Nissan Juke Facelift: It’s about inner values

This is how the new Nissan Juke drives

For our first test drive, we grabbed a complete hybrid with excellent energy management, which can now be combined with any of the five equipment lines, starting at 29,490 euros with an automatic switch. But the thing with the so-called multimodal transmission in the hybrid is more complicated, because it provides four gears for the gasoline engine and two gears for the electric motor. In addition, the car sometimes drives a hybrid in parallel (both engines with a direct connection to the wheels), sometimes in series (drive the car through an electric motor; the combustion engine retains the role of an electric generator). But you don’t notice anything about it because the software decides when the driver mode is best or best suited to the current performance needs. Less than five liters of the first gasoline should be enough for 100 kilometers – on our first trip, a quick introduction was more than six liters according to the on-board computer.

Plug-in hybrid – just fill up with fuel and drive off

Of course you can also do without the buzzing four-cylinder by pressing the EV button on the center console – if the small 1.2 kWh battery is sufficiently charged. This is not done with a cable and plug, but with a combustion engine and energy recovery in coast mode. This is where the so-called electronic pedal comes into play, where the electric motor acts as a generator as soon as you lift the accelerator pedal. The Juke then slows down more than is possible with the torque of the petrol engine, and even switches on the brake lights.

Not a fun lover, but not a proven corner artist either

Although Nissan has always positioned the Juke as a sports crossover, the short five-door model of 4.21 meters is not a very good car – especially not with a hybrid car, which weighs almost 70 kg. With its power support it starts well from a standstill, but during regular intermediate sprints it takes a lot of time to sort out the drives and their gears. It often sways like an invisible accessory, but sometimes it plays its role with a frontal sound: the four-cylinder one-sixth engine, which sounds noisy at high speeds. Juke is also not a proven artist, but he does it well and safely, clearly declares his limits and supports ESP at an early stage.

Because Nissan hasn’t changed anything in the chassis or suspension set-up, suspension comfort is average for a small car class, although a slightly heavier hybrid is good.

Juke in detail

Midway through its life cycle, the Japanese automaker revamped the compact coupé crossover. What catches the eye is the striking Iconic Yellow paint (at an extra charge), which the Japanese are bringing back to the Juke range. In addition, white and black metallic colors are also added to the new mix. In contrast to the yellow color, the roof, exterior mirrors, wheel arches, radiator grille and A and B pillars are black.

We have deleted the entry line Visia (previously at 20,790 euros), now Juke and Acenta start at at least 24,790 euros. For a facelift, an N-Sport equipment variant has been added to the Juke range. It has matching color accents in the interior to match the yellow exterior: a yellow stripe runs around the instrument cluster and multimedia screen. The N-Sport also offers padded sports seats with Alcantara inserts and contrast yellow stitching, as well as Juke lettering emblazoned on the seat backs at shoulder height. Nissan insists that all interior materials are made from animal-free materials.

Cockpit with more comfort

The focus of the model modification was clear on the interior. The center console and instrument panel have been redesigned to increase comfort. New materials and coatings as well as revised equipment also contribute to this. A large touch screen and additional functions also improve connectivity. The touchscreen now has a faster processor, so most apps are faster than ever. The Good: Direct selection buttons and a volume rocker for the Bose sound system installed in the test car on a bar located below the screen. Also nice: direct selection touch points on the left side so you can quickly switch between radio, smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto), navigation system or main menu. Also good: large enough tiles to control. Not so good: The fact that the navigation system lags behind the current position in places.

Also new is the standard TFT instrument behind the steering wheel with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches, which can be highly customized using four basic settings. The infotainment system’s 12.3-inch touchscreen (standard from the Acenta trim level) is tilted more towards the driver – by eight degrees, to be exact. Voice recognition is improved and smartphones can also be connected wirelessly via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The navigation system also displays fuel prices on the route. Video content can also be played on the screen via the USB port.

The glove compartment, which has been expanded to 7.8 liters in volume, offers more space for containers, the new central armrest ensures more comfort and accommodates the electronic parking brake button, which is now standard. In hybrid models, the buttons for e-Pedal (more power recovery) and EV mode (only electric drive up to a maximum of 55 km / h – if the battery is sufficiently charged) have also been moved to increase comfort. There are new, better seats for the N-Connecta, N-Design and Tekna equipment lines.

From the N-Connecta device variant onwards, all models have an inductive shelf, i.e. wireless, smartphone charging, which can accommodate larger devices. There are also USB-A and USB-C ports on the front and back, which provide power for electronic devices while driving.

Keep the portfolio unchanged

The refinement of the Juke model is rounded off by newly designed light alloy wheels in 17 and 19 inch formats, with the 17 inch wheels fitted with low rolling resistance tyres. On the car side, no one should refer back to the previous two options. The combination (in the range since 2022) combines a combustion engine of 94 hp and 148 Nm with an electric motor of 49 hp and 205 Nm. Further support comes from a 15 kW starter generator, an inverter and a 1.2 kWh water-cooled hybrid battery. Like the DIG-T, the Juke is based on a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 117 hp and 180 Nm of torque, which can be connected to a six-speed gearbox or a seven-speed clutch transmission.