Al Beeber
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Somebody at Nissan must have a good sense of humour which can be the only reason behind the design of the Juke.
What exactly the Juke is certainly could be debated for hours. With compact dimensions and available all-wheel-drive, it could be considered a small crossover. With a snorty turbocharged 188-horsepower 1.6-litre engine under the hood, it could be viewed as a four-door sports car.
With its imaginative visage and futuristic hatchback design, the Juke is in a category all its own. In any crowd, the 2012 Nissan Juke will be a stand-out.
And there are several reasons — all good — why. One is the styling. However one looks at it, the Juke is stunning. When parked, the Juke looks like it is ready to pounce — a high-strung aura that reflects its performance. It looks young, fresh and full of vitality.
One reviewer suggested the Juke has the handling of a slot-car, a good description. But I would go further by saying this Nissan is an adult-sized slot-car designed for high-speed fun.
That premium-sipping direct injection engine is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission which is standard in front-wheel-drive models or a continuously variable transmission which is the only drivetrain offered in all-wheel-drive Jukes.
This week's tester is a fully loaded SL AWD priced at $30,973.
For that money, a buyer gets a Juke with leather-trimmed interior including heated front seats; power everything; Rockford Fosgate audio system with eight-inch subwoofer and amplifier XM Satellite radio, MP3/WMA CD player, and USB port; speed-sensitive volume control and redundant steering-wheel audio controls; a navigation system with five-inch colour touch screen; Bluetooth; automatic climate control; push-button starter; power sunroof; and foglights.
The Juke rides on 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels and has four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist.
One truly cool feature of the Juke is its I-Con system which features three settings — Normal, Sport and Eco — so owners can select their own driving style by pressing a big D-Mode button. This system will show the vehicle's ongoing performance on a display. At the touch of the Climate button, operators will see the heating and air conditioning settings. I-Con also provides information on average fuel economy, G-force and trip distance.
The CVT has a Sport mode which allows manual shifting, giving buyers the best of two worlds.
The nav system is easy to use and features a rearview camera for easing the Juke into parking spots. The audio system controls flank the nav unit and are within easy reach of the driver.
The Juke's cabin in an intimate one. Front passengers have plenty of space for heads, shoulders and legs but the design and size of the Juke impact rear space. The sloping ceiling will be noticed by taller passengers and the 32.1 inches of rear legroom will be most appreciated by smaller people.
With the split folding rear seat up, the Juke has only 10.5 cubic feet of storage space. With it folded down, that space increases to 35.9 which is still modest.
But clearly the Juke isn't designed to be a family hauler. This is a sports car with all-wheel-drive, an elevated seating position and enough space for a couple of suitcases.
Even without a centre armrest, the Juke's driver's seat is one I could spend all day in. The leather seat is nicely bolstered and exceptionally comfortable. While the steering wheel doesn't telescope, I had no problem finding a comfortable driving position. As for my right hand, I rested it on the emergency brake lever.
From the driver's seat, the Juke's styling is readily apparent thanks to the flared edges of the hood where the dragon's eye-ish headlights reside.
The engine is quiet at idle and even when the gas pedal is mashed, still remains subdued. While fuel economy is rated at an impressive 35 mpg city and 43 mpg highway for the AWD Juke, I suspect driving enthusiasts will be going through more fuel when they leave the Sport setting on. This setting encourages more aggressive driving and it is my choice after experimenting with all three settings.
While Normal provides balanced performance, in Sport the throttle is tuned for quicker responses and the CVT adapted for quicker shifts. Eco mode will be ideal for long stretches of leisurely highway cruising. This setting dampens performance considerably to stretch the most out of the fuel tank.
Nimble and quick, the Juke has razor-sharp handling. This is a vehicle a driver will want to take down the Rogers Pass or on other winding mountain roads where it's sporting inclinations will really shine.
With a tight turning radius and smallish dimensions, the Juke is also a fantastic urban runabout.
As long carrying lots of cargo or taller passengers on the backseat aren't priorities, the Juke is a refreshing alternative to any other small hauler on the road.
It's fun, stylish and affordable — which is a winning recipe, if there ever was one.