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Weekend roadtest : Nissan Juke Acenta Premium 1.6
publication date: Sep 10, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
When
so many cars now look similarly bland, the Nissan Juke never failed to elicit
some comment.
Whether
it was to ask what it was or an expression of liking or disliking, the Juke
certainly stood out from the crowd.
It
has turned heads ever since it went on sale last autumn and it is arguably the
most adventurous family car design yet from the creatively conservative Nissan
brand. |  | The
Juke has been an unqualified success for Nissan across Europe with its appeal
to very style conscious owners who like the look of the car and want a simple
and reliable mechanical package.
There
are 14 models in the Juke series and
they follow the now familiar Nissan trim levels of Visia, Acenta with Sport and
Premium packs, and Tekna based on 110ps
diesel and 117 or 190ps petrol engines 5 or 6 speed manual and one CVT
automatic, within a common bodyshell, and prices rise from £13,300 to £ 20,600.
My Juke Acenta Premium 1.6 manual sits mid-way in the range and is one of the
most popular versions.
The
engine is adequately powerful when used by the driver alone but its performance
noticeably struggles as more weight is added, whether that's people or
packages. It revs easily and smoothly but a long travel clutch and notchy
five-speed gearchange do not serve it well and both engine and gearbox produce
noticeable noise.
You
can use Nissan's Dynamic Control System to choose eco, normal or sport modes in
the Acenta and these settings vary the power delivery, gear changes and
steering weight with discernable effects.
I
found myself reselecting the modes depending on prevailing traffic and road
conditions and the simplicity and effectiveness of DCS was very impressive. I
also managed by doing these changes to gradually raise the overall consumption
to 43mpg overall. The centrally mounted multi-mode display dominated the fascia
below the big in-car entertainment display and they are well lit and easy to
read in any conditions. The Acenta is
MP3 compatible as well with access immediately ahead of the gear-lever.
Heating
and ventilation is also straightforward to control and the system works very
well throughout the cabin, helped by four electric windows in the Acenta. The
secondary controls for main functions are close to the wheel-rim and work well.
Oddments room is good throughout the cabin although the compartments tend to be
on the small side apart from the glovebox and door bins.
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the back, the boot floor is higher than in most family cars and it's a good
size and shape and there is a 44 litre compartment beneath as well. The back
seat has an offset folding facility and when everything is stowed the total
capacity rises from 250 litres to 830 litres.
Access
is good to the boot and also into the cabin but once inside the rear legroom is
tight for a long journey and even the front seats may be short on legroom for
taller users. Head and shoulder room is good. |  | Ride
quality is generally good, the Juke absorbing most bumps without complaint, but
sometimes a series of potholes would catch out the springing and damping and it
could roll around tighter turns although it stayed firmly planted on road. Most
Juke versions are two wheel drive but Nissan has cleverly covered the corners
with a 4WD version at the top. Question is whether there should be a lower level
all wheel drive derivative at a more competitive price.
Vision
to the back is reasonable but not exceptionally good, while forward, side and
poor conditions reveal it has good visibility, helped by good lights and
wipers. Brakes are nicely balanced, the steering too has a good turning circle
and feel.
| Verdict
The
Nissan Juke is eye-catching, whether or not you like the look of it is a matter
of taste, but under the skin is a very practical car with useful room and
technical features and it's not going to be horrendously expensive to run. With
many cross-over models looking too similar, the Nissan Juke stands out in more
ways than one. © Robin Roberts
| | | | Fast facts: | | Nissan
Juke Acenta Premium 1.6
| Price £15,300 |
| Mechanical 4cyl 117bhp 1598cc, 5sp 2WD | Insurance
group 12 | | Maximum speed 111mph | 0-62mph 11sec
| | Economy 43mpg | | | Emissions 147gkm | Warranty 3yrs/ 60k |
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