The Nissan Juke is getting a major makeover, the biggest one since its current generation hit the scene about five years back. This update, set to hit Australian showrooms by the end of this year, is focusing a lot on sprucing up the interior, giving it a fresh vibe inside.
This refresh comes at a crucial time for the Juke. In the land down under, it’s been trailing behind in the popularity contest, sitting as Nissan’s not-so-favorite SUV. To put it into perspective, last year, they managed to get just 1,256 Jukes into Aussie driveways. Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-3? That one zoomed ahead with nearly 16,000 units finding homes. So, this significant update is Nissan’s play to catch up and maybe even outshine its competitors in the ‘light SUV’ category.
For its second act, the Nissan Juke leaped onto the CMF-B platform, which is like giving the car a whole new skeleton—this one made entirely of steel. This upgrade isn’t just about toughness; it brings with it a longer wheelbase—stretched out by a bit over 100mm compared to the original Juke, making for a more spacious ride.
Size-wise, the new Juke has beefed up slightly, gaining less than 50mm in height and width (sans mirrors) and stretching just a tad over 50mm longer than its predecessor. Despite these size ups, the entry-level Visia model has only put on an extra 19kg. Considering it’s packed with more features and, yes, a bit more metal, that’s not too shabby. Plus, all this translates to noticeably more room inside, which is always a win.
Even with its practicality boost, the Juke hasn’t lost any of its standout, quirky charm. It’s still as far from plain or sensible-looking as ever, which is really saying something.
The intro of a hybrid powertrain brought along some subtle style tweaks across all versions—think reshaped bumpers, new wheel designs, and a sleek rear spoiler. But these changes are so understated, you’d have to squint to spot the differences. The hybrid stands out a bit with its partially closed-off front grille.
As for the 2024 facelift, don’t expect any dramatic changes on the outside. The head-turner here is the new ‘Iconic Yellow’ paint job. It’s a callback to a similar option from the first-gen Juke’s mid-life refresh, but this time, it’s dialed up to be brighter and more eye-catching. It’s bold, it’s bright, and it’ll make finding the car in a dim parking lot a breeze.
The cherry on top? Three fresh alloy wheel designs hit the scene, and the Acenta and N-Connecta trims got an upgrade with low-resistance tires on their 17in wheels, helping to nudge up the efficiency a bit more.
Nissan Juke 2024 Interior – A Balance of Fun and Luxury
The Nissan Juke‘s interior has been carefully updated to blend its original playful design with a touch of sophistication and technology. The design retains plenty of visual character without sacrificing the car’s practicality, offering a fresh alternative to the more understated interiors of competitors like the Skoda Kamiq and Vauxhall Crossland.
Seating and Visibility
You’ll find yourself in a high and slightly bent-legged position at the controls, which offers better visibility than a traditional hatchback, enhancing both the driving experience and safety.
Technology and Customization
Gone are the analog dials, replaced by a 12.3in digital info display. This upgrade brings the Juke in line with its main rivals, offering a sharp screen with customizable display options, including different dials and mapping.
Materials and Design Tweaks
The pre-facelift’s leather and chromed plastic have been replaced with high-quality PVC and Alcantara trim, elevating the cabin’s ambiance. Select trims feature neat seat stitching in yellow, tying the interior design to the exterior color choices. This thoughtful detailing is complemented by a reworked dashboard design.
Space and Practicality
Significantly, the Nissan Juke Facelift 2024 has introduced more interior space, making the Juke more competitive in its segment. The glovebox has been enlarged to 6.6 liters, and the central armrest redesigned for enhanced comfort and utility. The addition of an electric handbrake and relocated e-pedal and EV mode buttons in the hybrid variant optimize interior space and functionality.
Comfort and Capacity
The Juke now offers improved room for second-row occupants and boasts a 422-litre boot, making it competitive with the Ford Puma and Renault Captur in terms of capacity. The hybrid model sees a slight reduction in boot space due to the battery but remains more spacious than many rivals.
By focusing on these updates, Nissan has significantly enhanced the Juke’s appeal, making it a strong contender in the compact SUV market with its blend of style, technology, and improved practicality.
Nissan Juke Multimedia Upgrade
The Nissan Juke has seriously stepped up its game with the 2024 facelift, especially when it comes to in-car entertainment and tech. Before the update, the Juke was doing alright with an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen in the Acenta and higher grades, which was pretty standard for the time. But as the tech world moves fast, with rivals showcasing bigger and sharper screens, Nissan decided it was time for a big leap forward.
From Fine to Fantastic
Starting with the 2024 models, the Acenta grade and above now boast a 12.3in TFT screen. This isn’t just any screen; it’s horizontally mounted and takes design cues from the screen in the Nissan Ariya EV, known for its sleek interface. This upgrade isn’t just about size; it’s about quality and user experience. The screen is gently tilted towards the driver, making it easier to use without stretching or taking your eyes off the road for too long.
Sharp and Smart
Resolution has been cranked up to 1920 by 720 pixels, making everything from maps to menus look crisp and clear. This upgrade isn’t just skin deep; it’s customizable, allowing drivers to set up their most-used functions just the way they like them. This means less time fiddling with settings and more time enjoying the drive.
Connectivity and Clarity
On top of the usual smartphone mirroring for both Apple and Android devices, the system integrates NissanConnect live information services and a rear-view camera, enhancing both convenience and safety. The built-in sat-nav and voice recognition features offer added layers of navigational ease and hands-free control.
One particularly noteworthy improvement is the upgrade of the rear-view camera resolution from 0.3 to 1.3 megapixels. This might seem like a small detail, but when it comes to parking in those tight city spots, it can make all the difference, offering a much clearer view of what’s behind you.
With these enhancements, Nissan is not just keeping up; it’s setting a new standard for what drivers can expect from their car’s multimedia system, making every journey in the Juke more enjoyable and stress-free.
2024 Nissan Juke Engine Performance and Responsiveness
The 1.0-litre Nissan Juke boasts specs that suggest it would stand tall against its rivals, but real-world tests paint a slightly different picture. During our tests, which admittedly took place under less-than-ideal weather conditions, the Juke fell short of its promised 0-62mph acceleration time by 1.5 seconds. It also couldn’t quite catch up to the less powerful Seat Arona 1.0 TSI in mid-range acceleration.
At full throttle, the Juke’s three-cylinder engine appears eager, freely revving up to around 5000rpm. However, it’s not quite as lively as one might hope. A noticeable turbo lag at lower speeds can make for a slightly challenging drive until you get the hang of the engine’s response to a gentle throttle.
Driving Modes and Handling
Sticking to modes other than Sport can mitigate some initial frustrations, and with a bit of practice, managing the first bit of accelerator travel becomes second nature. Thankfully, the operation of the other pedals is more straightforward, showing a finer tuning. The six-speed manual gearbox is a delight, offering light, precise, and enjoyable shifts.
Automatic Transmission Experience
The dual-clutch automatic aims for quick, smart shifts, which it achieves at higher speeds. However, it’s less graceful at low speeds, often resulting in a jerky experience during slow traffic maneuvers or when reverse parking—a noticeable hiccup in an otherwise smooth operation.
Hybrid Powertrain Insights
The facelift introduced us to the 1.6-litre hybrid variant, stepping up the power game with a combined output of 140bhp. Yet, this power isn’t as readily available or as smooth as one might expect. Hard acceleration reveals a delay as the car decides to dip into its electric reserves, with the petrol engine taking its sweet time to contribute, leading to a laggy acceleration and a somewhat coarse power delivery once it gets going.
The hybrid’s gearbox is a notable improvement, handling most driving situations with ease and avoiding the rubber-band effect commonly associated with CVTs found in competitors like the Toyota Yaris Cross. However, it can be tripped up by aggressive driving or sudden demands, showing hesitation in gear selection during spirited drives.
The Nissan Juke steps into 2024 with some noteworthy enhancements in the realm of assisted driving, setting it apart from its competitors by offering a robust suite of active safety features.
Driver Assistance and Safety Updates
Among the updates, some are regulatory mandates, such as the intelligence speed assist feature. This system alerts you with a sound if you’re going over the speed limit detected by the car’s sensors, based on the last sign it recognized. While the alert might become repetitive, Nissan has included a straightforward way to silence it temporarily with a press of the ‘OK’ button on the steering wheel, although this needs to be repeated with each alert.
The autonomous emergency braking system has been refined for better performance, and a new event data recorder has been introduced. This device captures and stores critical information during an accident, functioning on a cache system to avoid long-term data storage. Additionally, cybersecurity measures have been implemented to safeguard against threats like relay attacks, though details on the mechanism of protection were not extensively disclosed.
Lane Keeping System and Regulation Compliance
Our experience with the lane keeping system in the N-Sport test model showed it to be somewhat inconsistent. However, its intent to assist was evident, indicating a potential for improvement or adjustment based on driver feedback.
Regulatory changes also mean that lane keep assist and active steering support are automatically activated upon starting the vehicle. Nissan has navigated these regulations thoughtfully, allowing drivers to customize their preferred driver assistance settings. Accessing and activating these presets is just two button presses away—a compromise necessitated by regulations prohibiting a simpler one-press activation.
Balancing Regulation and Driver Preference
These updates highlight Nissan’s commitment to enhancing safety and convenience through technological advancements, even as they navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance. By allowing drivers to customize their assistance settings, Nissan aims to provide a seamless and user-friendly experience, ensuring that safety enhancements enhance rather than intrude upon the driving experience.
2024 Nissan Juke RIDE & HANDLING
First off, the steering feels just right – not too heavy, not too light. It’s like Goldilocks’ choice, giving you that instinctive control that feels natural as soon as you get behind the wheel. Then there’s the suspension. It’s a bit on the firmer side compared to others out there, but don’t think that means you’re in for a rough ride. It’s actually quite the opposite. This setup gives you this neat, controlled bounce that makes zipping around corners a joy without shaking you or your passengers up.
Riding the Roads
Hitting the road in the Juke, its compact size becomes its secret weapon. It doesn’t just roll through bends; it owns them. There’s hardly any body roll, so when you’re getting a bit adventurous with the speed around curves, the car’s grip distribution keeps things feeling steady and secure. It’s nimble, allowing you to push it in ways you might hold back with a bigger, bulkier car.
The Tech Behind the Curtain
And when you do decide to push those limits, the Juke’s stability control system is like this silent guardian angel. Even when you’ve got it toned down, it’s there in the backdrop, making sure things don’t get out of hand. It’s effective but subtle, ensuring you stay on your intended path without feeling like you’re being micromanaged.
Nissan Juke 2024 Comfort and Isolation
When you’re cruising on A-roads or hitting the motorway, there’s a bit of a roar that seeps into the cabin. It’s not overwhelmingly loud or anything, but it’s noticeable enough, especially if you’re transitioning from a super smooth surface to something a bit rougher. It’s like the car’s way of saying, “Hey, notice the change in pavement?” But, despite this auditory heads-up, the Juke’s overall refinement doesn’t really take a hit. The noise seems more surface-related than anything, hinting at the type of asphalt beneath you rather than a shortfall in the car’s design.
How It Handles the Road
Now, about the ride itself – you might brace for a bit of a jolt when you see bumps or rough patches up ahead, but the Juke handles these with a surprising level of grace. Sure, you might get a thump from the axles here and there when the going gets particularly tough, but it’s nothing that feels jarring. This shows off the solid work Nissan’s put into fine-tuning the car’s dynamics and ride quality.
Sitting Pretty
As for settling into the Juke, the seats are pretty comfy. They might not reach the pinnacle of what you’d find in, say, a Nissan Qashqai, but they’re far from disappointing. Nissan went for seats that lean a bit more towards the sporty side, with sleek ‘monoform’ seatbacks that have those integrated headrests. They look great and offer a decent hug, although they don’t allow for as much adjustability as seats with separate head restraints might. It’s a design choice that favors form and does a decent job at not sacrificing too much in the way of comfort.
Nissan Juke 2024 Price
With the Nissan Juke Facelift 2024, the Nissan Juke isn’t just stepping up its game in features and style; it’s also revising the price tag to keep things interesting. Starting with the Acenta Premium models, prices kick off at £23,485, and if you’re eyeing the fancier Tekna+ and N-Sport trims, you’re looking at prices up to £28,385. These trims don’t just add size with 19in alloys; they bring a flair of styling extras and a spruced-up interior that might just be worth the extra dough.
Price and Value
The Juke manages to keep its edge in the budget-friendly battle, even with these updates, staying a step ahead of rivals like the Puma, Kamiq, and Mokka in terms of pricing. This competitive edge might sway your decision if you’re weighing options across brands.
High-Grade Temptations
If your budget allows, the Tekna trim is particularly tempting. It ups the comfort with heated front seats and a ‘quick clear’ windscreen, not to mention the immersive experience of Nissan’s Bose Personal Plus audio system and the advanced peace of mind provided by the Advanced Safety Shield systems. The Juke’s lane-keeping and speed assist technologies stand out for their effectiveness, making it a solid choice for those who prioritize safety and convenience.
Fuel Economy Considerations
On the fuel economy front, the Juke holds its own, although it doesn’t lead the pack. The petrol manual variant is official at 49.6mpg, and real-world tests show it does pretty well at 46.0mpg on the highway. That’s a bit behind the Puma’s mild-hybrid option, which can hit 50.0mpg. The Juke’s hybrid version claims an impressive 58-60mpg, depending on the trim. However, crunching the numbers, the price difference between it and the petrol manual might not justify the savings at the pump for all drivers. Yet, for company car users, the hybrid’s lower CO2 emissions (107-112g/km) compared to the petrol manual’s 133g/km could tip the scales due to tax implications.
Choosing between the Juke’s versions comes down to prioritizing what matters most to you: upfront cost, ongoing fuel savings, environmental considerations, or perhaps a mix of these. Nissan’s updated offerings and pricing strategy aim to meet drivers wherever they are on that spectrum.
