First View: Nissan Juke

Sometimes a car rolls up and says 'you're gonna like me. A lot',writes Brian Byrne. And you do. Pretty well instantly.

Five minutes into my introductory drive in the new Nissan Juke, I knew I liked it. A lot.

In style, it's definitely in your face. Quirky large headlight clusters, a grinning front. Chunky rear quarters which come from the same DNA as the Murano luxury car and the phenomenally successful Qashqai compact crossover which has eclipsed even Renault's Scenic by a massive margin.


Juke is the production version of the showcar Qazana. I think they should have kept that name, but the wisdom in Japan decreed otherwise. Makes no differ. This one is going to run and run by any name.

Juke is in the same segment as its sibling Note, currently topping the small MPV sales here but likely to face a strong challenge now that the new generation Meriva has hit the streets in Ireland. Its target is the young, upmarket trenders who want a cross between an SUV and a sports car. Above all they want to be seen to be different.

That kind of high waistline and sloping roof we've seen already in the likes of the Kia Soul, and it's also what we'll see soon at the other end of the scale in the Range Rover Evoque. It's a trend at both ends, budget and affluent. Juke adds curves and quirkiness to the mix.

It also adds the level of perceived quality that the company debuted in Qashqai. And if any one attribute was the key to catching my attention, it was this. A supermini-based car with the quality of finish and furniture that only prestige cars used to have.

Sure, everybody is doing this now. Peugeot, Ford, Renault are just a few examples of other major makers which have pushed out the boat on their materials and build quality. But I still believe credit should be given where due, and the Juke deserves such mention.

It also has some funky aspects inside, but none of which get in the way of practicality. The instruments are well designed in traditional style, white on black and with a good anti-glare hood over them. There's a centre stack of radio/climate controls which is easily operated. Each set of switches is cleverly dual purpose, to change drive and eco parameters.

The between seats console is a humpy thing that is designed from a motorbike's fuel tank. It is both interesting and quite practical, keeping the gearshifter at a nice height.

The Juke is roomy, and I have no problems sitting in the back seat, either, which means it will work nicely with a small family, or a group of friends out to play. A good boot too, and flipping down the rear seatbacks does give a truly flat extended load space.

The view from the driver's seat is very much designated by the top of the front lights clusters glass, and is kind of cute. It is a good driving position, high-seated and offering a good view forward and to the side. The slope of the rear screen somewhat limits the view through the back, but it's not a problem, because the side mirrors are huge.

At launch the car is powered by a 117hp 1.6 petrol engine, which is a Band B unit. A 1.5 110hp diesel is upcoming, but it is also Band B so there's no great incentive to pay the extra for it. And there is, a little down the road, a high-powered 190hp petrol variant aimed at those who want to hammer their GT-type friends.

The upper spec versions have a sporty engine/steering configuration, as well as an 'eco' below the normal setting. They come with smart, even intriguing related graphics on the centre screen. And the sporty setting does indeed make for a travel with more verve.

Juke looks fun, but also IS fun to drive. In my short time with the car (I'll be doing a longer stint soon) I got really engaged with it.

With pricing from €18,195, the car is competing with hatches in the segment above it, but I think it is well able to hold its corner. I think it could also take attention from its more elite brethren, like BMW's Mini and Audi's A1.

Bottom line so far, I'm pretty certain we're going to see Juke do much more business than might be expected.