Nissan Juke (2010-2019) Review

• May 2010 Nissan Juke goes on sale in the UK
• December 2010 Recall of 69 Nov 2010 Nissan Jukes and Notes for brake problem
• February 2011 Limited-edition Juke Shiro introduced
• January 2012 Recall of 2,700 Mar 2010-Nov 2011 Jukes for possible engine stalling
• April 2012 Recall of 4,600 Jan-Dec 2011 Jukes and Micras for possible fuel leak
• August 2012 Limited-edition ‘Ministry of Sound’ Juke introduced
• January 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo hot-hatchback model arrives
• February 2013 Recall of 2,500 Jun-Jul 2012 Jukes for airbag gas problem
• June 2013 1.5-litre diesel engine improved to reduce CO2 emissions
• March 2014 Revised Juke launched with new in-car tech and new petrol engines
• March 2015 Recall 3,500 Jun 2012-May 2014 Jukes for possible fuel leak
• November 2019 All-new second generation Nissan Juke goes on sale. First generation version is discontinued.

Petrol: 1.2 DIG-T, 1.6, 1.6 DIG-T Diesel: 1.5 dCi

Like many manufacturers, Nissan has developed small turbocharged petrol engines to help meet the latest emissions regulations while retaining the performance buyers expect.

The 1.2-litre DIG-T turbocharged petrol should be the pick of the range for most buyers, as it offers a reasonable compromise between affordable running costs and acceptable performance for day-to-day driving.

There’s also a less sophisticated, non-turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine that is both less efficient and less powerful than the 1.2 – but it’s cheaper to buy in the first place. A more powerful version of this engine, with 115bhp, is your only option if you want a front-wheel-drive Juke with an automatic gearbox.

There’s also a more powerful turbocharged petrol, the 1.6-litre DIG-T, that makes 187bhp. It feels a bit like overkill in a car this small and is only available in the two highest trim levels, N-Connecta and Tekna. A modified version of this engine with even more power (215bhp) sits under the bonnet of the Juke Nismo RS hot hatchback.

If you want a diesel Juke, you have one option: the 1.5-litre dCi. It’s a little noisy on the move, but performs reasonably well and is head and shoulders above any of the petrols when it comes to fuel economy, returning just over 70mpg as long as you drive gently.

Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, Nismo RS

The Nissan Juke range is quite straightforward compared to some rivals, with four regular trim levels – or versions – plus the range-topping Nismo RS hot hatchback.

Visia is the cheapest model, available as a two-wheel drive only with either the basic 1.6-litre petrol engine or the 1.5-litre diesel. You get a full set of airbags, a CD stereo with an MP3 player socket, 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, split-folding rear seats and electric windows all round as standard.

Next up is Acenta, which adds Bluetooth phone connectivity, a USB port, 17-inch alloys, darkened rear privacy glass, front foglights, a leather steering wheel and cruise control to the mix. The 1.2-litre turbo engine also becomes available here, but not the 1.6-litre turbo.

The N-Connecta majors on in-car technology, with a 5.8-inch touchscreen sat-nav system, digital radio, a reversing camera, power-folding heated mirrors, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers. It also has sports seats and the option of personalising the interior with custom colours, plus it’s available with any engine save the most basic 1.6-litre petrol.

The Tekna includes all the N-Connecta’s features and available engines, but also adds the Nissan ‘Safety Shield’ system, with sensors to warn you of cars nearby when changing lane and a 360-degree camera to help with parking. It has comfortable heated leather seats, too.

At the top of the range, the Nissan Juke Nismo RS model gets its own 215bhp version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, as well as a host of visual enhancements inside and out to set it apart from the regular Jukes. Sports suspension, upgraded brakes and 18-inch alloys also feature.

Warranty-wise, you get a fairly standard three years or 60,000 miles of cover, which is okay, but the rival Hyundai ix20 is more impressive in this regard, covering you for unlimited mileage for up to five years.

The Nissan Juke’s love-them-or-hate-them looks and less-than-stellar practicality mean it isn’t as popular on the used market as more conventional rivals, so its residual values suffer as a result. Depreciation is particularly steep in the first year of ownership (more than a quarter of the original value in the case of our top pick for families, the Juke 1.2 DIG-T Tekna), so a low-mileage, year-old Juke can be a real bargain. The small Nissan is a popular rental car, however, so watch out for examples that may have been used and abused by numerous drivers despite their short life.

With some cars, the high-performance versions are sought after by enthusiasts and so hold their value better than the more humdrum models in the range. That doesn’t really hold true for the Juke, though, as the Nismo RS isn’t as highly rated by keen drivers as the Ford Fiesta ST or Vauxhall Corsa VXR. A three-year-old example approaching 50% of its new value does give you a lot of performance for your money, however.