The Nissan Juke: Styling Carries It Further Than Practicality Ever Could
All three reviews arrive at a similar verdict: this remains a car people choose with their heart rather than a spreadsheet, and the reviews are honest that the spreadsheet doesn't actually favour it.
The Car That Started a Trend It No Longer Leads
Being first into a market segment doesn't guarantee staying at the front of it once dozens of rivals show up. Reviewers keep noting this car's role as the class's founding member while being equally clear that several newer rivals now do the job better.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Small SUV / crossover |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.0L turbo petrol (112bhp), hybrid (141bhp) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, 7-speed DCT, or auto (hybrid) |
| 0–60mph | 11.7 sec (1.0L petrol) |
| Boot space | 422 litres (up 20% over the previous generation) |
| Price range (new) | From around £24,285 |
Full Review Summary
What Car?
What Car? recommended the 112bhp 1.0-litre petrol as the best choice for most buyers despite modest outright pace, and rated rivals like the Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc as generally superior overall despite the Juke's strong standard equipment. They found the ride choppy on uneven surfaces and fuel economy merely adequate rather than a genuine strength, with the hybrid automatic gearbox specifically criticised for clunky shifts and an overly grabby brake response in stop-start traffic.
Top Gear
Top Gear praised genuine growth in cabin space over the previous generation, achieved without the car becoming meaningfully bigger overall — crediting a wheelbase increase disproportionate to the modest length growth. They found the styling still polarising but no longer outright ugly, and rated it among the more likeable options in a segment they were otherwise lukewarm about broadly, given how many small crossovers cost as much as larger hatchbacks while offering less refinement.
Autocar
Autocar's road test found genuine agility for the class, crediting simple grip and good body control that makes the car feel smaller and lighter than some doughier rivals through corners. They were more critical of the automatic transmission's behaviour under enthusiastic driving, noting it sometimes failed to respond promptly to manual inputs on a winding road. Some background road roar was noted at motorway speeds, though they felt this didn't meaningfully undermine overall refinement.
Strengths
- Genuinely agile, engaging handling for the class
- Distinctive styling that's grown less polarising over time
- Improved cabin space without a major size increase
- Strong standard safety equipment
Weak points
- Choppy ride on uneven road surfaces
- Automatic transmission behaviour can be clunky, especially in the hybrid
- Several rivals offer more space and refinement for similar money
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who value distinctive styling and agile handling over maximum practicality and refinement. If ride comfort and interior space are higher priorities, a Puma, T-Roc or Kamiq is likely to serve you better for similar money.