Nissan Juke review

The Nissan Juke is the SUV that kick-started the trend for jacked-up small cars. It displays the influence of some of Nissan’s crazy late-80s designs, such as the Pao, S-Cargo and Figaro. If you don’t know what we’re talking about and have a penchant for quirky looking cars, we recommend you have a quick Google to see what we mean. The idea of the Juke was to combine retro looks with a modern twist and, while ‘retro’ might not immediately spring to mind at first sight, the Juke certainly isn’t afraid of standing out from the pack with its exaggerated and unmistakable visual identity.

Designed as an alternative to conventional hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo, its SUV overtones are responsible for inspiring a raft of rivals that include the Renault Captur, Mazda CX-3 and Seat Arona. These are all cars with a tough brief to fill: to effortlessly fulfil every duty a family hatchback might face, without sacrificing low running costs on the altar of SUV style. Put simply, quirky looks will only get you so far.

However, while the characterful Juke has become a familiar sight on Britain's roads, it doesn’t seem to have dated since being first showcased over ten years ago. Its distinctive nature, combined with strong resale values, lots of on-board technology and reasonable fuel economy, have helped it remain a big seller even though many other car makers have followed in its footsteps.

So, would the Nissan Juke make sense as your next car? Read on over the following pages for everything you need to know before buying one, including which engine and trim to choose. And remember, whichever car you settle on, don’t forget you can use our New Car Buying service for the best price, with no awkward haggling.