Nissan Juke Hybrid Review - If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
New year, new car
2025. Blimey. I can vividly remember the day I was about 14 or 15 years old when my father said: “Make the most of it lad, because the older you get, the faster it goes.” At the time, I probably just nodded and wandered off without giving it a moment’s thought. However, looking back, I now know he was right. Since then, I’ve been testing cars for over 40 years and, in my other life as a football reporter, covered over 2000 games. Time really has flown.
As I write this at 5pm on New Year’s Eve, I can hear fireworks going off in the distance. Perhaps the folks who are lighting the blue touch paper are from Australia or Thailand or somewhere that has a time zone 6-7 hours ahead of us in Blighty. Nevertheless, I am set to hit the road early in the morning and I’ll be driving my Nissan Juke test car.
This is the latest updated model, although you’d struggle to tell that from the outside because, apart from newly styled alloys and a different choice of paint colours, including the eye-straining yellow you see here, Nissan has changed nothing.
However, step inside and things are vastly different. More about that shortly.
Nissan and SUVs
Nissan is credited for starting the crossover SUV segment of the car industry with its Qashqai, and it’s a similar story with the Juke, which is rated as the first B-SUV. This is defined as a smaller, more compact supermini SUV with a dash of additional style.
From the front, the Qashqai and the Juke look very similar, but it’s only when you see them in profile and in close proximity that you realise the Juke is smaller in all dimensions. It’s about 210mm shorter and sits 30mm lower. Look underneath, and you’ll find that the chassis is not from the Qashqai, it’s also found on the Clio and Captur models from Renault (Nissan is part of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance).
An unchanged exterior
So, why not change the exterior? Simple. Nissan’s research shows that the main reason why people buy a Juke is down to the style. People like it just the way it is, so Nissan hasn’t tinkered with it. There’s also the possibility that Nissan saved some cash because the all-new Juke will arrive in around 3 years and will be electric only.
Petrol or Hybrid
The latest Juke is available with petrol and hybrid options under the bonnet and all are front wheel drive. The 4x4 option and diesel power options are now a thing of the past. You can choose from a 3-cylinder 1.0 litre 112bhp petrol engine with auto or manual ‘boxes, or a 4-cylinder 1.6 litre hybrid unit which churns out 141bhp via a CVT type of gearbox. Accelerating from 0-60mph takes roughly 10 seconds in all variants.
In terms of economy, Nissan reckons the figures work out at around 47mpg for the 1.0-litre model and around 57mpg for the hybrid version.
How much will the new Nissan Juke cost?
Prices start at £23,500 (Jan ’25) for the entry level Acenta Premium trim with the 1.0 litre engine. I had a mid-range Tekna trim which tips the scales at £27,000 for the car with a 3-pot engine or £30,595 for the hybrid model.
Changes to the interior
The big changes are found inside the new Juke. There’s the arrival of a new 12.3-inch digital display for the driver and a central infotainment touchscreen, although the entry level trim doesn’t get this which is why I’d recommend you move up a trim or two. Thankfully the heater controls are good old knobs and buttons. You can customise the driver display and access various driver aids, although the irritating traffic recognition sign which bongs if you fail to slow down sufficiently as you enter a different speed limit area, resets itself every time you turn off the car.
Tekna trim gets you sat nav, 19-inch alloys, rear view camera, wireless phone charger, front and rear parking sensors, climate control, excellent Bose audio system, heated front seats, heated steering wheel and a raft of safety kit. The interior styling of the Juke is really smart. You can see where Nissan has improved the quality of the door and dashboard trims. It’s a nice place to be and the seats are incredibly comfortable.
How is it to drive?
Out on the road, the Juke has a fairly firm ride. The test car I drove was the 1.6-litre hybrid, which was nicely controlled and did a good job of absorbing potholes. Driving doesn’t get any simpler. Just press the start button, pull the lever into drive and away you go.
There’s an option to use electric power only from the small self-charging battery which gives the engine some extra boost when required. The car can reach 34mph on electric power alone which means town driving rarely sees the petrol engine burst into life. You can also use one-pedal driving which is extremely handy in urban areas. As with most CVT types of gearboxes, when you hit the power to gain acceleration, the engine tends to race and can sound a bit thrashy, but it soon settles to a gentle hum and provides a really relaxed driving experience. Avoid trying to be sporty and you’ll be impressed with the overall refinement.
Nissan resists the temptation to tinker
In a nutshell, the latest Nissan Juke hits a sweet spot. Buyers obviously like the way it looks so, no surprise, Nissan has resisted the temptation to tinker. Good. The Juke still looks smart and is distinctive in what can be a bit of an anonymous area of the car market. Go for the bright canary yellow colour and you’ll soon find it in a crowded car park.
It’s also good to drive, even verging on fun, and is both comfortable and well-equipped. The pricing is also very competitive in the current market. All in all, not a bad way to kick off 2025. I hope you all have a good year and make the most of it.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Nissan
