Paradigm Breaker: 2011 Nissan Juke
Paradigm Breaker: 2011 Nissan Juke
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then my initial impression of the new Nissan Juke was, Just who is going to love the way this small crossover looks? Nissan, like many car companies, is going after the eco-boomer generation (ages 18-34) and wanted a vehicle that “broke the mold” in several ways. The innovative styling was designed to offer a unique alternative to the current hatchback choices that populate the automotive marketplace. The Juke’s front end certainly polarizes, but I found the tapered rear—with its 370Z-style taillights and hidden rear door handles—intriguing.
Opening the front door revealed an attractive interior, complete with a motorcycle-inspired shifter cover and matching door switches. Once seated, the Maxima-type leather steering wheel frames dual white on black guage clusters for the tach and speedo. The upscale SV and SL models offer an innovative I-CON vehicle interface system. Two buttons, labeled “climate” and “D-mode”, actually change the colors and labeling on the instruments lower in the center stack. A/C and temp settings are easily accessed under the former, while D-mode allows the driver to switch the ECM settings from normal, sport and eco modes. Throttle response, transmission, and steering response are all altered by a push of the button. Quite clever and easy to use, this transparent bit of technology has the potential to become a standard offering on future Nissan products.
My initial test drive out of Vancouver, BC, saw me driving a FWD SL model with a six-speed manual transmission. Push-button start for the new MR16DDT was easy enough, and the new direct-injected engine was docile enough in city traffic. The single scroll turbo operates at light boost and the 188 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque are easily accessible. Through the outskirts of town and heading into the hills, power came in from 2700 rpm right up to the 6400 redline. The flat powerband felt stronger than the standard QR25DE, and I expect this alloy jewel to be used in a variety of applications in the future. Rated at 27 city and 32 highway on premium fuel, Nissan says regular fuel can be used, but both performance and mileage will drop.
The biggest surprise came as I took the Juke around the twisting turns of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. The FWD model felt supple and well planted, while the six-speed gearbox was similar to the unit used in the current Sentra Spec V. The independent front suspension uses a 22 mm sway bar, while the rear torsion bar has a stabilizer bar integrated into the design. Beefy four-wheel disc brakes with ABS were easy to modulate, while the electric power steering rack continues to advance in terms of feedback and control. While impossible to drive at racing speeds on public roads, the Juke’s 215/55R17 Goodyear Eagle RS all-season tires easily held the road as we zipped along the edge of the forest. AWD Jukes get Nissan’s torque vectoring system, with up to a 50:50 split in torque front and rear (when needed), along with separate splits from side-to-side across the rear tires. This system weighs in at an incredibly light 64 pounds and automatically sets the Juke apart from cars like the Mazda 3 or Mini Cooper.
Starting at $18,960, the FWD Juke S model is the entry-level model, while adding CVT and AWD raises the asking price to $20,460. But Nissan is stacking the cards here, as the next model up, the SV, adds a moonroof, I-CON, keyless entry, etc., and is only a bit more expensive ($22,260 for the SV AWD). Step up to a fully loaded SL model and you get heated leather seats, full color nav system and other features for a topped out price of $24,550. With the small crossover segment projected to grow by up to 200% over the next four years, Juke makes a strong value statement in a competitive marketplace. Both European and Japanese consumers are snapping them up, and if successful in North America, Nissan will certainly call the Juke beautiful!
—David Muramoto
