some finishes from the old shape remain present within the cabin. Entry-level models are a bit sparse and whilst the higher specs can be expensive, they do offer the best in terms of kit. A Mazda CX-30 lease might offer more kit at entry-level but does lack the unique design that the Juke has kept an essence of. 

The Juke is certainly punchy enough on the road, leaving little to be desired in terms of everyday driving performance. The fuel economy is good, and overall we think this would be an affordable compact SUV to run day-to-day.

Prices for the new Juke can start from £18,500 and rise to £25,000 for the range-topping spec, but a Nissan Juke lease is a much more affordable way of financing your new car. 

If you like what you have seen of the Juke or any of the other models mentioned in this review, you can check out our latest personal lease deals or get in touch with one of our leasing experts.

Watch our Nissan Juke video review