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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  Amazing car - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By terry thrasher - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this car today and I love everything about it. It puts you back in your seat "amazing performance" weird looking in the front but it grows on you

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  Digging out the snow - 2013 Nissan Juke
  By Millie - July 4 - 10:17 am

  The snow builds up in the wheel wells...you have to dig it out everyday.the paint chips really bad.the heater is not warm enough for minnesota.the defogger is not strong enough for minnesota. Lousy gas milage.I do love driving my juke..does good in the snow and ice,but you have to dig the snow from the wheel wells daily.and I think Im getting little rust spots already.and the paint is chipping all over.the car is 2.5 years old.

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  Got Juked on MPG RATINGS - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By fbjbadjuke - April 4 - 1:12 pm

  We have had this car since March 1. The MPG is only averaging 18.5 MPG with 90% of our driving on the freeway. In town we get 13-15 MPG and the best we have ever gotten was 24.63 MPG in Economy mode 100% Freeway Trip. This car has had electrical problems where the radio goes off & the car dies/ wont restart and had to get a jump to get going again. (This has happen twice.) The dealer cant get any better MPG as we left it with them for a week. They couldnt find the electrical problem either. Economy mode is dangerous if crossing traffic and is not recommended by this motorist. I have owned other Nissan products but this JUKE is a JOKE. Dont by this car if economy is a concern!!

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  Fun, fast and cool - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Mike - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I had been waiting for this a couple months, the design was what caught my eye and the turbo sold me. Once I took the test drive, it was a matter of Stick or Auto. Went with the White SL FWD Manual. But wouldnt fault those with auto. I love every aspect of this car from the ride height, sporty feels, design, and fun factor. The looks from other drivers is fun. caught a police officer rubber necking as I drove by him. People ask me with a smile what it is or if that is the Juke from Nissan.

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  Love this little thing! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By Benita Calloway - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I am absolutely in LOVE with this car! Unlike most reviews Ive read, I particularly love the exterior styling! The interior is simply icing on the cake! This car is very sporty, has great pick up and handles extremely well on the road. I traded in a Nissan Armada for this primarily to save on gas. While it gets much better gas mileage than the Armada, I have not managed to get 32 mpg like the estimates state. I will admit I typically drive in normal mode. The black leather interior with red stitching is really nice. I also like the chrome door handles inside. The 17 inch wheels are nice too. So far, Im extremely happy with this purchase.

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  Did I get "Juked" ??? - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By kamir1990 - October 31 - 3:54 am

  I bought this car for my wife as it as time to replace her Hummer H3 with a more fuel practical vehicle. I have the AWD SV CVT automatic model. The car is a blast to drive in any of the 3 modes and the looks are in a class of its own... but it stops there. The vehicle does not even come close to the MPG rating of "30" Hwy, and I have tried different driving techniques to try to make it happen. The best it will get is 25.5 period! This was one of my deciding factors and it was not accurate. I have noticed we had to look at 3 Jukes to find a consistent paint quality as most had "orange peel" issues. All in all a fun car to drive, but there are nicer MPG models out there.

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  Whipper Snapper of a car! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By kpofsobos - October 6 - 9:37 pm

  I traded in my 2007 Rav4 Sport in early September for the Juke. I live in the city, and needed a smaller car to increase the likelihood of finding street parking. I chose this vehicle because it was a crossover, had AWD, and was small. Ive tried unleaded, mid, and now Im on premium gas. My consensus: the better the gas the better the MPG. Maybe its mental, but I feel like the car rides better/smoother with premium as well. Seats are comfortable, interior feels really spacious, and I dont feel as though the backseat is too tight or that head room is a problem. When I jump on the highway I just zoom along and when I look down a few seconds later- BOOM! Im going 80 mph. No armrest=bummer.

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  So Far So Good - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By afellows - August 29 - 10:10 am

  I have loved every minute behind the wheel of my Juke unless the driver in front of me is driving ten under the speed limit. I have never had a problem with the car, though Im still under the 40k mile mark. Ive put in some long trips with it and have managed about 34mpg on those trips. I average 23-25 mpg in the city. The AWD has gotten me out of some slippery situations. I enjoy the stiffer suspention and the cornering. Overall, probably my favorite of the cars Ive owned.

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  More compliments than on my Caddy - 2016 Nissan Juke
  By Debbie B. - July 28 - 2:30 am

  I love the spunk of this car! And especially the custom colorization. Since I was purchasing the car, I purchased all of the color accents that I could. The car is a beautiful dark blue, with red accents. I get compliments on the car daily. Everyone loves the look of it and especially the color accents. I previously has a Cadillac ATS and before that a Caddy CTS. Obviously both of the Caddys road smoother. But frankly, I got tired of the exorbitant repair and maintenance bills on cars that were only a few years old. Also, there was so much technology on the Caddys that it was constantly in the shop. One even a needed a new transmission when it was just 4 years old. So I was looking to downsize, have a car with less electronics, better mileage and just a simpler ride. The Juke is all of that and more! I cant say enough about how happy I am. I purchased it in June of 2016 and it really does get 30 mpg. And I have had no problems in the year and a half Ive owned it verses the probably 8 times the Cadillac was in for service during the first year. Often, the service visits were recalls or simple technological glitches, but frankly I dont think a new car should be in the shop at all in its first few years. And thats the case with my Juke. Yes, the back seat is small, but it is typically just me and my husband and my mom and I fit in the back just fine. Yes, the trunk space is smaller than my previous car, but the seats lie down easily, so its actually better then than before. Love, love, love it! Thank you Nissan for a solid, sporty car that spends more time on the road and less time in the shop.

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  Chose Juke over BMW Mini Cooper Clubman - 2013 Nissan Juke
  By Zoom - July 4 - 9:09 am

  This is a small performance car, with features of a SUV/crossover. Dont expect big-car comfort & storage. When searching for a small economical car as an alternate to my GMC Sierra 1500, I narrowed my search to the Juke, Toyota Prius, and the BMW MINI Clubman. I wanted fuel economy, AWD, style and performance. I knew I would be sacrificing space. All three cars had great reviews. The Clubman and the Juke were most similar, with the Clubman being slightly more spacious than the Juke. However, I didnt like the metal track for interchangeable armrest and cup holders. Also, having owned a MINI before, I knew maintenance costs would be higher than the Juke. The Clubman price was about $5k higher than the Juke. The first time I saw the Nismo was on a computer screen at a dealer where I had test driven the JUKE SL. I was really impressed with the trim and the sporty look. I wanted a car that didnt look like everything else on the street, and the Nismo screemed uniqueness. Once the image was in my mind, I couldnt consider another style. The Nismo was hard to find, and the dealers were uneducated about its availability and release date. Surprisingly I found one high-volume dealer in CT who happened to have two in stock. When I saw the Nismo, I fell in love. The little car was stylish with a bit of sass. The trim gives the appearance of being low-to the ground, with flashy red striping and side mirrors. The interior included wrap-around bucket seats, arm rest with storage, wrapped steering wheel, red trim, and all the technology within easy reach. The Nismo test drive didnt demonstrate much variation from the Juke SL, with the exception of the low-profile performance tire & 18" wheels. Nearly three years later, I still love my Nismo. The responsiveness in handling and the agility make it an ideal car to drive in the city and on the curvy, hilly roads in CT. Shortly after I bought it, I did change the performance tires to all-season & it doesnt feel like performance has been compromised. I typically drive in normal mode, but when I need to pass, or just want an adrenaline boost, I switch to sport and manual shift. Juke Nismos reliability and safety is good for my family. With regular oil changes and maintenance from Nissan certified mechanics, its never had a mechanical issue. It has a back up camera so I can see anything directly behind the car. The AWD is one of its best features. We have been dumped on with snow and ice the last several years, and I live at a higher elevation with steep hills and curves through the neighborhood. I grew up in Colorado, so am used to snow & like driving in it. This car has never gotten stuck, or spun out. The AWD and all season tire has made all the difference. Unfortunately I am in a position where I have to let the Nismo go. Ive recently accepted a job that provides a company car. I dont need a third car, & the Nismo is the only one with a payment. I initially intended to pass it down to my 15-year old when shes off to college, but that is three years away. It has been thoroughly enjoyful owning the Juke Nismo. If you understand what you are sacrificing in a small car, you will mot be disappointed with this choice.