Come this fall, Nissan will add the Versa-based Juke compact crossover to its lineup. Previewed in Paris and having made its in-the-metal debut at the Geneva auto show, the Juke is quite, uh, flavorful in the styling department. It evokes both the lumpy Nissan Leaf and the heinous Pontiac Aztek while managing to look better than both. We’re not so sure about the busy front fascia and the lighting elements on the tops of the front fenders, but we do like the ready-to-pounce stance, muscular fender arches, and swoopy taillamps. More subtle but also as cool are the cantilevered roof and angular A-pillars borrowed from the GT-R and 370Z.
The interior is likewise heavily styled, and seems to feature plenty of technology in spite of the car’s plebeian platform, including separate screens for the available navigation and automatic-climate functions. We dig the two-tone, multi-textured seat fabrics and painted center console, the latter said to be inspired by motorcycle gas tanks.
It would be nice if the Juke’s performance could also be motorcycle-like. To that end, the available all-wheel-drive system will incorporate an electronic torque-vectoring function to help curb understeer, and it was stressed to us that the Juke is intended to be “more of an urban vehicle than an off-roader." At the New York show, Nissan shared information regarding U.S. powertrains, confirming that the optional turbocharged engine from the European model will be the sole engine offering here. Score. The force-fed engine is a direct-injection, 1.6-liter four-cylinder and Nissan promises 180-plus hp and 170-plus lb-ft of torque in U.S. spec—the Euro version is advertised as making 188 hp and 177 lb-ft. All Jukes will come equipped with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT as standard, while a six-speed manual will be optional on front-wheel-drive models.
That engine should have plenty of power to hustle the Juke, considering that this thing is small. With a 99.6-inch wheelbase, and at 162.4 inches long, 69.5 inches wide, and 61.8 inches tall, the Juke will actually be about the same size as the wee Versa five-door, which gets by okay with just 122 hp. The Versa's wheelbase measures 102.4 inches, while its length, width, and height come in at 169.1 inches, 66.7 inches, and 60.4 inches, respectively. All Jukes will have MacPherson struts up front, while the tiny ute's rear suspension will vary between front- and all-wheel-drive models; the former will use a torsion-beam, while the latter will have a multilink setup.
Standard equipment will include 17-inch wheels, an iPod interface, Bluetooth, and a 60/40 folding rear seat, while leather seats, heated front chairs, navigation, a rearview camera, and keyless ignition will be among the options. Pricing is still unknown, but we’re told to expect a sticker just under $20K; the grand total should rise to the mid-twenties for a loaded, all-wheel-drive example. The Juke will arrive at U.S. dealers this fall.
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