In a moment, the rearview mirror was filled with a familiar German sight. Bathed in Darth Vader black, wearing its European plate with pride and glaring menacingly ahead with its angle eyes was the opponent of the day. As fast as it could, the modified Bavarian bomber verged into the left lane and began its rapid attack to scorch the warm concrete and lay wake to its seemingly lackadaisical foe. But unbeknownst to the downright evil-looking BMW 3-Series, the vehicle it was attempting to pass and thus humiliate wasn’t just some run-of-the mill crossover. Just as the lowered sedan’s front met with the rear quarter panel of the odd-looking vehicle, the little hatchback’s throttle met its firewall. Suddenly, 188 turbocharged horses were released and a look of bewilderment took over the face of the BMW’s driver. Try as he might, his Roundeled pride-and-joy simply could not keep up with the 2012 Nissan Juke.
Unveiled as a 2011, the Juke marks a new entry into a previously uncharted segment for Nissan. Placed under the compact Rogue, the littlest crossover is classified as a Mini and thus, doesn’t have much in the form of competition. Judged on size alone, the B Platform based (shared underpinnings with the Versa and Cube) Juke could run head-to-head with the Kia Soul and Scion XD but further investigation reveals that the Nissan is a bit more than just a funky-looking hatchback. A raised suspension provides seven inches of ground clearance while optional all wheel drive gives it the perception of gravel excursions. With that in mind and given its very similar length to the all wheel drive optional Suzuki SX4, the Juke might find a challenger in the other Japanese hatchback. If the two were to meet at a stop light however, there is no doubt that the Suzuki would have trouble seeing the Nissan’s curvaceous tail lights. This means that for the time being, the Juke might just be in a class of its own.
In order to find out if it has what its takes to remain important, we got behind the wheel of a 2012 SL Front Wheel Drive CVT. Currently, there are three trims for the Juke: S, SV and SL. Loaded to the teeth with everything but all wheel drive, our Chrome Silver tester starts with a Base MSRP of $23,900 which includes every Juke feature as standard. That means that inside are leather seats with heating up front, 60/40 split folding for the seconds, leather wrapping for the steering wheel and shift knob, Rockford Fosgate supplied premium six speaker stereo with subwoofer, satellite radio, navigation via a five-inch touchscreen display, real time traffic, back up camera, lower Integrated Control System with climate and drive mode selector and push button start. Added to our test Juke was the $1,310 Sport Package which includes a rear roof spoiler, 17 Gunmetal wheels and a stainless steel exhaust finish. A set of $175 floor mats finished off the package for a total MSRP of $26,145 including destination charge. That’s nearly a solid $3 grand more than the 2011 Juke SV we tested earlier, but it might just be worth it. There is so much stuff packed inside the SL that it surprised us each and every day.
Innovative stuff may be cool, but an exclusive navigation isn’t responsible for the embarrassment of 3-Series drivers. What is can be found under the Juke’s oddly flat hood: Nissan’s first U.S. turbocharged inline four cylinder in years. All-new and featuring direct injection, the 1.6 liter DOHC MR16DDT is unchanged for the 2012 model year and so far, there have been no complaints. Pumping out an impressive 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, the small displacement block might just be enough to bring Nissan purist out of their funk from the SR20DET’s death. Internet rumors put the MR at about 12 psi of factory boost, which means that once the aftermarket gets ahold of one, there is easily room for improvement. The factory ECU allows for three “Drive Modes” that can be selected via the Integrated Control System and all out power is accessed via Sport mode. As equipped, our front drive CVT tester weighs in just under 3,000 lbs which allows for a 0-60 mph time in the mid seven second range. Off the line acceleration is honestly not that impressive as the gearless transmission takes a while to build boost and torque. Once in its optimum rev range however, the Juke can flat-out scoot. Placing the shifter into S mode allows for manipulation of the CVT’s tension pulleys to simulate gear changes but it still doesn’t make up for the lack of a third pedal. A front drive Juke can be ordered with a conventional, six speed manual transmission and done so for less money. Unless you truly can not operate a clutch pedal, the CVT should be avoided as it does not do the fantastic engine justice.
Despite the CVT’s sometimes slow responses, the Juke is a force to be reckoned with in a straight line. On the highway, it will cruise at speed for hours with so much ease that more times than not, we thought we were traveling 15 to 20 mph slower than we actually were. Once we had passed our desired off ramp and pulled on to the next available exit, the Juke’s strong rotors with Electronic Brake-force Distribution kicked in for fade free stops. Entering a twisty back road shouldn’t be avoided as turn in is accompanied with actual communication from the quick ratio steering. Grabbing multiple apexes is a fairly easy task but could be easier if Nissan would remedy a strange issue: the front drive model’s torsion beam suspension. All wheel drive Jukes get a much more sophisticated and capable multi-link rear but at a cost: more money and no manual transmission option. Even still, the front driver makes the best of what its got and can tackle a curvy mountain road with confidence. Powering out a corner proved to be more entertaining than entering as the MR16 always delivers torque when called upon. Its high output did however cause the inside wheel to spin out of control if pushed too far as the Juke’s front differential is left open. A proper limited slip would make corner carving much more efficient.
When the mountain is in the Juke’s foreground and a driver finds themselves in the city, the Nissan’s true calling comes into view. This is, without a doubt, a seriously ferocious around town car. Darting in and out of traffic is a breeze and the crossover’s tidy size makes parking anywhere effortless. If you simply can not find your exit plan and become stuck in jam, there are enough cool features on the inside to keep the entertainment high. The touchscreen navigation looks truly exclusive and reacts instantly. The map display offers up various point of interest locations such as gas stations and restaurants so you and your Juke can stay fueled. With enough kick from the upgraded stereo, each bass note can be heard crystal clear from the easy to use satellite radio. Once things get moving again and you find yourself deep within the city, the Juke’s raised ride height means traveling over uneven pavement isn’t filled with anxiety. What it is filled with however are body quivers. Perhaps a side effect of the low profile tires, speed bumps and pot holes are felt and sometimes hard. And oddly enough, the simple operation of the windscreen wipers could be felt through the steering wheel. By no means jarring, the Juke’s ride could be improved upon with further damper tuning.
At the end of the day, the latest Nissan is a solid overall package. It’s powerful, compact, relatively efficient (we averaged 25 mpg in mixed, journalist driving) and loaded with innovative features. On the outside, its design is love-it or hate-it and there’s no denying that Nissan has some serious guts putting out a vehicle with the Juke’s looks. Resembling a playful frog sitting on top of a rally car, the crossover simply can not be confused with anything else on the road and equipped like our Sport Package tester, it is strangely handsome. The wide fenders and massive fog lights give the impression of “get out of my way” and its turbocharged power backs that bark up with street ripping bite. When all is said and done, there is still room for improvement that should come with time. The sometimes uneasy body movement can be solved with thicker sway bars and the multi-link rear suspension becoming standard. The low-speed sluggishness can be solved with the conventional six speed transmission. Corner exit can be improved with a proper limited slip differential and ride quality should get better with just a slight tweak to the dampers. As it sits now, Nissan should change not one thing about the cooler-than-cool interior which is filled with so much stuff for so little money that the car simply didn’t stop surprising us. And as much as some people complain, the outward aesthetics of the Juke fit the vehicle’s personality so well that it’s obviously proud of it. The odd body creates a wolf in sheep’s clothing as the MR16 is a true gearhead gem. Like most new cars, the Juke will more than likely get better with time, but for now, it will not disappoint. It packs so much into so little that it becomes realistic and a truly unique offering. No other vehicle on the market can offer what the latest Nissan can which puts it in a class of its own. Wrapped up in the funky and muscular lines of the 2012 Nissan Juke is utility, efficiency, performance and technology as well as the ability to embarrass more than just one skeptic.
