Nissan Juke

[dmuramoto]

This week I'm driving a 2011 Juke SV out of our local press fleet. While we've already done a review on this model, it's always great to drive one on your local roads. It's reinforced my initial impressions of the Juke as a pretty solid and entertaining car. Easy to get in and out of, the Juke also gets solid performance out of its MR16DET engine and CVT. Particularly at a mile-high elevation and using the Sport driving mode, this combo really moves well.

Drove to the other side of town last night for the local SCCA meeting and noticed certain details, like how the small running lights and turn signals are easily visable from the cockpit. Not enough to be too distracting, but just a nice little detail. What can be a bit distracting is the ICON display on the lower IP and the full color nav screen just above that. Both are nicely integrated, but are about the limit of what I want in a functional cockpit.

Finally, I noticed several younger drivers checking out the Juke and its unconventional styling. Most seemed to give it at least tacit approval, judging from the smiles and nods. For such a polarizing vehicle, acceptance seems to be coming quickly from the general public.

[audtatious]

So, from a performance perspective what would be the first changes you would make if it were yours?

[dmuramoto]

Off the top of my head, I'd say the first change would be to lower and increase the roll stiffness of the Juke. But that might detract from the overall utility of the vehicle, so I'd have to drive it while I consider my options.

[audtatious]

You thinking larger sway bars for roll or stiffer suspension

[dmuramoto]

Probably a combination of shocks, springs and swaybars. I like to do my mods ONCE, do it right and enjoy the results.