Keeping that face that only a mother, or a questionably sane person like myself, could love, the Nissan Juke is ready for another generation of niche market domination. No matter where you go, be it a bustling sub-metropolis like Baltimore or a rural college town like Statesboro, you're bound to see a handful of these quirky small crossovers roaming the streets and littering the apartment complexes and Aldi parking lots. In fact, the Juke all but invented the small crossover market back when it was introduced in 2010. Since then, it has sold nearly 420,000 copies and has brought a staggering amount of new customers to Nissan's doorstep.
Tuesday marked the unveiling of the brand new, (slightly) redesigned Juke at the Geneva Motor Show. As noted in the press release, the Juke is a car based, and either loved or hated, on it's exterior design, so major design changes were out of the question. Instead the new Juke sports some handsome tweaks, such as reshaped headlights and tail lights, both furnished with LEDS, reshaped front and rear bumpers, and an optional sliding sunroof. And the options list just keeps growing from there. Three new paint colors have been added for the 2015 lineup, as well as a myriad of different personalization packs, which allow customers to change the colors of mirror caps, the roof spoiler, side sills, and door handles.
These personalization packs also carry over into the interior, which is otherwise unchanged, save for an optional new NissanConnect system. Drivers can now further personalize colors of door panels, the center console, and other interior panels. The split folding rear seats are now able to fold completely flat and, in two-wheel-drive models, a two-stage floor in the luggage compartment increases cargo capacity by 40 percent.
Standard equipment in the new Juke will include LED daytime running lights, a CD player with AUX input, and tire pressure monitoring, but more interesting is the list of available options. The first of which is the new NissanConnect system, which utilizes a 5.8 inch touchscreen and Google navigation. This system also allows for Bluetooth connectivity, internet radio streaming, and weather information. Nissan also offers a host of different driver aids based on an optional Around View Monitor and Safety Shield system. Around View Monitor is comprised of four different cameras mounted around the car, which together give a 360 degree view to assist in parking. Safety Shield, meanwhile, includes Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Moving Object Detection. In addition to these new options, drivers can also choose power folding mirrors, a smart key access system, and light and rain sensors.
Engines and drivetrains have not yet been announced for the U.S. market, but the two variations of gasoline engines and the new 4WD system are likely to be carried over. The Juke offers a more refined version of the old 1.6 liter, and adds a smaller 1.2 DIG-T turbocharged engine with stop/start to the lineup. Either of the engines can be mated to either the existing 6-speed manual or a new Xtronic gearbox, which maximizes fuel efficiency.
Tuesday marked the unveiling of the brand new, (slightly) redesigned Juke at the Geneva Motor Show. As noted in the press release, the Juke is a car based, and either loved or hated, on it's exterior design, so major design changes were out of the question. Instead the new Juke sports some handsome tweaks, such as reshaped headlights and tail lights, both furnished with LEDS, reshaped front and rear bumpers, and an optional sliding sunroof. And the options list just keeps growing from there. Three new paint colors have been added for the 2015 lineup, as well as a myriad of different personalization packs, which allow customers to change the colors of mirror caps, the roof spoiler, side sills, and door handles.
These personalization packs also carry over into the interior, which is otherwise unchanged, save for an optional new NissanConnect system. Drivers can now further personalize colors of door panels, the center console, and other interior panels. The split folding rear seats are now able to fold completely flat and, in two-wheel-drive models, a two-stage floor in the luggage compartment increases cargo capacity by 40 percent.
Standard equipment in the new Juke will include LED daytime running lights, a CD player with AUX input, and tire pressure monitoring, but more interesting is the list of available options. The first of which is the new NissanConnect system, which utilizes a 5.8 inch touchscreen and Google navigation. This system also allows for Bluetooth connectivity, internet radio streaming, and weather information. Nissan also offers a host of different driver aids based on an optional Around View Monitor and Safety Shield system. Around View Monitor is comprised of four different cameras mounted around the car, which together give a 360 degree view to assist in parking. Safety Shield, meanwhile, includes Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Moving Object Detection. In addition to these new options, drivers can also choose power folding mirrors, a smart key access system, and light and rain sensors.
Engines and drivetrains have not yet been announced for the U.S. market, but the two variations of gasoline engines and the new 4WD system are likely to be carried over. The Juke offers a more refined version of the old 1.6 liter, and adds a smaller 1.2 DIG-T turbocharged engine with stop/start to the lineup. Either of the engines can be mated to either the existing 6-speed manual or a new Xtronic gearbox, which maximizes fuel efficiency.
Since its inception, the Juke has been a car that you either loved or hated. 2015 brings some modern refinement to the model, but it essentially remains the same lovable (or unlovable) little crossover it has been for the past four years.