Updated Nissan Juke 2024: Everyone’s friend with a sharp edge

The Nissan Juke has been on the market since 2019 and is still considered one of the most distinctive B-segments in terms of looks. When the first generation Juke hit the market in 2010, it was a bit of a shock to many people. You to be loved or he hated it. It was also one of the first compact crossovers and the Juke became a success. We already drove the Juke twice and were positive about the cool SUV. Now Nissan is launching a new version that should last until 2028. From then we expect a fully electric Juke.

What is the Nissan Juke?

According to Nissan, the first purchase point of current Juke drivers is the design. The car looks even better in real life than in the pictures. The 19-inch black alloy wheels are located at the sharp corners of the body. The two-tone color gives them an overall, almost sporty look. We have to look twice to see creativity. New wheel designs are available and the yellow color is back. The first generation Juke was available in canary yellow and that became the only suitable color for the Juke for fans and buyers. We are getting more creative in the interior. There is now a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, turned towards the driver. It matches the screen that we also know from the more expensive Quashquai and X-trail. Additionally, the new housing around the cockpit is made of soft yellow Alcantara.

How does it run?

The Juke drives surprisingly strong. It’s essentially a comfortable car though, despite the 19-inch rims on our test car. We drive on the mountain roads above Barcelona and the Japanese are quite at home there. Steering is direct and with very little feel. The 1400 kg SUV can easily be driven through bends with a combined power of 143 hp. In various driving modes (eco, normal, sports), Sport mode brings out the best in the Juke on mountain roads. In Normal mode it takes a while before the energy kicks in, in Eco mode the response is even less. The automatic transmission generally responds quickly enough, although it sometimes searches on the slopes and makes a lot of noise. Sound insulation was already something that was mentioned in the previous model of the face, but it is a pity that this has not been addressed in the facelift. The interaction between the petrol engine and the electric motor is going well. On the highway from 100 kilometers per hour, there is still wind noise behind the mirrors, which somewhat reduces the good driving qualities of everyone’s canary yellow friend.

Strong

Juke combines comfort, sympathetic appearance and good driving characteristics. The space in the front is enough and in the back you can spend time easily as an adult. The big infotainment screen is a big improvement, the graphics are nice, the menu designs are clear. There are also new visual buttons that make it easier to navigate quickly, for example for cameras that surround the car. These cameras have also been improved graphically for this facelift. Nissan has further improved the volume control, and there’s a new wireless phone charger.

Weak points

Space in the trunk is limited to 354 liters, partly due to the battery pack on the floor. Competitors with unconventional styles do this best. We also had problems with wind noise at higher speeds and the 1.6-litre hybrid makes a lot of noise at higher revs. Nissan must also observe the mandatory warning signs when exceeding the speed limit. If you want to turn it off, you have to scroll through the menu, during each trip.

Equipment

Getting into the Juke is fine, although we can imagine it might feel awkward for tall people. But this is a compact SUV and you should not expect space miracles in this segment. The dashboard is slightly tilted towards the driver, the sports seats (optional) provide exceptional support, also sideways. The new materials used feel high quality. The optional speakers in the seats are a nice gadget and the yellow stitching on the upholstery finishes it off nicely.

Conclusion

The Nissan Juke still looks good after five years, it’s everyone’s friend and if you give it a whirl on a mountain road, you can still have fun with it. A new, larger screen updates it. However, there are small areas of irritation that remain with this surface improvement. We understand why Nissan hasn’t changed much about the Juke, after all it’s still a great alternative in a crowded segment. A handsome all-rounder in a canary yellow colored designer coat.