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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  CVT transmissions are terrible / stay away - 2013 Nissan Juke
  By Bernie - April 9 - 8:16 pm

  The CVT transmissions are the worst things that Nissan has ever done. I have had changed at dealership at under 100,00o miles due to what I was told overheating and lack of horse power was due to CVT wearing out. It fixed the problem but after 30,000 miles is doing same thing and it costs almost $300.00 to flush CVT again. Contacted Nissan only response was a list of information they wanted with nothing to do about my vehicle and to return AGAIN to dealership .

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  Awesome car - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By chiforme - March 24 - 4:08 pm

  We had been looking at the Juke for a while and could not find another vehicle that compared. We love the look and technology that the Juke offered. We live in the mountains and needed a vehicle that had both AWD and good gas mileage. The Juke has both. We love the way the Juke handles on the mountains and on the interstate. The Juke fits all our driving needs and its fun to drive.

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  Love This Car! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By blj427 - February 16 - 8:40 am

  Ive had my Juke about a month. Im getting 27.9 miles per gallon. The car handles wonderfully. Theres room for 5 and still room for beach chairs and umbrella in the rear. Its the perfect mini-sized AWD. Great value!

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  LOVE MY JUKE - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Ram - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with the looks and when i took it for a test drive couldnt think of anything else but to own it. I have had the Juke for a month now and i love everything about it

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  Replacing engine at 40K - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By tobyc - December 4 - 7:19 am

  Bought our 2011 Juke at 27k. At 40k, it developed a knock in the engine. Took it to dealer where it was purchased and was told the seals in the lower engine were gone and engine needed replaced. The worst part of the experience was the inference by the service advisor that the problem was caused by not replacing the oil regularly, which is completely untrue. I felt he was trying to cast blame for an issue other may also be experiencing. Looks like this car will be gone before the warranty is up on the engine in a few years. Second thought here about Nissan???

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  Love my Juke - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Kelly - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my car one week but their arent many reviews yet so I thought Id comment as a female driver. I love driving this vehicle. The Juke truly is a blast to drive, maybe too much fun. I have to put on the cruise or Ill be getting a ticket for sure. The get up and go (great for passing) and cornering are fabulous especially in an AWD drive vehicle. I was looking for an affordable vehicle with AWD, good gas mileage and car-like handling. This is it. Cant really fairly comment on the gas mileage (break-in period and all)or reliability yet. The hatch area is small but okay for groceries.

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  Engine problems - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By 4battles - November 7 - 7:10 pm

  I have a 2011 Juke and recently the timing chain broke causing engine damage to the point that the engine needs to be replaced. I have 75000 miles on it due to my job requiring travel. Nissan told me that it is a good car and can handle anything I throw at it. NIssan has agreed to pay for the engine and parts but want me to pay for labor. I am caught over a barrel on this one. The new engine is only covered for 12 months or 12000 miles. This is the first nissan I have ever owned and I promise it will be the last.

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  "Worst new car of the year" - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By marcpilot - October 31 - 2:11 am

  The timing chain broke at 60k miles. Nissan said they wouldnt honor the warranty that I paid extra for. They said that the timing chain was a design flaw but that since I started taking my car to another business for oil changes(even though I had records of EVERY SINGLE OIL CHANGE BEING ON TIME, on a computer from the other business that millions of people use to have their oil changed, Nissan still wouldnt honor the warranty because they said the oil may or may not have been a bad "batch" at that business! How absurd! They wont honor the warranty because the engine costs 9000 dollars to replace and they dont want to pay for it even though its their timing chain design flaw that broke.

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  Its the little things - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By vabjames - October 30 - 10:03 am

  I love my Juke. Love the exterior styling. I receive many comments - mostly favorable. Its the little things that I didnt notice during the test drive that are worth pointing out. For this price point, you kinda expect to have power locks and auto up windows on both front doors rather than driver only. Also, the vanity mirrors are not lighted. As the only covered storage compartment in the entire car (aside from under the seats), a light in the glove compartment would be a welcome adsdition. As most of my driving is done solo or with my dachshund, it is the perfect car for me. No major complaints just a couple of minor gripes...

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  2011 Nissan Juke Timing Chain issue - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By caprisun - September 18 - 6:13 am

  I have a 2011 Nissan Juke 37k miles. I heard a ticking noise coming from the engine so took it to the dealership this morning. I called them back this afternoon to find out the diagnosis. All they said was there is a noise coming from the motor, so we need all your maintenance records before we will touch it. First of all I dropped it off and was told they would diagnose the problem and call me. 7 hours later I called them only to be told that if I wanted them to break down the motor then I would owe them a huge bill. I asked the technician what was wrong with the juke. He says sounds like timing chain and they are not wanting to fix the problem. Any suggestions out there???????