There’s no need for the second generation of Nissan Juke, coming to Howards Group Nissan showrooms in the south west in 2016, to be any more confident and radical in terms of exterior design.
Yes, we feel that the 2010 model, still going strong, more than had that covered. With its quirky, twerky feel, the Nissan Juke made a bold statement. So any changes for Nissan Juke: The Sequel were more likely to be on the technology and interior quality.
The baby crossover, which created a market segment all of its own, has already had a small, midlife injection of Botox that saw more safety features, a turbocharged petrol engine and a whole raft of ways to personalise your Juke.
The new changes will see the Juke move from the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s B0 platform to the CMF-B chassis earmarked for the new Nissan Micra and Renault Clio. The most noticeable aspect of this will be a population boom – lots more Jukes on the market from the Nissan Sunderland plant, thanks to new production efficiencies.
Economies of scale will also allow Nissan to pump more money into cabin quality. The Japanese manufacturer admitted that customer research had shown that the Juke still looks sharp, so that new gains would come in the shape of engine efficiencies, more refinement and better interior elements.
The 2016 Nissan Juke will come in both diesel and petrol versions. The diesel engine will be a 1.5-litre, 90bhp unit with nice-and-low CO2 emissions, while the petrol will be a 1.2-litre engine generating 113bhp. A 1.6-litre petrol and a four-wheel drive are also mooted.
So, let’s look inside. The 2016 Nissan Juke is funky and fun, built with the younger generation in mind. There’s impressive detailing here in the high-quality plastics and chrome, and the leather steering wheel and seats are classy. Colour combinations will be exciting, including a waspy black-and-yellow combo.
The Juke looks the biz, and Howards Group Nissan customers in the south west will be able to keep theirs looking that way, with a 360-degree panoramic camera, parking camera and blind-spot monitor. There’s an LCD display beautifully integrated into the centre console, giving you buckets of info, including satnav. A con-command module below the display allows you to keep the cabin cool in summer and toasty in winter.
Other tasty toys include Bluetooth, iPod and USB connectivity. There are five seats and a reasonably high roofline, so even beanpoles will be kept happy.
Externally, the 2016 Nissan Juke will look fast and powerful. Glass sunroof and alloy wheels are nice options. With the back of the car slightly more raised, the Juke gets a higher, stockier silhouette. Finally, this keener look will be reflected in more elevated, hawky headlights.
The new Nissan Juke will be available in early 2016 from Howards Group showrooms in the south west.
Image Credits: Darren Brode, Shutterstock