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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  Good Bionic frog 2011 - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By noshoesinhouse - February 13 - 11:12 pm

  bought mine new in 4/2011 and truth is i thank god havent had any problems. Im sorry to hear about the people who are having problems with the chain. i just got called last week from the dealer to take it in to have the chain replace which after reading the reviews i will do ASAP. i do however hate that it goes thru gas like crazy im looking into buying a more gas efficient car but to be honest there is nothing out there that i like or that would make me trade my Bionic frog.

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  Sooooooooooooo fun to drive; great gass mileage - 2016 Nissan Juke
  By Deirdre Coutu - November 13 - 9:18 pm

  I LOVE my juke. My favorite attribute is the ruby red accents that adorne the interior including the seats and insides of the doors

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  2011 Juke - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By michelle65 - November 6 - 12:41 am

  I waited about 5 months to write this review based on the fact that the nostalgia of a new car can sometimes override the cold hard facts that come after that nostalgia wears off. I purchased my Juke after hurricane Irene totaled my Mazda 3 in flood waters. I was drawn to the unique styling and its AWD feature. I do truly still enjoy my Juke and I love the way it handles and its sporty little get up and go attitude.

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  Love it BUT - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By noshoesinhouse - October 14 - 5:39 pm

  traded into a Juke from a Versa. the juke is fun it takes off great its fast look very cute. BUT it needs more storage place like example: versa has the console in the middle in the dash board & more room all together. the Jukes seat are not very comfortable ive had mine for a month & still cant seem to get my seat in the right position. i also miss the arm rest the juke doesnt have any. other than that i do love my car dont get me wrong but i REALLY MISS my VERSA.

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  I LOVE MY JUKE! - 2012 Nissan Juke
  By 86bandit - September 20 - 2:47 am

  I purchased my JUKE SV AWD at the beginning of the month in Electric Blue. I LOVE it! I traded an 06 Buick Rendezvous w/ all the trimmings and only 22-23mpg. Heard a lot of flack about JUKEs lack of mpg, however, I commute 50 miles one way daily, 1/3=2 lane hwy 1/3=interstate 1/3=city, and Im getting 27-29mpg. I have NO idea why I have never driven a Nissan before now, but it will be difficult for me to drive anything BUT in the future. Its been called a baby hippo, and alligator, etc. I choose to think of it as my frog on steroids! AND I dont see many of them on the road, so that makes it more unique. :) Love, love, LOVE IT!!!

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  Love my 2011 Juke but not its Tires - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By jukeownerohio - August 25 - 10:56 pm

  Overall , I love my 2011 Juke with its many features. It now has approximately 25,000 miles and I recently drove it in both moderate rain and several inches of snow. The tires are terrible. I was hydroplaning worse than any vehicle Ive ever had and had to crawl along in the smallest amount of snow. This was in both the variable and full time all wheel drive settings. After reading the many reviews posted about the Goodyear tires that came on the car, Im very disappointed that Nissan would choose these for this vehicle. I live in Ohio so I experience all types of weather conditions and I feel these tires are unsafe with this amount of wear on them.

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  Juke a car with personality! - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By arckenben - August 14 - 12:42 am

  I have owned a Juke since July 23, 2011 and I have loved every minute of it. It looks like no other. It looks alive, active, like it could pounce on smaller prey! To drive it is to smile. Has tons of torque and feels lightning quick. Grips the road like mad…I have DRIVEN this car my friends! It is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever owned. When you grab it by the short hairs and put your foot into it there is a bit of front wheel torque steer, however the traction control will keep you in line…unless you turn it off and know what you are doing. It is a very exciting fun ride. Gets a lot of attention at the pump and parking lots. Inside the car has 3 driving modes, eco, normal and sport. Each provides a bit of a different feel. From Eco setting compared to Sport is like Jekyll and Hyde! I drive the wheels off my Juke and still get 25.9 MPG in city. Don’t buy a Juke for the gas mileage, which is not bad considering your driving a Turbo with 0-60 in about 7 sec (with my lead foot and a stick shift). Buy a Juke if you love to drive. It is an exciting yet affordable car that has a personality you can love. The Juke guarantees to put a smile on your face when you drive it. Which is what I am going to do now.

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  A Little Dissapointed... - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By bparks89834 - July 31 - 1:58 am

  I traded in my 2009 MINI S hardtop for a 2011 Juke SV. Main motivation: my daily commute includes 15 miles of gravel road and frequent snowy winter conditions. The Cooper had issues--it rattled on the gravel, and never liked snow over 2" deep. It had virtues--consistently 36 mpg, and a blast to drive. The Juke sounded great--greater ground clearance, AWD, turbo-charged with HP to match the S, and an MPG rated at 25 city, 30 hwy. If only... Currently, Im getting 24.2 mpg on mostly highways, driving like a pansy in ECO, staying in 2 wheel drive the vast majority of the time, and holding my mouth right. Nissan: how did you get this wrong?

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  Engine Dies After 68,000 miles / 2 years & 3 months - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By deadjuke2011 - June 15 - 7:58 am

  Great driving vehicle. Enjoyed our time together. That is until it died without any warning. Guess what - it was the timing chain. No warning and no sign of any problem. It broke and left me in the middle of the highway. I was able to coast to the next exit and wait for a tow to the nearest Nissan dealer. I had no idea what the problem was. I thought it was electrical. They confirmed it was not electrical and it was the engine. But it would take 5 hours to take it apart to diagnose the problem. That means I would have to pay them $500 to tell me the engine was dead and needed to be replaced. The timing chain appears to be very common. Nissan was not helpful. It was just outside the warranty.

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  Loving it - 2011 Nissan Juke
  By casper - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Intensively comparing against Mazda3 and other small crossover, finally bought the Juke. Price is little high but comes with all cool features and AWD, its as much fun to drive as ZoomZoom, perhaps slightly more acceleration (sport mode). Few blind spots, will get used to it. Not impressed by the mpg, average less than 20 mpg in city, normal mode. I noticed in all 3 modes, starting acceleration will cost the same amount of mpg as shown on the dashboard. Once on the move, if continuously gently depress/release gas pedal, will get good mpg on sport mode too. Turbo sounds can be tiresome and annoying sometimes, unless in the Eco mode. All my friends envy and love it. Cruise mode drink more gas!