CONVENTIONAL cars were ditched several years ago by Nissan.

Remember the Almera, and the Primera? These were cars that built on the Japanese firm’s reputation for reliability, but they were never going to stand out from the crowd.

Nissan instead adopted a policy of abandoning production of this type of car and plunging into the global crossover market with the X-Trail and Murano and more latterly the Qashqai, the biggest success story of the bunch in the UK, where it is now a top-ten seller.

But if there was a missing piece in Nissan’s jigsaw of crossovers, which largely catered for families and provided off-road capability, it was for a feisty, urban-centric vehicle for style-conscious motorists.

Enter the Juke, which struts its stuff like nothing else on the market.

It’s the car’s appearance – bulging headlights, flared arches and wide stance – that Nissan hopes will give it a competitive edge as buyers become more adventurous in their next choice of car.

Looking like a cross between the firm’s city car, the Micra, and a shrunken Qashqai, the Juke’s bold exterior is a world away from similarly priced cars in the hotly contested compact family market.

There’s no question of form overtaking function with the Juke, though. The Qashqai is proof that Nissan can deliver on both counts, and the Juke is no different. While common design themes have found their way inside the car’s cabin, this funky little Nissan sacrifices nothing in the name of practicality.

A genuine rival to more conventional compact cars, the Juke boasts a raised driving position, supportive seats, ergonomic controls and good all-round visibility.

Then it adds something unique to the cabin experience. The centre console is shaped like a motorcycle fuel tank and is available in Force Red paint. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and it works a treat in setting aside the Juke’s interior from rival offerings.

The cabin is light and airy, with a flat rear load space and folding rear seats to top off an impressive raft of features.

Although pitched at trendy urbanites, the car is just as comfortable on motorways and twisty country roads as it is looking pretty in city traffic.

A lot of this is down to Nissan’s thorough development programme, and the simple fact that the company has been producing solid handling and refined cars for some time now. Recently attention has also focused on improving the engine choice, and in conjunction with Renault the results are encouraging.

Buyers seeking a flexible all-rounder will likely migrate to the Juke’s 1.6-litre petrol option, which 70 per cent of buyers are expected to choose.

There’s a choice of engines here – one turbo (187bhp), one not (115bhp). The latter has the more sensible running costs, while the turbo-charged version is the one to go for if you are seeking a driving experience to match the boldness of the Juke’s design.

The diesel option is a 1.5-litre offering which offers 55.4mpg average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 134g/km, which compares favourably with the fuel consumption figures of 44.8/40.9 for the two petrol cars.

The turbocharged model is available in two and four-wheel drive, extending the Sunderland-built Juke’s appeal as a compact SUV wuth the genes of a sports car.

Across the range transmission choice is generous, with the diesel and turbo petrol models getting a six-speed manual and the non-turbo 1.6 petrol a five-speed manual, which I found a disappointment after testing a six-gear model. Furthermore, a CVT auto can be had on the petrol units.

With three trim levels (Visia, Acenta, Tekna) to choose from, Nissan’s generosity extends to comfort and safety equipment. Alloy wheels, air-con, an MP3 player compatible audio unit, powered mirrors, stability control and six airbags are all standard.

Larger alloy wheels, climate control, USB audio input, Bluetooth phone connection feature in Acenta-badged cars, with the leather seats, a reversing camera, keyless ignition and auto headlights are present the in range-topping Tekna models.

With the Juke, Nissan continues its successful assault on conventional market sectors with its decidedly unconventional models.

As the baby of the company’s growing number of crossover models, the Juke cleverly combines break-the-mould styling with competence and excellent build quality.


Nissan Juke

Model: Nissan Juke Acenta 1.6 £14,145.

Engine: 1.6-litre petrol, developing 115bhp.

Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels.

Performance: Maximum speed 111mph, 0-62mph 11.0 seconds.

Economy: 44.8mpg combined.

CO2 Rating: 147g/km.