New Nissan Juke debuts – second-gen is larger, lighter

It has been a long time coming, and here it is, the second-generation Nissan Juke, coming almost a decade after the original Juke stunned the market as a funky compact crossover. It deserves a sequel after selling almost one million units in Europe alone, and the new Juke made its global debut in five cities across the continent – London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Cologne in Germany.

Nissan says that the new Juke has been created to appeal to European drivers, who value design, technology and performance, in addition to practicality, in the crossover segment. The Japanese carmaker says that the new model’s aim is to “reinvent the segment once again” and will be as “fun to drive as ever” thanks to new levels of performance and technology.

“Nissan Juke is back with its unique identity, even more character, exciting performance and advanced technology that responds to driver needs. The new design and exciting driving experience will appeal to the growing number of customers opting for compact crossovers. The Juke has grown up, while still retaining the fun-to-drive qualities that have always made it stand out,” said Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan Europe’s VP of product planning.

The Juke may have grown up, but it’s still immediately recognisable as one. The B-segment “coupe crossover” now sits on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-B platform, which also underpins the latest Renault Captur. At 4,210 mm long and 1,800 mm wide, the new Juke’s footprint is a fair bit larger than before – 85 mm longer and 170 mm wider to be exact.

However, it sits 30 mm lower and has a 105 mm longer wheelbase, which explains the more dynamic and conventional proportions. This bigger body allows for a larger cabin – Nissan says rear knee room is up by 58 mm, there’s 11 mm more rear head room, and the boot is good for 422 litres, a significant jump from the previous car’s 354 litres, and just eight litres shy of the more conventionally shaped Qashqai’s boot volume.

The Juke may be bigger, but it’s lighter by 23 kg. Thanks to high strength steel, the new model features a more rigid platform that offers better stability, performance and cornering capabilities, and new levels of confidence and control, Nissan claims.

Signature Juke elements such as the large round headlamps sitting below the first tier of lights, and the floating roof have been retained. The Juke sits on 19-inch alloys for the first time. The car’s eyes are LEDs as standard and they have a new Y-shaped element within, which Nissan says complements the V-Motion grille. The Fuji Sunset shade of red we see here is new, and part of an 11-colour range.

As for the cockpit, Nissan says that the new Juke boasts improved driver positions, increased rear roominess and more user-friendly controls and storage. There are also new soft-touch materials on the dashboard, door trim and footwell, plus standard monoform sporty seats and optional Alcantara or leather upholstery.

We’re liking the new Nissan interiors. In April, the new Sylphy’s dashboard created much wow in this office’s chat group, and that same style – expansive, with three circular central air con vents below a floating screen – is used here as well, but scaled to size. The organic lines continue in the centre console, which has hints of the old car’s coloured unit.

On to the oily bits. The Juke is powered by a 1.0 litre three-cylinder DIG-T turbocharged petrol engine with 117 PS, mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with steering paddle shifters. There’s a drive mode selector with Eco, Standard and Sport modes. Autocar reports that unlike the Captur, no diesel option will be provided, but Europeans can look forward to a higher-powered 1.5L petrol and eventually, a Nismo version.

Billed as the most connected Nissan ever, the new Juke features the brand’s Intelligent Mobility technology that includes ProPILOT tech on the model for the first time. Designed for highway use in single-lane traffic, ProPILOT makes long commutes and heavy traffic easier.

Safety tech inclides Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Recognition, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Blind Spot Intervention. The latter is new for Nissan and is a segment first as well – it warns the driver when a car gets into its blind spot and brings Juke back in lane.

Lastly, infotainment. The new NissanConnect system has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an eight-inch touchscreen. Drivers can also access TomTom Maps & Live Traffic or activate on-board WiFi. The NissanConnect Services app allows owners to check the door-lock status of their car and lock/unlock from their phone. One can also check tyre pressure and oil levels before a journey.

In addition Google Assistant compatibility gives them control over functions including central locking, vehicle lights and sending destinations to the car’s navigation system by talking to their device. The optional Bose Personal Plus sound system comes with eight speakers, including two UltraNearfield units integrated into both front headrests.

There are multiple colour combinations for the body, roof and cabin. More personalisation is offered as standard on the Tekna+ trim level, with accents on the bumpers and side sills. The new Nissan Juke will continue to be made in Sunderland, UK. First deliveries will take place at the end of November 2019. In the battle of the funky crossovers, are you Team Juke or Team C-HR?

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