So I test drove a Juke - Updated!!

[nissangirl74]

I don't think I hate the Juke as bad as MoD, but it was a big disappointment to me. I drove the one with the CVT so that was a big, fat fail but I'm not sure how much a manual is gonna help it. I'm reserving final opinion until then. Unfortunately, it is very unremarkable, especially for the price.

Here's my write-up. I'm actually hoping someone reads this, goes and does their own test drive and loves it.
2011-nissan-juke-test-drive-results-t512166.html

[PEZi]

i want to test drive a manual one..... until then my opinions are open

[nissangirl74]

Some days I think I might be biased, considering the Frontier has a 4.0L and I can just waylay the hell out of it. However, my favorite car was, and probably always will be, the 210. Never had even 100 hp but fun as hell to drive. I'm hoping the manual transmission makes me do a 180*.

[Jesda]

Thanks for being so detailed. USA Today (I know, I know, its a newspaper for the shortbus, but its free) had a very brief but positive review of the Juke, but I cant remember if they drove the CVT or manual.

I guess the conclusion one could make, based on your review and theirs, is that its a cheap way of buying something bold and different. But as much as I poke fun at the Cube, that little box has a lot more charm and personality than the Juke. The Juke seems to think its cooler than it is, which makes it instantly unappealing. Its also a tough sell when $24k will get you a reasonably equipped Mazda CX7 Sport, or $26k will get you a CX7 with a turbo and 240hp.

[nissangirl74]

Greg said he could tell that it had more power than the Cube but he drove it on the side streets and didn't really have a chance to get it up to speed. I took it up on the freeway and was begging for more power with no results. It cruises fine at speed; however,getting there is just a headache.

When I sat down and wrote this review, I struggled with the direction I wanted to take. I wanted to be positive because we are here to promote Nissan in a positive light. However, I couldn't in good faith write up a review that wasn't my true opinion. I truly hope I am the only one in the world that doesn't like it and that Nissan sells thirty blue million of them.

[nissangirl74]

[Solar_Runner]

enjoyed your write-up. Wished you liked it better.... your 2nd to the last paragraph was very telling, Juke V. other Nissan products.

Thanks Bex -

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I was really hoping to like this car...

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Ha! So the stupid rear design does reduce rear headroom. Silly Nissan, you can't give a sports car and a faux-suv the same roofline!

[fiznowler]

I just can't get over the amount of ugly on those cars. I don't see what market nissan is targeting with it. It seems like the cube would be direct competition for this thing. I am with becky on this one I want to see where this thing ends up in a couple years. I personally don't see it making it.

[IBCoupe]

As I slowly become more comfortable with the look of the Juke (at least, I must say, from certain angles... I have yet to see one in person, and that could make or break it), I find myself hoping that it's a good car on the inside, and that will redeem it.

Doesn't sound like it. We'll see where Nissan's at when I've paid off my Coupe. Right now, however, I don't see anything worth trading in my car for, even if I didn't owe anything on it.

[AppleBonker]

Where is Faizanus at? He test drove one in Chicago. If I remember correctly he kind of echoes your sentiment, but he did drive the MT version. I think he said it was somewhat fun but nothing amazing.

[wingFeather]

Nissan CVT is awesome. Combined with a turbo how could you not love it?

[nissangirl74]

Nissan CVT is awesome. Combined with a turbo how could you not love it?

That's your opinion and I respect that. However, I stand by my own that the CVT is horrible and that pairing it with a turbo is ineffective.

[IBCoupe]

Nissan CVT is awesome. Combined with a turbo how could you not love it?

That's your opinion and I respect that. However, I stand by my own that the CVT is horrible and that pairing it with a turbo is ineffective.

Did it have a manual mode? How do you enjoy the benefits of a turbo when your transmission does its best to keep revs below 1500?

[wingFeather]

Flooring the CVT Cube resulted in the tach needle sitting high... good spool territory from what I recall about my SR20 Hehehe. Rarely did I have that thing near 1500 when I wanted to have fun. Perhaps the Juke is different. I'm not going to test drive one any time soon - trying to stay away from any new car purchases for a while.

*edit: looks like the Juke weights 200 pounds more & has a smaller engine... Why didn't they use the Versa/Cube engine?

[sup_mario]

It's nice to share your thought nd experience about it man...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Sounds like my experience with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. 2.0T, 210 HP.... I sure as hell never found them. Felt like it had about half that. SLLOOOOWWW. Felt like a bone stock 240 would absolutely leave it in the dust.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Ha! So the stupid rear design does reduce rear headroom. Silly Nissan, you can't give a sports car and a faux-suv the same roofline!

You might want to CC BMW and Acura on that.

The fail is contagious.

[IBCoupe]

An SUV trying to be a sports car.

[PoorManQ45]

One thing....scrap that section about the "Merging onto the freeway is actually scary." before Brien comes in here and bursts his eyeballs out trying to say that's an invalid comment! Kidding, of course. Brien's wrong, always wrong.

[Jesda]

A lot of attractive cars are analogues to the human face. Someone on Saab Central drew this sketch of the face that inspired the Juke:

[IBCoupe]

That's awesome.

[heliochrome85]

I drove a SV AWD CVT today. I had two major issues with the car, but thought otherwise the car was fun, practical, and unique. Very much like a 21st century Vehicross.

issue 1.) Incredibly light doors. like you have to slam them to close them. not really a good thing for long term use as it will attract rattles.

Issue 2.) very worrying and loud squeak from under the dash when hitting pot holes. i recognize that this is probably unique to this specific car, but still, not a great sign when the car has 8 miles on it.

otherwise, i thought it was fun, stylish and really random. in the sea of cr-vs, rogues, rav-4s this really stands out.

[Razi]

Dunno if you're doing the "let door close under it's own momentum" type thing, but you can just push it closed.
It's what I do for my doors, which I'm sure is lighter than a G35's door.

Sucky about the loud squeak though, not even my old car does that.

[nissangirl74]

I drove a SV AWD CVT today. I had two major issues with the car, but thought otherwise the car was fun, practical, and unique. Very much like a 21st century Vehicross.

issue 1.) Incredibly light doors. like you have to slam them to close them. not really a good thing for long term use as it will attract rattles.

Issue 2.) very worrying and loud squeak from under the dash when hitting pot holes. i recognize that this is probably unique to this specific car, but still, not a great sign when the car has 8 miles on it.

otherwise, i thought it was fun, stylish and really random. in the sea of cr-vs, rogues, rav-4s this really stands out.

I'm glad you liked it. Word has it that there is a manual at the local dealership. I'm gonna go next week and see if i can change my mind. :-)

[naladude911]

I saw a Juke today for the first time. It is smaller then I expected. It was parked next to a 2007ish Hyundai Elantra and was exactly the same size

[MinisterofDOOM]

I saw a Juke today for the first time. It is smaller then I expected. It was parked next to a 2007ish Hyundai Elantra and was exactly the same size

Juke is built on the same platform as the Cube. Sub-compact.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

I'm sorry, but this:



is the most hideous thing I've ever seen, I'm just embarrassed and depressed that it came from Nissan.

When I sat down and wrote this review, I struggled with the direction I wanted to take. I wanted to be positive because we are here to promote Nissan in a positive light. However, I couldn't in good faith write up a review that wasn't my true opinion. I truly hope I am the only one in the world that doesn't like it and that Nissan sells thirty blue million of them.

Unlike you Becky, as die hard a Nissan fan as I am, I have no problem putting a negative light on them when it is needed. This is a prime example of how Nissan is starting to go in the wrong direction. Why create something that is as ugly as this, put a disappointing powertrain in it and try to upsell it by adding a turbo and putting a "turbo boost" button in the cockpit. I guess the designers of this thing also designed the Suzuki Cappacino and really how far offroad could you actually take this POS.

I personally think they need to invest more time into a diesel alternative for their pickup trucks or even a subcompact or compact RWD entry level sports coupe. But hey what do I know.

[Dattebayo]

Give it horns and it would be a stag beetle.