Nissan Juke review

The original Nissan Juke was an absolute trailblazer. Designed as an alternative to conventional small cars, its high-riding stance put a touch of SUV style and glamour within the grasp of buyers on more modest budgets.

Its quirky looks were not to everyone’s tastes, but Nissan sold Jukes by the bucketload while inspiring a raft of other small, high-riding cars in the process, including the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Roc. The trouble was, even if you loved the way the original Juke looked, there weren’t many logical reasons for actually buying one.

Thankfully, this second-generation version has all the ingredients needed for it to be a vastly better all-rounder. Under the skin, it’s now based on the Renault Clio hatchback, so it should feel more nimble in the bends. It also benefits from a thoroughly modern 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol three-cylinder engine (Nissan has ditched diesel power entirely for the Juke). 

While it still trades on its looks, which are distinctive and instantly recognisable, it has slightly more grown-up styling than its predecessor. The original design cues, such as the upside-down headlights and hidden rear door handles, have been integrated neatly into a more cohesive-looking silhouette. You could almost call it handsome – but we’ll leave that up to you.

Whether you own an original Juke already or are thinking about buying one for the first time, there’s plenty to discuss – not least how it stacks up against an army of talented small SUV rivals, including the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Roc we mentioned before.

Over the next few pages of this review, we’ll explain what the Nissan Juke does really well, and uncover any areas where it lags behind the best cars in its class. We’ll also give you the lowdown on the best versions to go for and any options you should consider adding.

If you decide to buy a Juke – or indeed a new car of any make and model – don't forget you could make a big saving on the list price by using the free What Car? New Car Buying service.