2016 Nissan Juke

The 2016 Nissan Juke now offers Siri Eyes Free connectivity.

Vehicle Summary

The 2016 Nissan Juke is a small crossover that slots below the larger Rogue and is available in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations.

Overview

One engine is offered in the 2016 Juke, a 1.6-liter turbo I-4 rated at 188 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque on the S, SV, SL and Nismo trim levels. The performance oriented Juke Nismo RS is rated at 215 hp and 210 lb-ft in front-drive guise or 211 hp and 184 lb-ft with all-wheel drive. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard on all but the front-drive Juke Nismo and Nismo RS, which come exclusively with a six-speed manual. Fuel economy is class competitive at 28/32 mpg city/highway on front-drive S, SV, and SL models, 28/34 mpg on the front-drive Nismo and 25/31 mpg on the front-drive Nismo RS. Opting for all-wheel drive drops fuel economy figures down to 26/31 mpg on the S, SV, SL and Nismo grades while the Nismo RS go falls to 25/29 mpg.

Practicality is one of the Juke's weak points due to its polarizing exterior styling. Cargo space is limited at 10.5 cubic feet behind the split-folding rear seats and 35.9 cubic feet with them down. Compared to its rivals like the Honda HR-V, which can hold nearly 60 cubic feet, the Juke's cargo carrying capacity is among the smallest in the class.

Safety

Standard safety features include dual front, front-side, and side-curtain airbags.

Trims, Packages, and What's Standard

Base S variants of the Juke come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/start, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, cloth upholstery, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats. Moving up to the SV variant adds premium cloth upholstery, a moonroof, the I-CON interface, which integrates the climate and drive mode controls into one set of buttons with a small screen, satellite radio, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and automatic temperature control. The range-topping SL trim adds leather upholstery, automatic on/off headlights, fog lights, the NissanConnect infotainment system with Mobile Apps and navigation, a 5.8-inch touchscreen, the Around View monitor, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and a Rockford Fosgate ecoPunch audio system.

The Juke Nismo comes with the same standard tech features as the SL and adds a chrome exhaust, red side mirror caps, a Nismo aero kit, 18-inch alloy wheels, a Nismo-tuned steering system, Nismo-tuned suspension and chassis, and sport seats. Moving up to the Nismo RS adds Recaro front bucket seats, red brake calipers, a Nismo-tuned exhaust system, and more aggressive versions of the Nismo-tuned suspension chassis, and power steering system.

What We Think

In a 2015 First Test review, we noted that the Juke excels at being fun to drive thanks to its engaging handling and strong turbo-four. However, everything else is sacrificed because of its polarizing styling, which cuts into interior space. Additionally, material quality isn't very impressive due to the excessive amounts of hard plastics in the cabin. The Juke placed sixth in a comparison test that also included the Jeep Renegade, Subaru XV Crosstrek, Mazda CX-3, Chevrolet Trax, and Honda HR-V because of its inefficient use of interior space, cramped rear seats, and limited cargo space.

Nismo versions of the Juke are no better as we noted in a 2015 Juke Nismo RS First Test review because it's nearly impossible to get comfortable in the car due to the lack of seat adjustability and a steering wheel that doesn't telescope. Additionally, the clutch in manual-equipped models is extremely stiff making it even harder to find an ideal driving position. Torque steer is also a problem in front-drive Jukes, especially the more powerful Nismo RS variant.

Cool Fact

The Juke's center console was inspired by the gas tank of a motorcycle.

Key Competitors

• Jeep Renegade
• Subaru XV Crosstrek
• Mazda CX-3
• Mini Countryman
• Fiat 500X
• Honda HR-V