- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.0T, 3 cyl.
- Engine Power
84kW, 180Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 5.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2019)
2021 Nissan Juke ST-L+ review
The quirky Nissan Juke has always been a bit left-field, but does it actually pay to be different in the popular light-SUV segment?
- Funky, unique styling
- Choice of cabin materials
- Surprising amount of room throughout
- Commanding driving position
- Lurchy transmission
- Overly harsh ride
- Pricey compared to rivals
Against the wider Nissan SUV range, the Juke has existed as the fun-loving, city-slicking little brother.
Its design was a little niche and goofy, and its small size wasn’t the most practical against other light-SUV alternatives. But with this latest generation, the 2021 Nissan Juke has matured in both design and size, which results in a much more usable crossover SUV.
It’s bigger than before, is much better kitted-out in terms of technology and equipment, but still retains some of the unique aspects of the previous-generation car that make it a left-field alternative in the hotly contested light-SUV segment.
That’s important for Nissan because front-running rivals include the Mazda CX-3, Kia Stonic, Volkswagen T-Cross, Ford Puma and Honda HR-V. These alternatives also offer huge levels of ability, technology and comfort for an affordable price.
Within Nissan’s own range, the Juke kicks off the SUV offerings at an entry level, with larger models such as the Qashqai, X-Trail, Pathfinder and Patrol filling out the rest of the line-up.
Prices start more expensive than you’d expect for a light SUV, kicking off at around $28,000 before on-road costs. But we’ve picked up the newly added $35,140 plus on-road costs (or on offer at $37,240 drive-away at the time of publishing) ST-L+ specification, which sits just below the range-topping Ti specification, to see whether it's worth its lofty price.
Key equipment over lesser variants in the Juke range includes an eight-speaker Bose premium sound system with speakers in the headrests, black and white part-leather upholstery, and black chrome-effect trim.
Other additions such as 19-inch alloy wheels, 8.0-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, LED headlights, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, digital radio, and heated seats are carried over from the lower-spec variants in the range.
Interior Comfort
One area where Nissan has made great strides with the new Juke is the interior. It presents as a grown-up space stocked with premium-feel materials and comfortable ergonomics.
However, while it may have matured, the Juke’s interior hasn’t become dull and austere. There are a number of unique styling touches, such as the bucket-style seats, ambient lighting, and leatherette-covered dash and centre console.
Key details | 2021 Nissan Juke ST-L+ |
Engine | 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged |
Power | 84kW @ 5250rpm |
Torque | 180Nm @ 2400rpm |
Weight (tare) | 1225kg |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 68.6kW/t |
Price (MSRP) | $35,140 |
The seats are very comfortable and perch the driver on a very SUV-like driving position, affording a commanding view over the road ahead. The cosseting shape of the seats has great thigh support and enough adjustability for most body shapes.
Storage throughout is decent, with a small centre console bin, two cupholders, and a small tray in front of the shifter. It’d be handy if some of the storage spots in the front row were a bit deeper in order to fit larger items.
There is one USB-A port and one 12-volt outlet for charging devices in the front row, and a singular USB-A port in the rear. There are few things to get excited about in the second row save for a pair of map pockets and sizeable door pockets for storage – but at least back seat passengers will feel pretty comfortable.
There’s a surprising amount of leg room, a good amount of space to stash your feet, and more room side-to-side than some rival light SUVs. However, head room isn’t fantastic for taller people.
Even though the hidden exterior doorhandle for the second row blends in and looks cool, it’s an awkward way to open a door, and we expect it’ll get old if you regularly use the back seats.
Nissan says the boot can contain 422L worth of stuff. The space expands to 1305L after dropping the 60/40 split-fold rear seats. The boot space has a bit of a higher load lip, which can make hefting in larger items and shopping bags a pain.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 8.0-inch infotainment screen in the Juke ST-L+ extends from the dash and features dials for tuning and volume control. The system can run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, digital radio, native satellite navigation, and voice commands.
It’s a responsive unit that has rarely failed us at Drive previously, and the presentation of various screens and functions looks entirely pleasant. It features a configurable home screen that can host all your favourite short cuts, but there are physical shortcut buttons underneath the display to skip to various screens.
Directly ahead of the driver, regular instrument dials sandwich a 7.0-inch TFT display that features a variety of information, which can be cycled through via steering-wheel buttons.
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Safety
The Nissan Juke scored a full five-star rating at its 2020 ANCAP test. This was completed under some of the stricter 2019 protocols, though ANCAP has since revised its assessment criteria to a more stringent 2021 regime.
A comprehensive safety suite is also included as standard, featuring a forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking for pedestrians and cyclists, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear-facing camera and parking sensors.
The ST-L+ specification adds front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and surround-view 360-degree camera.
At a glance | 2021 Nissan Juke ST-L+ |
Fuel consumption (claimed combined) | 5.8L/100km |
Fuel consumption (on test) | 7.1L/100km |
Fuel tank size | 46L |
Boot volume | 422L / 1305L |
Length | 4210mm |
Width | 1800mm |
Height | 1595mm |
Wheelbase | 2636mm |
Turning circle | 11.0 metres |
ANCAP safety rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
Warranty | Five-year, unlimited km |
Servicing cost | $2084 (5 years) |
Competitors | Kia Stonic | Ford Puma | Mazda CX-3 |
Value for Money
Considering the Nissan Juke range begins in the mid-to-high $20,000 range and extends north towards $37,000 before on-road costs, the Nissan Juke is undoubtedly more of a heart purchase than a head one. That said, the level of equipment on offer and the high-quality cabin appointments go some of the way to softening the blow.
The Nissan Juke is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years of roadside assistance.
Nissan suggests service intervals after either 20,000km or 12 months. In order of occurrence, services cost $310, $450, $520, $469, and $335 for a total of $2084 over five years.
Driver Technology
The Nissan Juke is fitted with a suite of active safety features mentioned earlier in the safety section. It’s also fitted with an adaptive cruise-control system that works a treat. It’s easy to set up, diligently follows the car ahead, and keeps a comfortable gap behind the car in front.
The Juke scores paddle shifters for manual override of the dual-clutch transmission, an electric handbrake, and a start/stop system.
Jukes also get a 7.0-inch driver display within the instrument cluster showing various information such as fuel data, media streaming and active safety settings.
Powertrain Performance
Every spec level of the Nissan Juke comes powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that outputs 84kW and 180Nm to the front wheels. The only transmission available is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that can be shifted manually by steering-wheel-mounted paddles.
Outputs from the engine feel appropriate for city duty and in-gear acceleration is perky further out of town. However, the gearbox is one of the more frustrating parts of the Juke experience. It’s slow to respond, lacks the traditional take-up creep that helps during tight manoeuvring, and you really need intentional throttle inputs to make it hustle.
The cabin is fairly well insulated from engine and road noise, though there are some small vibrations from the engine that can be felt in the driver’s seat.
Energy Efficiency
Nissan quotes a combined fuel consumption of 5.8L/100km, though we couldn’t match that figure on test. The Nissan Juke we had recorded a 7.1L/100km fuel reading.
What’s worse is the fact that Nissan recommends using only 95-octane fuel or higher when it comes time to refuel, which owners will have to shell out more money for.
Ride and Handling
While the little Juke’s 19-inch alloys look awesome on a light SUV, they don’t go far in helping the car’s ride profile. The poor Juke ends up transmitting hard-edged impacts through to the cabin and feels too rigid over speed humps and train tracks.
It’s not a deal-breaker, but the suspension tune feels a bit too sporty for a car that’ll spend a majority of its time in suburbia.
It’s a slow steerer with more weight behind the wheel than you’d expect from contemporary light SUVs, but it all leans into the Juke’s high-riding 4x4-style drive experience. That said, the Juke can hold its line well through a series of tight bends and remains composed through corners.
Manoeuvrability around town is good from an easy-to-handle perspective, though as mentioned, the gearbox is a let-down when you need a quick change from drive to reverse – and vice versa.
Fit for Purpose
As stated earlier, the Nissan Juke is a heart purchase rather than a head one. It’s a bit more expensive than rivals and equipped with some style-over-substance big wheels that hurt its ride quality, but it also has a fancy interior with a great subset of features.
If buyers are after a uniquely designed light SUV that stands out from the rest of the crowd, the Nissan Juke makes a pretty good argument.
Conclusion
For some, the trade-offs associated with the Nissan Juke ST-L+ will be too many and the value equation will not stack up. That’s fine – there’s a whole segment full of alternatives available.
But the Juke will almost certainly find buyers purely for its bold and playful styling and ‘premium’ positioning. That said, the car isn’t without substance altogether – there’s a great amount of space on offer in the cabin, a larger-than-expected boot, and it’s even a bit of a fun steer (though efforts are hampered by the transmission).
In an overpopulated light-SUV segment, sometimes it pays to be like the Nissan Juke and do things differently.