Overview & Reviews

Small hatchbacks and crossover SUVs typically prioritize mundane things like practicality and fuel economy. But these days, there are choices on hand to satisfy car shoppers with more whimsical leanings. One of the more dramatic examples of this is the Nissan Juke.

This four-door cross between a hatchback and small crossover SUV comes with no shortage of personality. It all starts with the Juke's polarizing styling. Some find it sporty-looking and distinctive, while others have compared it to a horned lizard. We'll leave it to you to form your own opinions. But with endearing attributes such as brisk performance and sharp handling, you may find yourself falling for this funky ride.

Current Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke is similar in size to some of Nissan's other small cars such as the Cube and Versa. But its taller profile and available all-wheel drive can also make it seem similar to some small crossover SUVs.

Under the skin, the Nissan Juke packs a few surprises. A small 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is standard, but thanks to turbocharging, it cranks out a strong 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Juke Nismo is equipped with the same engine, but here it has been tuned to produce 197 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices are either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). With the optional all-wheel-drive system, the CVT comes standard.

There are four trim levels for the Juke: base S, well-equipped SV and SL, and the sport-themed Nismo. Standard equipment on the entry-level S model includes 17-inch wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-only steering wheel, Bluetooth and a six-speaker sound system. The midrange SV adds a sunroof, keyless entry/ignition, automatic climate control and configurable drive settings (the Juke's "I-Con" feature).

The Juke Nismo is slightly more powerful and also has a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels with summer tires, unique exterior and interior styling details, and front sport seats. A Navigation package with a touchscreen interface, a rearview camera and a Rockford Fosgate sound system is optional for the SV and Nismo. The SL reverts back to the SV's equipment but comes standard with the options listed above, plus leather upholstery and heated front seats.

In reviews, we've found that the Nissan Juke is very fun to drive. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine is energetic and is capable of brisk acceleration. With the available I-Con driving settings, the driver can also vary the engine and CVT's responsiveness greatly. Get the Juke on a serpentine stretch of road and it's in its element, happily shooting from corner to corner thanks to its sporty suspension tuning and big (for a car this size) tires.

On the downside, the Juke does give away some practicality in its quest for style and performance. On rougher pavement, the Juke feels a little stiff-legged compared to its family-oriented rivals. The cabin also fills with a fair amount of wind and road noise on the highway, though most buyers should find it tolerable enough.

There's also a cargo-capacity deficit to deal with, since the Juke has much less room behind the second row than most other small crossovers or wagons you might consider. Additionally, its sloping roof line translates into tight headroom for backseat passengers and poor outward visibility.

Ultimately, though, young drivers (or the young at heart) who are less concerned with practicality than having fun should find a lot to like in the Nissan Juke.

Used Nissan Juke Models
The Nissan Juke debuted for the 2011 model year. The Nismo arrived for 2013, as did a revised Navigation package that added a rearview camera and Rockford Fosgate audio.

User Reviews:

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  Bought Juke 20165 w 19K miles for great price from - 2013 Nissan Juke
  By peter friedman - November 18 - 1:08 am

  Nizssan Deaker certtified, just what my girlfriend wanted, pleased her very much. She loves it, Red too !

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  Love this car. - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By bustersdad - November 9 - 12:04 am

  Picked this car up last night and finally got to take it for the rounds this afternoon. I switched to the sport mode to get on the parkway and wow. So far so good. Not a luxury ride but very decent and great features for the price (bluetooth, navigation, USB port, leather, AWD, heated front seats, moon roof, etc.). Cant wait to take it out tomorrow. Were expecting snow and would like to test the AWD.

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  No JUKE, just a pathetic JOKE - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By msbeanz - November 5 - 7:47 pm

  I have had my 2011 Juke for 2yrs now and at first I loved the look, the handling, the size and fact that it can fit into the smallest parking spots! But 2 yrs later I am so done with it and have a baby on the way so its already to small just for 2 adults and our lab in the back. I sit thru 45 min of traffic going home every single day and the shifting in stop and go traffic is horrible! It really struggles in traffic! The hatchback is a joke if you want to fit anything more than a few grocery bags or if put one or both back seats down thats really the only time you can fit something of size into it. Again, with a baby on the way I will no longer be able to fold both seats down for storage!

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  Fun to Drive and Affordable - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By welshy3575 - October 18 - 9:21 pm

  The JUKE is lets say unique looking and I thought it was a joke of a car until I drove it. It brought a smile to my face. It is a very engaging car to drive, very spirited, and the seats are extremely comfortable, and definitely not found in cars at this price point. We now have just over 20,000 miles on our Juke and to date it has been very reliable. Inteior pluses are comforatbe seats, easy to read gauges, large rearview side mirrors. wish there was a center armrest, window and door lock switches should light up, and wish there was ambient lighting. Rear seat room should be increased a couple inches both in leg room and head room. ^th gear needs to be more fuel econmy minded.

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  Great car for the money - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By zoolander1 - September 11 - 6:38 pm

  I bought this car yesterday. I test drove it last week. I downgraded from a 2009 A4 quattro premium as I wanted to lower my debt. I liked how the car feels for the money: at $20k it offers great value with its strong turbo engine. I loved the seats materials although I feel they sit low and Im 511". I also liked the stereo features and the stiff handling which gives you the sporty feeling. Not a boring car. I still have to experience the claimed MPG which in the manual tranny is a little lower that in the CVT.

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  So far, so good. Wanted something SMALL - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By juraszek - August 22 - 11:52 am

  Have had this car for about two months now. I purchased this auto because it is very easy to steer and also has the AWD feature. It is very easy to maneuver & park. The turbo really provides bursts of energy, especially when using the "Sport" mode. I am getting around 29 to 31 MPG in town. Havent yet taken it on a long drive, but figure I will get more MPG using the "economy" mode. I love the looks, the handling, & the weight of it. I was looking to replace a 2000 VW Beetle. Interior could be nicer, but it does have heated seats. They need to add an "auto down" button for passenger seat and add electric adjustable drivers seat. I wanted something quick and nimble & easy to drive.

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  It is a joke. Not juke - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By divejunkie33 - August 21 - 4:26 am

  Poor, poor gas milage not like advertised...It is false advertisement. I tried my best to get better gas milage however can not get over 26.1 on highway. My 2000 Buick Century with 3.1 engine gets better gas milage(like 28). Not a joke. Seats are too stiff I drove 4 hrs today I barely got out of the car, my back was hurting. Not a joke. Look interior what you see? plastic, plastic and more plastic It is a good looking car if you hang out at Starbucks Coffee, it fits in parking spot perfect. That is joke...

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  drive for fun - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Steven - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I just drove it for 2 days, but it is really fun to drive, special outside, interior shows high quality. I feel Eco sluggish, but normal provides enough power, you can feel Sport powerful, but EPA is lower.

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  Cute, Fun to Drive, and good mpg. What more could a girl ask for... - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By wyok - July 14 - 8:51 pm

  I picked my JUKE up yesterday. I drove 350 miles to get the one I wanted. Returning home in my JUKE we encountered a blizzard. I am pleased to say my JUKE AWD performed well in the blizzardly conditions. in fact, it handled just as well as our Chevy Avalanche 4X4. I was concerned about how it would handle in high winds due to its light weight. My concerns were unfounded. I hardly noticed the wind.

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  Juke NISMO RS, What Fun - 2015 Nissan Juke
  By mschumi - June 26 - 11:27 am

  This car is such a fun car to drive to work every day. We have a v8 4runner and a Honda S2000 also, and this Juke NISMO RS is a better daily driver than both because it is comfortable, quick, handles like on rails, stops on a dime and cost $30 to fill up with 93octane gas. Weve driven the Juke RS from Philly to Boston several times and it eats up the 3rd world roads really easily and is fun carving up the on ramps too. No doubt about it, the AWD CVT Juke NISMO RS is a fun, practical car to drive daily.