2011 Nissan Juke Review and Prices

Styling: The 2011 Nissan Juke is likely to look like a Nissan Rogue that grew up in a tough neighborhood. Where the Rogue compact crossover is rounded and gentle-natured, the Juke promises to be planed-off and edgy. Inspiration comes from Nissan’s feral Qazana concept car, which looks like a sports coupe jacked-up for high-speed off-road racing. The 2011 Juke is designed to project lots of attitude, in part to compensate for its diminutive size. It’ll be notably smaller than the run of compact crossovers typified by the Rogue, CR-V, and Toyota RAV4. The idea is to create sexier, SUV-flavored alternatives to subcompact cars such as the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris. Indeed, the Juke will borrow its underskin engineering from the Versa -- that’s what qualifies it as a “crossover.” Note that Versa’s basic design also underpins the funky Nissan Cube, evidence enough that Nissan’s not afraid to stretch the bounds of conventional taste. The Juke will be a five-passenger four-door hatchback, though it isn’t apt to have the rear-hinged “suicide” side doors of the Qazana concept. It will have the elevated ride height and blistered fenders that mark it as an SUV, likely combined with a low roofline that tapers to the rear. The desired effect is a sports coupe ready for the mean streets rather than a cargo-friendly crossover on its way to Sam’s Club. The passenger compartment of the Qazana concept used carbon-fiber panels and seats with mesh inserts. Mesh seat inserts in the Juke would save weight and be an attention-getter. Carbon panels would do the same but are far too expensive to fit Juke’s budget-friendly price target.

Mechanical: The 2011 Nissan Juke won’t be very radical beneath the skin. The goal is affordability and that means reusing the fine substructure and proven powertrains that serve Versa. The 2011 Juke will come only with four-cylinder power, very likely the 122-horsepower 1.8-liter from the Versa. A stripper entry-level model might use Versa’s 107-horsepower 1.6-liter. Expect manual transmission as standard with the option of a conventional automatic or Nissan’s nicely developed continuously variable transmission (CVT). In the Versa, the CVT is limited to the 122-horsepower engine. A CVT performs the duties of an automatic but with a rheostat-like delivery of power rather than a set number of individual gears. Versa is strictly a front-wheel-drive car, and the 2011 Juke will default to that arrangement. Front-wheel drive places the weight of the engine over the wheels that propel the car, enhancing wet-weather traction. It also concentrates drivetrain components in the nose, freeing up maximum space for passengers and cargo. Since the Juke will be a crossover, however, it’ll also be available with all-wheel drive (AWD). There’s no pretension of off-road prowess, so Juke’s AWD system will be a basic type, normally operating in front-wheel drive but with the ability to automatically reapportion power front-to-rear to sustain traction. It won’t have low-range gearing but may be fitted with a driver control to lock in a 50/50 front/rear torque split for enhanced low-speed grip.

Features: The subcompact-crossover field is unexplored territory in the U.S., so precisely how Nissan might divvy up the 2011 Juke’s standard and optional equipment is likely an open question even within the company. Juke’s arrival means Rogue no longer is Nissan’s entry-level crossover. That frees the larger SUV to aim for buyers of slightly more means. And it suggests Juke could follow the cost-conscious Versa route, treating such features as power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, and cruise control as extra-cost options on all but its top-line versions. As a crossover SUV, however, Juke will almost certainly come standard with traction aids essential to reducing chances of a rollover. Rollovers are a leading cause of fatalities in accidents involving vehicles with a relatively high center of gravity. These safety features include an antilock brake system (ABS), which helps maintain control in panic stops; traction control to quell wheel slip away from stops; and an antiskid system (also known as stability control) to minimize chances of sideways slides. Beyond that, look for Juke to offer a nice array of comfort and convenience items, including a power sunroof and youth-pleasing audio systems with subwoofer, Bluetooth phone link, and USB iPod interface. Leather upholstery might be a bit upscale for Juke’s audience, but some sort of GPS navigation system may make the cut.