Nissan Juke review – popular small SUV is sharper to drive

Verdict – is the Nissan Juke a good car?

The latest Nissan Juke makes a better family car than the last one; it's more spacious, better equipped, good to drive and well-priced. Particularly in mid-level N-Connecta trim, it's a strong proposition in the packed small SUV. However, with so many great rivals, you’ll also need to love how the Juke looks to choose it over the rest.

Nissan Juke models, specs and alternatives

The craze for small SUVs sees no signs of abating, and one of the cars that kicked it off was the Nissan Juke back in the early 2010s. It’s now in its second generation, building on the original Juke’s blend of wacky styling and practicality, and adding an improved driving experience, cleaner engines and more family-friendly features all-round.

The Juke starts from £23,500 in non-hybrid manual guise, which makes it cheaper than rivals such as the Ford Puma but more expensive than the Renault Captur. Keep an eye out for attractive finance deals, though, because the Juke is often offered with attractive deals and discounts that can make it more enticing.

The current generation received a facelift for 2024, but the changes are subtle. The exterior looks much the same as before – with Nissan claiming the design is one of the main reasons customers opt for the Juke, so big changes weren’t needed. There are bigger changes on the inside of the Nissan Juke, though, where the brand has focused its efforts on improving fit, finish and equipment levels.

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A 12.3-inch screen taken from the Nissan Qashqai and Ariya replaces the old eight-inch unit on the dash, with a few added software features. There’s also greater use of premium materials such as Alcantara, and a new armrest has been added, giving a more snug feeling to the driver’s seat.

This generation of Nissan Juke is bigger in all directions, so you won't now have to worry about asking friends or family to sit in the back. There's more legroom and knee room, and the 420-litre boot is a small step up in size from the average family hatchback. Some rivals are better in both respects, though.

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The engine lineup starts with a 1.0-litre petrol that produces 112bhp and is pretty fuel efficient, getting up to 48.7mpg in manual form – in automatic form efficiency drops slightly to 47.1mpg. This engine should prove adequate for most drivers, but there’s also the option of a hybrid that uses a 1.6-litre petrol combustion engine paired with an electric motor for 141bhp and even better fuel efficiency of up to 58.9mpg. There’s currently no electric version of the Nissan Juke, so this is your best bet for low running costs.

Nissan offers five trim levels for the Nissan Juke, starting with Acenta Premium, moving up through N-Connecta, Tekna, Tekna+ and onto the top-of-the-range N-Sport. Acenta Premium comes with stylish 17-inch alloys as standard, and although taste can be subjective, it’s safe to say the Nissan Juke’s styling isn’t bland. All cars also get the large 12.3-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch digital gauge cluster, cruise control, a rear-view camera and other goodies, so the Juke feels well equipped.