LOOKS
The Juke I was able to test had flashy black and red styling, to make it stand out and even look fast. The front end is like no other on the market, though portions of it bear a resemblance to some of the Infiniti lineup with its raised sides.
The frog-resembling design might be called unattractive to some, but I would fall on the other side and say it’s pretty sharp-looking. Whatever you think of it, I can guarantee you won’t confuse the Juke with any other vehicle on the road.
Seats in the NISMO model of the Juke are racecar style, with large vertical portions butting up on each side; These were a bit annoying (and occasionally painful) to me when trying to get in and out of the vehicle.
There is a back seat, and four doors -- with unique placement of the rear door handles, giving the impression it’s a two-door from a distance. Back seat is tiny, though small adults and children will fit just fine.
Don’t plan on carrying much cargo either, as there’s little room. And the materials on the interior are pretty basic, nothing to write home about.
ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
The Nissan Juke NISMO RS features a four-cylinder, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.
A manual transmission is offered on front-wheel-drive versions of the Juke NISMO RS. The AWD version gets a CVT with paddle shifters. It’s worth noting that many vehicles in this segment don’t offer AWD, so that’s one of its possible draws for folks who need that capability.
The Juke NISMO RS offers 215 horsepower, and 210 lb.-ft. of torque (with the manual and front-wheel drive), and 211 horsepower/184 lb.-ft. of torque if you opt for the CVT and AWD.
The features that are added on the NISMO RS model of the Juke include: NISMO RS-tuned High output engine; NISMO RS-tuned CVT with paddle shifters; NISMO RS-tuned torque vectoring All-wheel-drive; NISMO-tuned suspension and steering; NISMO RS performance exhaust; NISMO front grille and rear spoiler, and more.
What this all means, to those unfamiliar, is that this little odd-looking but attractive vehicle is quite fast, brakes tremendously, handles extremely well, and is abundantly fun to drive. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re a fan of trying to enjoy your ride and not just get where you’re going, the Juke NISMO RS is a vehicle aimed squarely at you.
Is it as enjoyable as driving a true sports car or a luxury speedster? Of course not.
But in the under $30K price range, there are few cars available that are this much fun to drive, I can safely say.
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
For a sporty ride, the Juke NISMO RS has some decent safety features. They include: Anti-lock brakes, traction control, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring system, and the very helpful Around View monitor with Moving Object Detection. The infotainment system has been upgraded too.
MPG, PRICE
Official numbers are the Juke NISMO RS are an impressive 25 city/29 highway/27 combined. Not back for a pretty racy little SUV.
My test vehicle was just under $32,000; and the base price starts about $28K.
BOTTOM LINE
One look at the Nissan Juke and it’s clear it’s not for everyone, but those who like the design and ride style of this vehicle will definitely enjoy it. It’s got a smallish back seat so I wouldn’t recommend it as a main family ride (Nissan’s Murano and Pathfinder fit that bill better), but the Juke is strong in its own ways if you’re looking for a fun ride and want to avoid the more standard compact SUV choices that dominate the sales charts.
You’ll be noticed, without a doubt, driving the Juke -- whatever it is.
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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.
