New 2019 Nissan Juke takes fight to SUV rivals

The second-generation Nissan Juke is bigger, lighter and better equipped than its predecessor in a bid to reclaim the compact SUV crown

The compact crossover sector has grown significantly in recent years, with more than 20 supermini-sized SUVs on sale in Britain today. But one of the first of the breed has just been totally renewed. Say hello to the second-generation Nissan Juke.

The newcomer replaces a model that’s been on sale for nearly nine years, and in that time the market for SUVs of this size hasn’t only increased in choice, it’s grown in quality, too. Perhaps that’s why the Juke has been in development a little longer than the usual window car makers give themselves.

• New Nissan Juke prototype review

Designed in Britain and set to be built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, the new model is clearly linked to the first-generation car through its shape and the retention of some of the original’s most recognisable styling traits. However, it does this while growing in size and taking on board some of the brand’s more recent family design cues too.

The Juke remains a rakish crossover with purposely exaggerated wheelarches, a rising window line, strong shoulders and a squat rear end. It’s 35mm wider and 75mm longer nose to tail than before, but importantly, the wheelbase has grown by 105mm. Overall, it looks like a larger, more spacious car. Despite the increase in size, the Juke is now 23kg lighter, thanks mainly to the use of more lightweight, high-tension steel in the body, but also to the adoption of a new platform called CMF-B, which is shared with the Renault Captur.

In theory, and unconfirmed for now, the new platform means that the Juke is capable of taking on electrified powertrains, and a hybrid version is an inevitability. But only one engine appears at launch. It’s a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol from the Micra, with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, replacing the CVT transmission previously offered. Power stands at 115bhp with up to 200Nm of torque available on overboost. Nissan claims 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds for the manual and 11.1 seconds for the new DCT automatic car, with both topping out at 112mph. 

The Juke accelerates from 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds, while the top speed should be somewhere around 120mph. Nissan has yet to release final official CO2 emission and fuel economy figures, but 113-118g/km and around 45mpg under WLTP rules seems likely.

The full-LED circular headlights placed high on the front bumper are a nod to the original Juke’s, and feature a new Y-shaped signature. Above them sit new, slim LED daytime running lights that flank the nose and narrow grille. The rear lights and tailgate have both changed significantly. The hatch is 131mm wider than before and it accesses a boot that’s now 422 litres in size, an increase of 68 litres over the Mk1.

Buyers are presented with plenty of choice when it comes to exterior personalisation. The new Juke is available in 11 different colours, with wheels ranging from 16-inch steels with covers to 19-inch alloys. Top-spec Tekna+ cars are available with contrasting finishes on the roof and mirrors, too.

Nissan claims that the brand-new interior is more spacious than before, with rear kneeroom increasing by 58mm and headroom growing by 11mm. The maker says it has worked on improving the Juke’s driving position, and this now boasts a reach-adjustable steering wheel.

Much like the exterior, the cabin design majors on the Juke’s sporty character and is a total overhaul from the previous model’s. Monoform sports seats are standard, while high-spec cars offer plenty of scope for personalisation. Three optional interior schemes in orange, white or black introduce leather and Alcantara upholstery, too.

Sitting on top of the redesigned dashboard is a brand-new eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while some cars will also be available with a seven-inch colour driver-information display within the instrument panel. 

No head-up display will be offered, but on-board Wi-Fi now appears, as do TomTom maps with live traffic and voice-controlled Google Assistant. The NissanConnect remote services app is now compatible with the Juke, allowing owners to interact with their cars from afar via a smartphone.

In-car technology and safety features have come a long way in nine years, and as such, the fresh Juke arrives with plenty of new driver-assistance technology. Chief among this is Nissan ProPILOT, the brand’s semi-autonomous driver aid. This is capable of controlling the throttle, braking and steering while driving in a single lane on motorway-style roads. It’ll be optional on N-Connecta trim cars and standard from Tekna grade upwards.

Alongside this, the new Juke gains intelligent automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, speed-limit and traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert. Blind-spot monitoring is also present.

All cars from Acenta grade upwards get the new eight-inch infotainment unit as standard, while every car gets cruise control with a speed limiter function, high beam assist, traffic sign recognition and hill start assist. 

The new Juke will hit UK roads in November. Entry-level Visia models start from £17,395, but more popular N-Connecta and Tekna cars cost from £20,995 and £22,495 respectively.

What does the new Nissan Juke have to beat? These are the best small SUVs on sale right now…

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