"Is it electric? It looks like something kids [people in their 20s or 30s] would like. It's quirky. What is it?" This woman's golden retriever's nose is uncomfortably close to our crotch ("Don't worry, he's friendly!"...sure is) and she's poring over our new 2011 Nissan Juke SL AWD like it was from outer space. We don't blame her.
"No, Ma'am, it's not electric. It's actually turbocharged and designed for fun. It's kind of sporty. But you're right, it is quirky and probably something for kids."
Her dog wanders into a nearby stream and she belts out one last, "Is it even a hybrid? What is it?" before rushing down the embankment to save a dog from having fun.
Of course, the 2011 Nissan Juke SL is not a hybrid or an EV or any other type of newfangled alt-fueled world-saving contraption. But "What is it?" That's a real question. It's the strangest-looking car we've ever had in the long-term fleet and it handles better than anything riding on the same platform as the Versa should.
It's quirky and different and so what if we don't know what it is; we've got a Juke for 12 months and 20,000 miles to figure that out.
What We Got
Our 2011 Nissan Juke SL AWD CVT starts out with a turbocharged 1.6-liter direct-injection gasoline (DIG) four-cylinder engine making 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. As the name implies, power is sent to all four wheels (when the switch is flipped — the AWD system isn't permanent and is disabled, enabled or locked via rocker on the dash) through a continuously variable transmission. In this trim, the Juke is good for an EPA estimated 25 city and 30 highway mpg. It's also good for ripping $25,330 (including $760 destination fee) from your wallet.
Sure, there are less expensive options. The S model with FWD, the same 188-hp motor and CVT, cloth seats, iPod integration and Bluetooth runs $18,980. Upgrade to the SV and you get a sunroof, rear privacy glass, keyless ignition/entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, satellite radio, automatic climate control and the Integrated Control (I-Con) system which allows control over Normal, Sport and Eco settings for throttle, steering and transmission as well as the climate control. This package runs from $20,280. The SV is also the lowest trim where you can select a six-speed manual transmission instead of the CVT.
The top dog is the SL. For the SL you take the SV and add automatic headlights and foglights, leather, heated front seats, an upgraded six-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system with 8-inch subwoofer, a rearview camera and an SD-card-based navigation system. This option is, of course, the most expensive at $22,570. Add all-wheel drive and the CVT and you're up to $24,570.
And then comes the options. These are limited as the Juke SL is already well equipped with USB and Bluetooth, navigation, leather and keyless entry. We got carpeted floor mats for $170 and a rear roof spoiler for $390. If you're going to go quirky, go all out.
All told, our Juke rings up a tab of $25,890, though this vehicle was not purchased by Edmunds, rather it was loaned by the manufacturer for this test.
Why We Got It
The Nissan Juke is billed as a "Bold Urban Sport Cross." Separately, we can define all of those words, put them together to define a car and somehow things get blurry. In our full test we wrote, "From the Group B-esque headlights to its comically swollen wheel arches and taillights that could have been pilfered from a 370Z, the 2011 Nissan Juke throws together a bizarre mishmash of styling cues. You keep staring at the thing trying to get your head around it, but the Juke is defiantly head-wraparound-proof. It's funky. It's ugly. It's funkly."
The French are familiar with crazy as they've had Citroen uglying up their streets for decades, but this is a new level of weird for a nation who values three-box design and classic values. After all, we're last in the developed world for modern architecture. It's just not how we roll.
And that's exactly the point here. The 2011 Nissan Juke is odd in a big way. From its hood-mounted lights to the trio of intakes in the lower fascia to the sports car taillights crammed onto a high-riding AWD sport cross, the Juke should be some sort of insubstantial flash in the pan. Thing is, though, it's not.
We know it drives well. But is the funky packaging useful? Will we be able to see through it over time? Does all-wheel drive and a turbo overcome all obstacles? Will the Versa in the Juke's DNA show through in the long run, or is this the book we're happy we judged by its shocking cover?
Follow our long-term road test blog for 12 months and 20,000 miles with a bright red tree frog, sorry, the 2011 Nissan Juke.
Current Odometer: 1,004
Best Fuel Economy: 22.9
Worst Fuel Economy: 21.5
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 22.2
This vehicle was provided to Edmunds for the purpose of this evaluation.
Follow the long-term road test blog for updates about our 2011 Nissan Juke.
Add A Comment »
gtrguy2012 says:
03:00 PM, 01/03/2012
It's looks different, better than a box, and It's FAST.
says:
01:27 PM, 12/06/2011
This is the most atrociously ugly vehicle I have ever seen. Looks like the next Pontiac Aztek!
stang4ever says:
07:19 AM, 10/17/2011
If someone needs consistancy....I can think of a few manufactures that are consistantly "Bad".......for style try a mini or Toyota...they make super conservative cars. Thank G that someone our there in automotive land is thinking outside the box as I am tired of the "Same old"....I remember when Chysler didn't make a car that wasn't a rectangle!!!
I really dig Nissan's message. I put my money where my mouth is and bought a top of line model loaded, having some custom paint applied, cat back pipes, cool air, and looking for under pullies.....and I love it! Highly accurate steering with a absence of understeer, great brakes, easy to get in/out of the drivers seat, smooth ride (Cry mini owners), a "Jack Rabbit" thru traffic, great fit and finish, flex free body, and I am averaging 31 mpg around town on "Plus".
I have the family car, SUV, the hot rod, fire breathing Mustang......but change is healthy as this little rocket takes me back to the days of my Fiat 128 rally car with vast improvements. Thanks Nissan for bringing a laughter into my life........
stang4ever says:
08:14 AM, 09/11/2011
I recently test drove a Juke. Looking for something fun and unusual as compared to a Camera-ray. I was looking for fun, economy balanced w/ performance in an effort to reduce the usage of my tricked out Mustang. While researching the net, I have enjoyed the diverse comments on the Juke's styling. I am sure the French find the Juke amazing and even familiar.....before you make fun of French cars please spend some time at classic car auctions and note the prices paid for items (French) many have made fun of over the years.....you should be so lucky!
I believe this is a effort of a Japanese manufacturer to respond to their owners suggestions in order to move their vehicles from the deep sleep and dreaming of "Jelly Belly" styling ques. In short many Japanese car manufactures need to move on as I am beginning to feel as I did did in the "Disco" years.....when is it going to end!
There are those who ARE actively seeking an alternative look to break of the board-ummmm. After all art is in the eye of the beholder. I distinctly remember when fastback car began to show up and many said OMG.......... anyone want to argue with the success of manufacturers of the Mustang, Ferrari, Lambo, and Nissan etc? The Juke may have it's day a little down the road and we'll just have to see if their experiment gains acceptance.
For me....I love it. Thanks to Nissan for having the vision and guts to dare to be different. After operating the Juke and then getting beat up on ruff roads in the Mini John Cooper for $10K more, think I am opting for the Juke. For those who can't seem to move on....well...nature has fixed that problem.
snerticus says:
04:26 PM, 03/31/2011
My SV model has averaged between 30-31 mpg so far with a combo of city/hwy driving. I just got it last week. Hopefully the fuel economy will improve slightly when I've gotten a bit more miles on it.
Of course, I've put premium gas in (and it wasn't near $50 to fill up). The premium definitely gives better mileage. Also, mine's the FWD, not the AWD, so it gets better mileage from that as well. All in all, it's everything I've wanted in a car. The 'zippiness' is just icing on the cake. I just hope it lasts as long as the one I traded in for it - which was 13 years old and was still going strong.
I really love my Juke... as far as looks go, I love that as well. I don't understand people who think it's ugly. I think it's the best looking car out there, and have thought so ever since I saw a picture of one last October for the first time. Of course, I think the 'cube' vehicles are downright ugly and yet they have many fans out there. To each his own, I guess. I recently read an article on how ugly the Juke was despite all of it's good features. The author claimed that anyone who didn't think the car was ugly needs their eyes examined. Well, I think it's the opposite. But that's just my opinion...
All I know is I love my Juke - froggy looks and all. (Which, BTW, I used to raise frogs so there you go!)
twa727 says:
07:38 AM, 02/22/2011
I love that the All Wheel Drive is disengageable.
noobnox says:
03:14 PM, 02/19/2011
ongopt-
You said "It seems like in my experience the only ones who don't like the Juke's look are online posters." Well, that is because the internet gives people the anonymity to say what they're really thinking. I don't believe many people have the balls to insult the way a strangers car looks....or even a friend depending on what kind of friendship it is. (I have buddies that would have problem calling my car butt ugly if they thought it was..haha) There is no question the Juke is weird looking...sometimes that can be a good thing, but with cars it often isn't. I'm glad you enjoy your Juke (I'm sure it;s likely a good car) and the attention it brings..it's just not for me. Time will tell if the majority of Americans feel the way. Btw...how many of those people who love the way your Juke looks have bought one themselves or are seriously thinking about it?
ongopt says:
11:01 PM, 02/09/2011
It seems like in my experience the only ones who don't like the Juke's look are online posters. I have the Pearl SL FWD CVT and have never owned a car that has gotten so many compliments and questions asked about about what it is and who makes it. Personally I love the styling-- quirky blinkers and all. It's completely different from everything out there, is a head turner, decent ( but not great MPG), and handles very well even for a FWD--especially in sport mode. I took it up Patterson Pass here in northern CA ( you would just have to drive this road to believe it) in sport mode and going at insane speeds. Amazing and thrilling is all I can say.
I did not get AWD because of the 2-3 MPG loss and extra tire ware. Plus, if you get a side wall puncture with 50% treadware life with this type of computer controlled AWD, be prepared to have to replace all 4 tires. I know, it happened to me on my previous car: Acura RDX AWD. I drive stop and go 4-500 miles per week so the extra MPGs and longer tire life are very important to me.
I have driven the car for over 5000 miles now and it has done well so far. The paint seems to hold up well to pebble hits, brakes work very well ( better than my RDX ), it has been fairly comfortable and very economical compared to my RDX. My monthly payments are much less per month than my RDX (as it has all the same upgrades as the RDX for $12000 less) and gets about 5 MPG more. I have been averaging about 19.5 MPG in the city with a whole lot of stopping and going. I get about 28 MPG on the highway.
The quirks: no center arm rests but all of the cubby holders make up for that for me. Yes, without
AWD that nth degree of traction is missing in hard cornering- but sport mode almost makes up for that. Sunshades are too short, the fit and finish are not up to par with the RDX ( again the RDX costs 12 grand more with all options), the doors need a bit of a hard shove to close right and I got a big dashboard rattle. I hate rattles! :)
Overall I have been very satisfied so far. Don't knock it until you have driven it for awhile. :)
500rwhp says:
04:01 PM, 02/09/2011
It's ugly.
No, ugly doesn't even do it justice.
It's awful looking.
lions208487 says:
01:19 PM, 02/09/2011
If I was 17 years old and in High School, I would deliver a million pizza's to own one of these, but since I have long graduated from the halls of misguided pimple popping k-12, I would have to pass.
It does a lot of things well for the price tag, but just too ackward for me.
If Nissan wanted a bunch of bland, blend into the crowd appliances, they would call themselves Toyota and recall everything.