Nissan Juke review

While the Juke is generously equipped, it is also more expensive than most of its rivals. However, it holds its value better than anything else in the class which should mean lower monthly payments on a PCP or, if you’re one of the few people who buys on HP or with cash, more of your money back when you sell it.

Servicing costs are slightly higher compared with cars from brands such as Renault and Kia.

The 1.2-litre turbo petrol and 1.5-litre diesel in particular are reasonably economical but not the best in the class. No version of the Juke dips below the 100g/km barrier that would make it VED-exempt. The faster petrol, four-wheel-drive and automatic variants are all considerably less efficient, too, and will raise your tax bills. If you do a high mileage, they’re best avoided.

Use our True MPG calculator and see what your car really does to the gallon

Nissan has a policy of ring-fencing the best kit, so you have to step up to a higher trim level if you want to secure certain gadgets or luxuries. This means that while Visia trim appears to be good value, with its all-round electric windows, 16in alloy wheels and manual air-conditioning, it does without Bluetooth, USB connectivity, front foglights and a multi-function steering wheel.

We’d recommend the Acenta Premium version which has a huge kit list that includes a touchsceen sat-nav and media system, cruise control, a reversing camera and sports seats.

Top-spec Tekna versions add leather, heated front seats, lane departure warning and blind-spot indicators, but are also quite pricey.

In the latest JD Power customer satisfaction survey Nissan did worse than its rivals, among them Kia, Skoda and Vauxhall. However, the Juke itself performed well, with fewer problems reported than the class average, and it placed inside the top five for the small car class.

A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is standard, but many rivals offer better deals. For example, Renault offers a four-year warranty, and free servicing and roadside assistance, while all Kias come with a class-leading, seven-year warranty on major mechanical parts.

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Testing body Euro NCAP has made its crash tests more stringent, but under the previous system the Juke earned a five-star rating, scoring highly for everything except pedestrian protection.

Although it lacks hill-hold assist, the reasonably priced Tech Pack includes a 360-degree parking camera, lane keep assist and a moving object detection system – handy when you’re backing out of a driveway. There’s a less expensive Safety Pack that includes the 360-degree parking camera and lane keeping assistance, too. Few cars in the Juke’s price range and class are offered with such an extensive range of safety equipment.

Thatcham Research also rates the Juke as one of the most secure cars in its class.

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