Review - 2023 Nissan Juke

Competing against some of the segment’s biggest hitters, the Juke hits the ground running with a healthy features list, unique styling package and more affordable starting prices than some of its major rivals.

Just how well does the latest-generation Nissan Juke perform on Australian roads? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Nissan Juke Competition

Starting Price: $28,390

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How Much Does It Cost?

The entry-level Nissan Juke ST is priced at $28,390, while stepping up to the Juke ST+ brings the price to $31,140.

From here, the range moves to the Juke ST-L, which is priced at $34,440, and then up to the Juke ST-L+ which is priced at $35,540. Finally, the range-topping Nissan Juke Ti is priced at $36,890.

Keep in mind that these retail prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Nissan Juke (ST-L) Specifications

What Features Does the Nissan Juke Have?

Nissan’s entry-level Juke ST comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives LED head & tail lights, LED daytime running lamps, black cloth upholstery, a black rear spoiler, cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Stepping up to the ST+ adds a set of LED fog lights, climate control, heated front seats, sat-nav with live traffic updates and front parking sensors.

The Juke ST-L comes riding on 19-inch alloys and receives rear disc brakes, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, a surround-view camera, leather upholstery, keyless entry & start, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and an upgraded six-speaker sound system.

The Juke in ST-L+ form picks up white leather upholstery with black cloth highlights, a white leather finish for the dashboard and door surrounds, as well as a ten-speaker Bose sound system.

Finally, the range-topping Juke Ti receives 19-inch alloys, quilted black leather upholstery with Alcantara highlights for the dashboard and door surrounds, illuminated side sills, privacy glass and the option of black and orange leather upholstery.

Range Features:

• 17-inch alloys 

• LED head & tail lights, LED daytime running lamps 

• Black cloth upholstery 

• Cruise control 

• Rear-view camera with rear parking sensors 

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• LED fog lights (ST+) 

• Climate control (ST+) 

• 19-inch alloys (ST-L) 

• Adaptive cruise control (ST-L) 

• Surround-view camera (ST-L) 

• Leather upholstery (ST-L) 

• 10-speaker Bose sound system (ST-L+) 

• Quilted leather and Alcantara upholstery (Ti)

Is the Nissan Juke Comfortable to Drive?

One of Nissan’s major upgrades for the Juke a few years ago was a brand new platform underneath that has helped to transform the driving experience.

While it’s not a power heavyweight, the platform and upgraded hardware underneath has ensured the Juke rides in a more smooth and sophisticated manner, which is a key priority for those looking at the compact SUV segment.

Power comes supplied by a tiny little 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 84kW of power and 180Nm of torque, which powers the wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The engine is eager to pick up speed, and for a three-cylinder engine, we absolutely love it, though the dual-clutch transmission can lurch at low speeds and while switching between drive and reverse.

On the road, the Juke doesn’t have a heap of power at its disposal, though weighing around the 1250kg mark, it doesn’t need massive figures to pick up enough speed to keep up with traffic and go for an overtake when needed.

Around town, the Juke feels super agile on its toes, and is more than happy to change direction at a whim thanks to its lightweight platform.

The steering is light and easy to maneuver, making low-speed turns and parking a breeze, while the low-slung driving position makes the Juke feel far more sporty than a number of its compact SUV siblings.

One downside of this surprisingly sporty nature is the Juke’s firm ride quality, though this doesn’t make it overly firm on a trip around town or at highway speeds.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Another upside of Nissan’s small capacity 1.0-litre three-cylinder is the fact that the Juke returns impressive fuel economy figures for a non-hybrid vehicle.

Officially, the Juke is rated at 5.8L per 100km on a combined cycle, which is pretty much the best figures you’ll find for a compact SUV without any pricey hybrid assistance.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The Juke, like every other compact SUV on sale today, is restricted by its platform when it comes to outright space and practicality, though Nissan has done a good job in its packaging to make the Juke’s cabin a quality offering.

The layout is straightforward and user-friendly, with easy to access and ergonomic controls for the climate settings, while the design feels fresh and unique for the segment.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have great visibility through the tall front windshield, while a bulky centre console splits the two seats with some storage options.

In the centre console, there’s a storage tray at the base of the dash, a pair of cup holders, added storage underneath the arm rest and inside the door bins on either side of the cabin.

Interior space in the front of the cabin is perfectly fine, even for tall drivers, though it’s not particularly wide.

Move to the rear of the cabin and things get a bit more cramped, but not unreasonably so, with more headspace than a number of its key rivals, and a decent amount of legroom that is happy to welcome adults on short hops around town.

Unfortunately, the second row doesn’t offer any air vents and has just a single USB charger, though it sticks with a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for child seats.

Finally, the Juke’s boot offers extremely healthy cargo opportunities for a small SUV, totalling 422L and expanding to 1305L with the rear seats folded, giving it some of the segment’s leading boot space figures.

Is it Safe? 

The Nissan Juke has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, scoring 94% for adult protection, 87% for child protection, 81% for vulnerable road user protection and 71% for safety assist.

As standard, the Juke picks up autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane intervention, cruise control, a rear-view camera and rear-mounted parking sensors.

Upgrading to the Juke ST+ adds front-mounted parking sensors, while the ST-L and higher grades pick up a surround-view camera with adaptive cruise control.

Our Verdict: Is The Nissan Juke Worth it?

The Nissan Juke has carved itself out a nice little niche in the world of compact SUVs, offering a funky-styled package that is a heap of fun to drive, decent fuel economy figures and a generous safety equipment list.

If we had to pick, we’d land on a lower mid-spec variant considering just how generous Nissan has been with the packaging, which doesn’t force buyers to upgrade to get their hands on a decent features list.

On that note, if you’re tossing up which compact SUV to go for, get in touch with one of our car-buying specialists who can help find you the best possible price on your next car.

Five Nissan Juke Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder produces 84kW/180Nm 

3. 5.8L/100km combined cycle fuel economy 

4. 422L boot space 

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating