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The Juke is a hatchback crossover built on the Nissan B-platform already shared by the Sentra, Versa, Cube and Leaf. In terms of dimensions, the Juke flaunts the same wheelbase as the Cube but is around 14 cm longer. The Juke is offered in SV and SL trims, with two- and all-wheel drive available for both. The powerplant is a 1.6-litre direct-injected turbocharged 4-cylinder.

Interior and cargo area
Front access is easy as long as you’re mindful of the rather wide doorsills and the dirt they accumulate. The front seats prove very comfortable, despite the absence of lumbar adjustment, and the driving position is very good, even though the steering column is tilt only. Only very tall people will find fault with head- and legroom.

In the back, the narrow door openings make entry and exit difficult. The bench seat is relatively comfortable, for two adults of average height or less; headroom and legroom are limited for taller people. The 60/40-split seatback folds nearly flat to the floor.

The cargo area is unimpressive, especially since ceiling height gradually diminishes front to rear. Space measures 66 cm behind the rear seatback and 144 cm behind the front seats when they’re adjusted for tall people. Width is 89 cm and height, 66.5 cm. The rear hatch lifts fairly high, but the floor and sill are high, too.

Convenience and safety features
Though cabin finish is good, the dashboard in our test vehicle creaked loudly and frequently. The quality of materials is good, with the exception of the cheap-looking plastics. Soundproofing could be better against road noise. It’s fortunate the glove compartment is large, because the total capacity of the other storage spaces leaves much to be desired. Gauges and controls are well located, with the exception of the AWD and stability control buttons. Placed low on the dashboard, left of the steering wheel, they are difficult to reach. The heating system is efficient.

The washer nozzles placed under the edge of the hood can easily be blocked by snow. Since the wipers cannot be lifted up off the windshield because of the shape of the hood, Nissan has added a rather clever function: after switching off the engine, you can position the wipers vertically simply by pressing down on the wiper lever, to make it easier to remove snow from the base of the windshield. It’s a nice feature, as long as you remember to use it. In the middle of the dashboard is a screen flanked by the controls to adjust the air conditioner and the management system for certain mechanical components, and to obtain a read-out from the on-board computer. This system is easy to use but can be a distraction for the driver. We noted that the automatic door-lock system can’t be cancelled and only unlocks automatically when the engine is switched off. It’s annoying; Nissan should allow the operator to deactivate the system.

Safety equipment includes six airbags (dual front, side and side curtain), four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assist, stability control, and four head restraints. The rear head restraints do not adjust high enough for tall people. The view is good in all directions, except on a three-quarter-rear angle and towards the rear, because of the shallow, narrow rear window. The front side windows quickly become very dirty vis-à-vis the outside mirrors, which hampers visibility. In the high-beam position, the headlights lack intensity and the light path is too high.

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