Nissan Juke: The quirky urban crossover's legacy and market impact

The first-generation Nissan Juke, one of the most stylistically controversial cars post-2000, was nonetheless well-received in the market. It was mainly famous among women, who found the small, urban crossover's striking appearance to be a perfect choice. How do we rate this car after all these years?

The history of the Nissan Juke began in 2010, when its bigger brother, the Qashqai, was already well-established in the market. The crossover trend was gaining strength, and Nissan boldly decided to release a car that looked like no other. Some considered the Juke ugly, while others loved it immediately.

Produced for nine years, the Juke had one minor facelift (2014), mainly involving exterior appearance. Its success was undeniable, with one million cars sold, prompting the production of a second generation.

The Nissan Juke is a typical urban crossover, measuring 13 feet in length and 8 feet in wheelbase. It has a compact silhouette and a tight interior, aligning roughly with the Micra produced around the same time, so expectations should be tempered.

The Juke is a typical 2+2 car with a decent trunk capacity of 12.5 cubic feet for the front-wheel-drive version. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) version reduces this capacity by about 3.5 cubic feet due to the space taken up under the double floor in the front-wheel-drive model.

Despite its urban character, the Juke performs well on longer routes. People who fit behind the wheel won’t complain about the lack of comfort and, in many cases, the equipment.

The car’s handling leaves little to be desired. Designers aimed for a sporty character in the interior, including basic multimedia features and, in some configurations, good sound systems. However, maneuvering in the city might be challenging without a rearview camera due to poor rear visibility caused by the body design.

The Nissan Juke was built on the Renault Clio IV platform, featuring a B-segment platform with an independent front suspension and a torsion beam or multi-link rear suspension. The steering system is electrically assisted.

Only the highest-powered versions have all-wheel drive with an electromagnetically controlled rear axle without a differential. This system works efficiently on slippery surfaces and light off-road terrains.

A 7-inch ground clearance allows driving on unpaved paths. The AWD's rear suspension uses a multi-link system. The sporty Nismo versions with front-wheel drive have a mechanical, strong limited-slip differential, larger braking system, thicker stabilizer bars, and stiffer springs and shock absorbers.

The engine range is not extensive but sufficient for most people's needs. Throughout most of the production period (until 2018), a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline engine produced by Nissan with a power output of 117 HP was offered. After 2018, it was replaced by an engine with 112 HP to comply with the Euro 6d-TEMP standard. From 2013 to 2018, a 94 HP variant was available, which met the Euro 6 standard from 2015. In 2014, a turbocharged 1.2 DIG-T engine with 115 HP was introduced.

These were the most popular and base gasoline engines. Customers less frequently chose the 1.5 dCi diesel with 110 HP, but until 2013, it generated 177 lb-ft of torque, increasing to 192 lb-ft from 2013.

Even less frequently chosen were the high-power versions with a 1.6 DIG-T engine. The base engine, available until 2018, generated 190 HP and could accelerate to 60 mph in 8 seconds. Contrary to expectations, it’s not a sporty variant.

The sporty variant is the Nismo version, equipped not only with a more powerful engine but also with a modified suspension and braking system, a spoiler package, and sports seats. Between 2013 and 2014, the Nismo had 200 HP. From 2015 to 2019, it had 218 HP with a manual transmission and 214 HP with an automatic transmission.

Regarding transmissions, the naturally aspirated 1.6 was paired with a five-speed manual, whereas the others had a six-speed manual. Automatic transmissions were CVT (continuously variable transmission) offered with the 1.6 DIG-T engines (including Nismo) and the naturally aspirated 1.6 with 117 and 112 HP power outputs.

Only the naturally aspirated 1.6 engines are considered safe. They have a simple chain-driven design and are relatively trouble-free. They consume a reasonable 27-29 mpg on average and offer decent performance, even the 94 HP version. The only drawback is excessive oil consumption, but not in all units. Often, it's possible to drive from one service interval to another without topping up the oil, provided it’s changed every 6,000 miles.

The 1.2 DIG-T unit is more pleasant to drive due to its high torque at low revs. However, it’s a high-risk engine that consumes oil and may suffer from piston ring failures or timing chain stretch. Compared to the 1.6, it doesn’t offer much better driving impressions to justify the risk. The only significant advantage of the 1.2 over the 1.6 is the six-speed manual transmission.

The 1.6 DIG-T engine has mixed reviews. It consumes little fuel (approximately 29 mpg) and performs much better. In the Nismo versions, it is a small rocket (though fuel consumption is significantly higher). Unfortunately, it has timing chain issues, with chains not lasting even 31,000 miles.

A replacement set of two chains costs approximately $240 to nearly $500 for the original parts. Even with a good quality chain, taking care of oil changes, and avoiding short trips, it's worth replacing the set after 62,000 miles. It’s a significant one-time expense but worthwhile, especially in the Nismo versions.

Diesel, though well-engineered and very fuel-efficient (approx. 47 mpg), naturally incurs higher repair costs if problems arise. Bearing issues mainly affect incredibly neglected engines, serviced only by the book in official dealerships. If you change the oil no less than every 6,000 miles, you shouldn’t encounter problems. The injection system, provided by Continental in the Juke, not Delphi as in some Renault models, has been refined.

Is it worth buying a diesel Juke? It primarily depends on the mileage. If you find a car with up to 93,000 miles, you can drive it problem-free for longer. And cheaply, with better performance than the 1.2 Turbo gasoline engine. When issues arise, be prepared for higher expenses compared to gasoline engines. Note that the 1.5 dCi engine is one of the cheapest diesel engines to maintain.

In summary, opt for the 1.6 gasoline version or the diesel if buying a Juke for everyday driving. Go for the 1.6 Turbo for performance, but remember about maintenance care. Here, I would lean toward the Nismo, which looks much better than the regular variant and drives wonderfully. Of course, service it like a sports car, remembering regular differential checks and being prepared for high brake repair costs. It’s safer to choose the front-wheel-drive variant with a manual transmission.

While the Nissan Juke is generally not prone to failure, Renault’s influence on this brand is noticeable from the typical faults. Minor electrical issues usually occur.

For instance, the wire connecting the steering wheel to the rest of the car is worn. A typical sign of damage is a lack of power at the steering wheel (buttons, horn). The heating system fan motor frequently fails. In summer, the air-flow control mechanism jams and deforms, and sometimes, the buttons on the control panel don't work.

There are not very good reviews of the multimedia system, radio, and CD player. This whole panel works somewhat capriciously. In early production cars, these issues were covered under warranty. Such and similar teething problems were eliminated in post-facelift cars from the 2014 model year onwards. Now you know which model years are worth buying. And what about the mechanics?

Jerking when starting or driving at low speeds is usually due to a worn lower engine mount that doesn't withstand high mileage. Knock noises when driving over bumps result from worn subframe bushes in the front suspension. Ignoring the problem will affect the life of the steering gear, which is not very durable. Fortunately, the rear suspension is durable in both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive versions.

The gear-shifting mechanism in the five-speed gearbox often loosens. This is not a big problem, as the repair involves tightening the mechanism. However, driving with a loose gearstick for many years may lead to accelerated gearbox wear.

Unfortunately, the CVT transmission made by Jatco does not have good reviews and is not resistant to stress. This applies to transmissions configured with front-wheel drive. The transmission bearings wear out quickly if the driver frequently floors the gas pedal and drives dynamically.

Ignoring the gearbox's whining leads to wear of the gears and the drive belt, necessitating comprehensive repairs. The cost is hard to determine as it depends on what needs replacing in the transmission, but often, it's easier and cheaper to replace the transmission with a used one.

If you have a car with this transmission, remember that it doesn't like sudden acceleration or harsh handling, especially at low temperatures. You can accelerate dynamically only when the oil is warmed up, but the throttle application should always be smooth and gentle. Also, changing the oil every 18,000-25,000 miles is essential.

The CVT transmission offered with all-wheel drive is much more durable. Jatco improved its durability and resistance to dynamic driving, so the transmission was even offered in the Juke Nismo. Properly maintained, it can last over 124,000 miles, but this is rare as few people take care of the transmission. If you buy a car with very low mileage, such as a Nismo, it is worth immediately changing the transmission oil and doing so relatively often.

The Nissan Juke is well-protected against corrosion, particularly for a Japanese car. However, the car was produced in England, ensuring it won’t rust as quickly as imported from the Far East. It didn’t escape the typical feature of cars made after 2000: soft, thin paint. There may be many chips on the front of the car, which should be regularly secured. Corrosion appears on the exhaust system on a large scale.

The Nissan Juke market is quite specific. Almost all models that left the showrooms were bought privately, so nearly every variant offered is available on the market. Even if cars are registered to a company, they are not fleet vehicles.

Only 25% of cars are diesel; among the gasoline engines, 74% are 1.6-liter units, with only 23% being the more powerful turbocharged versions. Therefore, the most common car variant is the base 1.6 Juke. Only 25% of cars have automatic transmissions, and 17% have all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, the market offers all variants, including Nismo (usually a few to a dozen units), but buying a Juke with a naturally aspirated engine is easiest.

Prices are not shocking, as opinions about this car are quite varied, and its appearance is still not a selling point by itself. The car is not easy to sell. It can be bought for around $4,800, a very low price for its year. The cheapest are diesel. The realistic lower price limit is $6,000. With that amount, you can already make a choice. For a post-facelift car, you need to pay a minimum of $7,100, and the newest and most expensive cars are priced at about $14,300.

These prices are not significantly different for the Juke Nismo, which can be bought for just over $9,500, with the most expensive ones reaching up to $16,700. However, these are rather wishful prices, as cars wait a long time for a buyer. To sell this car faster than in a few months, it should be priced at around $12,000 to $14,300.