Nissan has revealed the second-generation Juke in Europe, ushering in a long-due replacement for the company’s defiantly different compact crossover.
Though all-new, the new Nissan Juke very much apes the original in its general form. The silhouette is still that of a fastbacked hatch, with a sloping roofline and tapering side glass profile that gives it a sportier look than most other small SUVs.
Around the front there’s still a pair of big round headlamp housings with a set of slim eyebrow-like light elements above, though the design is crisper and identifiable by a new Y-shaped lamp graphic within the headlights. Nissan’s V-grille, now a staple on all Nissan’s products bar the Nissan 370Z, is another point of difference between the new Juke and the one it replaces
19-inch wheels fill the Juke’s pumped-up wheelarches (though 16- and 17-inch rims will feature on lower-spec models), and with a footprint that’s slightly wider (1800mm) and longer (4210mm) than before, the new Juke promises more cabin space than before – yet weighs 23kg less than its predecessor.
Cabin comfort is boosted by a 58mm increase in rear seat legroom, 11mm more rear headroom and a 422 litre boot capacity that’s 20 percent greater than the first-gen Juke, and siginificantly more capacious than most small hatchbacks. The cabin treatment is also less juvenile than the previous generation, with greater use of soft-touch materials, the introduction of ambient strip lighting and the generous application of microfibre trim on the dash, centre console and door cards.
Local specifications have yet to be locked in, but highlights include Nissan’s Propilot driver assistance tech (active cruise control, active lane keeping, AEB, blind spot monitoring), an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple Carplay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring, an in-car wifi hotspot, remote monitoring via a smartphone app, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system that houses a set of speakers in each front headrest.
In Europe, the only confirmed powertrain is a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, generating a modest 86kW and 200Nm, and driving the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The Juke will continue to be built in England, and a European launch date is set for the end of November. Australian market details have yet to be announced.
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