Yes, I was jamming with the all-new Nissan Juke SV last week. Jamming in musical terms is when the music becomes free-form and that was the feeling I got when looking at and driving the all-new Juke. The styling, interior and driving fun is taken from several different types of auto segments.
Juke fuses the best qualities of a sports car, including a sporty driving position, dynamic handling and a powerful turbo engine, with the best aspects of an SUV-such as the robust lower body, raised ground height, improved visibility, confident stance and available all-wheel drive. These qualities come together in a uniquely Nissan way with value, quality, safety and driving pleasure.
Juke’s aggressive styling brings a breath of fresh air to the segment. Built on Nissan’s proven global B-platform, Juke features a powerful front end treatment with the turn signals integrated into the front fenders, a high beltline and coupe-like falling roofline.
Other exterior highlights include body-colored outside mirrors, and front door handles, hidden rear door handles.
Juke also offers generous ground clearance with standard 17 inch wheels and tires. Adding to the authentic SUV look is a broad should line, large wheel arches and robust lower bodywork that seems to emerge from under the vehicle. Above the waistline, Juke shows it sporty side with a raked windshield, upswept rear side windows and canopy-like glass. The lights also reflect Juke’s sporty agility, with front lights split into two distinct elements, wit the main lamps drawing inspiration from rally car lights. Fog lights are optional, depending on trim level. In the rear, the taillights share a resemblance with the distinctive ‘boomerang’ design found on the 370Z sports car. It is ‘free form’ from any angle.
The Juke interior is equally aggressive with bolstered front seats, a wide instrument panel and a unique center console inspired by a motorcycle fuel tank and finished in a high-gloss paint. The gearshift sits on top of the console, inspired by sports car driver/shifter positioning.
The center console design clearly makes the statement that Juke is no ordinary compact crossover. It’s an unexpected touch that reinforces Juke’s active, sporty attitude, while also helping create a sense of a true driver’s cockpit.
Another unique element of the Juke interior is the Integrated Control (I-CON) system drive mode selector, which offers three different throttle/transmission/steering response settings-Normal for everyday driving, Sport for a more intense performance feel, and Eco for maximum efficiency. It adjusts throttle, transmission (CVT only) and steering feel for the precise ride you want. I-CON also serves as a central command center and display module, adopting different display colors and functions depending on how it is being used. In Climate-mode, the display shows the interior temperature settings while the ‘buttons’ display air flow preferences. In ‘D-mode the buttons change to the three driving modes that you can choose, and the display shows the turbo boost gauge and current g’s that you are currently feeling.
Despite Juke’s overall compact dimensions, the interior offers segment competitive roominess and space for five adults. In the rear, a fold-down 60/40-split bench seat and flat load floor provide passengers and cargo hauling flexibility.
Among the long list of standard Juke interior features are a 6-way manual driver’s seat and 4-way manual front passenger seat, dual front and rear beverage holders, speed-sensitive automatic door locks, power windows, AM-FM-CD audio system with steering wheel controls, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, interface system for iPod and storage under the rear cargo floor (FWD models only).
Available interior features include premium cloth fabrics, leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, RearView monitor, Nissan Intelligent Key with push button start/stop, XM satellite radio, upgraded speakers with Rockford Fosgate powered subwoofer, USB connector for iPod and other devices, power sliding moonroof and privacy glass. Also available is the Nissan navigation system 5.0 inch screen with XM NavTraffic with Real-Time Traffic information.
Powering the all-new Juke is a standard 1.6 liter Direct Injection Gasoline turbo/intercooled, 16-valve, all-aluminum alloy, inline 4-cylinder engine rated at 188hp at 5,600rpm and 177lb.ft. of torque between 2,000-5,200rpm. The engine, the first application inNorth America, combines the best of both worlds-spirited performance and good fuel economy. Direct Injection helps improve combustion, enhancing power, torque, economy and emissions. The use of the turbocharger and intercooler also help boost power, while the variable timing control for both intake and exhaust cycles improves low-end engine response.
Two transmissions are offered-Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT with S-mode, and a 6-speed manual transmission (SV FWD and SL FWD models only). The CVT is very quiet and pulls well when you put your foot down hard on the throttle.
The suspension is excellent giving you precise handling and a smooth ride. Up front is an independent MacPherson strut setup with a 23mm stabilizer bar and twin-tube KYB gas-charged shocks. The rear features a torsion beam setup with integrated stabilizer bar and KYB twin-tube gas-charged shocks.
You steer the Juke precisely where you want it to go with a vehicle-speed-sensing electric power steering system that gives you a good feel for the road and is weighed perfectly for the front-wheel-drive system.
Slowing the Juke down from speed are large, power-assisted, 4-wheel steel disc brakes.
Up front are 11.7 inch vented discs clamped with dual-piston calipers while 11.5 inch solid discs are clamped with single-piston calipers in the rear. Your braking power and control are enhanced with standard ABS, EBD, and BA.
All Juke’s ride on large 17X7 inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with Goodyear Eagle 215/55R17 inch all-season radial tires for a smooth and compliant ride.
Standard features not mentioned above in the Juke SV include leather-wrapped/tilting steering wheel with cruise control/audio buttons, push button start/stop, power sliding moonroof, dual map lamps, cargo area light, front passenger seatback map pocket, dual vanity mirrors, automatic A/C climate control, variable speed, intermittent wipers/washers, rear wiper/washer, 12-volt DC power outlet, thick cut-pile carpeting with floor mats.
Every 2011 Juke comes equipped with the Nissan Advanced Airbag System with dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags and seatbelt and occupant classification sensors, roof-mounted curtain side-impact airbags for front and rear outboard occupant protection, seat-mounted driver and front passenger side-impact airbags and front-seat active head restraints. Other standard features include LATCH for child seats, Nissan vehicle immobilizer, vehicle security system, tire pressure monitoring system, vehicle dynamic control, and traction control.
The all-new 2011 Nissan Sport cross takes a little from each segment and puts them all together to introduce a vehicle that can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a different type of vehicle that is unique in styling, gives good performance, features the latest in auto high-tech, is versatile and safe with good EPA mileage specs.
2011 Nissan Juke SV SPECIFICATIONS
- Price: Base Juke $20,760.00/As-Tested Juke SV $22,780.00
- Engine: 1.6-liter DOHC direct injection 16-valve 4-cylinder 188 horsepower @ 5600 rpm / 177 ft-lbs. torque @ 2000 rpm
- Wheelbase: 99.6in.
- Total length: 162.4in.
- Total width: 60.5in.
- Total height: 61.8in.
- Track: f/r-60/60in.
- Ground clearance: 7in.
- Approach angle: 27-degrees
- Departure angle: 29.8-degrees
- Breakover angle: 21.9-degrees
- Headroom: f/r-39.6/36.7in.
- Legroom: f/r-42.1/32.1in.
- Cargo volume: behind 2nd row-10.5/behind front row-35.9cu.ft.
- Turning circle: 36.4ft.
- Fuel tank: 13.2 gallons
- Curb weight: 2,970lbs.
- 0-60 mph: 7.3 seconds
- EPA mileage: 27mpg/city, 32mpg/highway
