- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
140kW, 240Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 6.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto (CVT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2018 Nissan Juke range review
- Stands out in traffic.
- Plenty of choice in the small range.
- Punchy little 1.6-litre turbo engine.
- Not all your friends will like the looks.
- CVT transmission is disappointing.
- Getting long in the tooth.
What is it?
A small but bold car for people who don’t mind standing out. It’s part-SUV, part-hatch and 100 per cent a bit weird to look at. Nissan took a bold gamble when it first launched the Juke back in 2010, pushing the boundaries in terms of both concept and style.
But it has worked in Europe, becoming one of the brand’s most popular models. Locally it hasn’t been as successful but it was one of the first entrants into the now booming baby SUV crowd.
The Juke is for people that want an SUV but still something small for the city.
How many models can I choose from?
There are only four models in the range but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of options. There are two engines - an 85kW/190Nm 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol and a 140kW/240Nm 1.6-litre four-pot turbo. Both can be had with a six-speed manual transmission while the latter can also be paired a CVT automatic. You can also choose between front- or all-wheel drive depending on your preference.
There are also ST and Ti-S trim lines, with the higher-grade getting a better stereo, digital radio, keyless ignition and leather-accented seats.
What do they cost?
ST 1.2-litre 2WD - $23,490
ST 1.6-litre 2WD - $24,490
Ti-S 1.6-litre 2WD - $29,790
Ti-S 1.6-litre AWD - $33,490
Any options that I need to know about?
As the Juke nears the end of its current model life Nissan Australia is keeping things simple without any options.
Is it expensive to own?
Nissan requires you to visit your local service centre every 10,000km, instead of the more common 15,000km intervals. It may seem like a small change but it adds up, so even the 1.2-litre ST entry-level model will cost you more than $2000 to maintain for the first 60,000km.
Any issues I need to know about?
There have been reports of issues with the CVT and the engine’s timing chain on older Jukes, so while the servicing is expensive it could pay to keep up-to-date.
Which is the most economical model?
Not surprisingly the smaller 1.2-litre engine with its manual transmission is the most frugal. It uses 5.6-litres per 100km compared to 6.0L/100km for the 1.6-litre manual and 6.5L/100km for the automatic.
Which is the safest model?
If you want more safety gear you’ll need to go for the Ti-S. While the ST gets a full suite of airbags and all the usual acronyms (ABS, ESP, EBD, etc) it misses out on a reversing camera. The Ti-S on the other hand is equipped with a 360-degree parking camera system as well as lane departure warning, moving object detection and blind spot monitoring.
Which the best model to drive?
Nissan has done a nice job in giving the Juke some dynamic edge. It’s far from a hot hatch but for a compact SUV it feel sharp on the road. A little too hard sometimes with its firm suspension.
The 1.6-litre engine is the pick, offering more performance than the lacklustre 1.2-litre option.
Should I buy one now?
Now is a good time to haggle with your Nissan dealer if you’re interested in a Juke. An updated model was revealed in Europe earlier in 2018 so the impending arrival of that, plus the age of the current one, should be incentive enough to get a deal done.
Where's the sweet spot?
The extra safety offered by the Ti-S and the improved performance of the 1.6-litre, plus the preference for two-pedals (rather than three) makes the 1.6 Ti-S AWD the default pick.
It’s expensive though, so if your budget is stretched the ST 1.6 CVT is still worth consideration given its price.