BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A NISSAN JUKE FROM OSV: bit.ly/2QPumGv
Ten Second Review
If you need a car that blends into the background, look somewhere else. Nissan's Juke is a small SUV that's sold like hot cakes because it makes a visual statement. The second generation version keeps the design extreme but adds more space, smarter looks, extra equipment, greater efficiency and plenty of personalisation options.
Market and Model
Juke pricing starts at about £17,400 for a base 'Visia' model, but another £1,600 is needed for the mid-range 'Acenta' trim level most will want. The popular 'N-Connecta' version costs from around £21,000, while plush 'Tekna' trim costs from around £22,500. 'Tekna+' is the top version. Scope for exterior personalisation has always been key to Juke ownership, so this MK2 model can feel very bespoke if you want it to be. It's available in 11 different colours, with wheels ranging from 16-inch steel rims with covers to 19-inch alloys. Top-spec Tekna+ cars are available with contrasting finishes on the roof and mirrors, too.
Buyers will also want cutting-edge media connectivity, so on-board Wi-Fi now appears, as do TomTom maps with live traffic and a voice-controlled Google Assistant. The NissanConnect remote services app is now compatible with the Juke, allowing owners to interact with their cars from wherever they are via their smartphone. Three optional interior schemes in orange, white or black introduce leather and Alcantara upholstery, too. All cars from Acenta grade upwards get the latest eight-inch infotainment unit as standard, while every car gets cruise control with a speed limiter function and high beam assist.
Cost of Ownership
The second generation Juke is looking to retain its predecessor's reputation as being inexpensive to run and should deliver on that promise thanks to an all-new 1.0-litre three cylinder engine and a 23kg reduction in weight, despite this model's increase in size. The weight improvement is down to the use of more lightweight, high-tension steel in the body, plus the introduction of a new CMF-B Nissan/Renault Alliance platform, shared with one of its closest rivals, the second generation Renault Captur. All of this should mean a competitive set of running cost stats. From the manual model, expect a WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel figure of 47.9mpg and a WLTP-rated CO2 figure of 135g/km.
Service intervals will come round every 12 months or 12,500 miles, depending on which comes soonest. As part of any Nissan dealer visit with your car, you'll be provided with a free courtesy vehicle and a video health check for your Juke that you can watch on your 'phone or computer. Nissan also provides a three year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard and that can be lengthened to four years but with the same mileage cap. This recognises that most drivers of small SUVs tend to cover lower distances, but aims to give added peace of mind for those looking to keep their car for longer. And in case of any problems, there's breakdown assistance with roadside help included with the car's protection package.
Summary
You probably know the guy who complains that all new cars look the same but has nothing good to say when a brand like Nissan brings out something different and fresh. Don't be that guy. The Juke has deservedly carved itself a lucrative niche for itself with an inexpensive vehicle that drives well, is cheap to run and which isn't afraid to assert its own personality. The second generation model's design remit doesn't alter that fundamental appeal but smartening the looks, creating a bigger cabin and adding more technology certainly isn't going to do the Juke's prospects any harm.
It remains an unusual proposition, with an appeal that extends beyond the small crossover segment and also attracts the kind of buyers who might otherwise consider trendy small runabouts like Fiat's 500 and the MINI Hatch. Juke buyers think that this car makes urban trinkets like those look rather dull and compromised. It's an original. In every sense.
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25 авг 2024
