Nissan Juke (2010 – 2019) Review

Nissan Juke (2010 – 2019) At A Glance

2/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Nissan Juke is let down by poor boot space and cramped rear seats, but scores well for its raised driving position and value for money.

+Loads of choice when buying used thanks to its popularity, bold styling, decent value for money.

-Poor practicality, lacklustre 1.6-litre engines, high number of automatic gearbox failures.

Insurance Groups are between 11–20
On average it achieves 79% of the official MPG figure

The Nissan Juke - you can’t miss it. The bold styling is matched by big sales, which means the Juke is a common sight on the roads of Britain. Its success mirrors that of the larger Nissan Qashqai, although the Juke comes with crazy styling and some interesting design features on the inside. Launched in 2010, the Juke was a pioneer in the competitive compact crossover segment, with rivals offered by just about every mainstream manufacturer since. 

If you were asked to name five famous dukes, we’d forgive you for mentioning the Nissan Juke. It’s up there with Daisy Duke, the Iron Duke, Duke Nukem and the Duke of Edinburgh. Probably.

To paraphrase Ms. Spears, the Juke was very much a case of ‘oops, Nissan did it again’, with the compact crossover adopting a similar approach to the Qashqai, albeit on a smaller scale. The recipe is fundamentally the same: take a small car platform, raise the right height, give it funky styling and improve the practicality.

We’ll come back to the issue of practicality in a moment, but it’s fair to say that Nissan didn’t hold back on the styling. Even now, a decade on from its launch in 2010, the Juke looks bold, striking, crazy and weird. You might not like it, but you can’t accuse Nissan of dialing it in.

It’s pretty bold on the inside, especially in models equipped with some of the many personalisation options. A centre console inspired by a motorcycle fuel tank is one thing. Colouring it red or yellow is another. Amazingly, you could get door mirror caps, fog light surrounds and alloy wheel accents to match.

So far, so bold, but what about the practicality? Not great, to be honest. The boot space on the early cars was comically poor, but things improved as part of the 2014 facelift. That said, it’s still no better than average, while sloping roofline and the shape of the rear windows combine to make it feel claustrophobic in the back.

It just goes to prove how far the compact crossover has come in a decade. The likes of the Seat Arona, Skoda Kamiq and Honda HR-V demonstrate that small doesn’t have to mean impractical. In most respects, the Nissan Juke is outdone by its modern rivals. The all-new Juke represents a major step forward.

Which could render the rest of this review pointless. Time to stream some old episodes of The A-Team – don’t pretend you’re not thinking about Daisy…

Not so fast, because the Nissan Juke has some things going for it. It’s cheap, with prices starting from around £3000.

It’s also fun to drive, in a strange kind of way. The ride is a little uncomfortable and the steering is numb – uncomfortably numb, then? – but it’s quite enjoyable to chuck around in the city. Avoid the lacklustre 1.6-litre engine, as the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivers the best blend of performance and economy.

Alternatively, the 1.5 dCi diesel engine is excellent if you intend to take your Juke on long motorway trips. We wouldn’t recommend it, because the Juke feels noisy and unrefined at high speeds. Stay within the city limits, Tina.

It’s not perfect, but what is? It’s one of the cheapest used compact crossovers on the market, and you’re unlikely to lose it in a crowded car park, especially if you get one in Sun Light Yellow or Ink Blue. Read on to find out more. We love it when a plan comes together.

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Nissan Juke review.

Ask Honest John

When should the timing belt be changed on a Nissan Juke?

"When should the timing belt/chain be changed on a Nissan Juke 2013 1.5 diesel?"
Your car has a cambelt and we would recommend that it is changed every five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. If changing the belt would also suggest that the water pump is done at the same time
Answered by Alan Ross

What is the point in the Motor Ombudsman?

"My daughter had a 2016 Nissan Juke that went into a Nissan dealership for a fault. They handed the car back and it would not start, so they asked us to leave it with them. They replaced an ECU and charged £750. It later transpired that this did not need replacing and the fault was elsewhere. My daughter asked for her money back but was refused. She took it to the Motor Ombudsman, who took up her case. After 18 months the Motor Ombudsman said that as it was 18 months since the incident the dealer refused to pay. What is the point of the Motor Ombudsman if they fail you in this way? "
Thank you for your message. Sadly your case is not uncommon - a quick look at reviews for the Motor Ombudsman on TrustPilot shows many people with similar complaints. Indeed, in our personal experience when things have gone wrong with a car purchase, it has been next to useless, not replying to emails, getting facts wrong and not dealing properly with complaints. It's basically a waste of time. Despite being labelled as an ombudsman, the Motor Ombudsman is not a government backed body, it is simply a private sector organisation which is funded by its members. Those members include vehicle manufacturers, warranty product providers, franchised dealers, independent garages, networks and bodyshops. Given that fact, it's very difficult to see how it can be impartial when it comes to disputes between its members and car owners. We strongly recommend against using the Motoring Ombudsman. Citizens Advice and Trading Standards are far more helpful.
Answered by David Ross

I need a used automatic small SUV, what are my options?

"I want to buy a secondhand automatic compact SUV for my daughter. She likes the Nissan Juke but have seen bad reviews for automatic problems. Our budget is £8000. "
The Nissan Juke is good choice but the CVT automatic is known for being troublesome, so we would suggest looking elsewhere. Some alternative SUVs similar in size to the Juke are the Peugeot 2008, Mitsubishi ASX, BMW X1 and MINI Countryman, all of which are available with automatic gearboxes and can be found within your budget.
Answered by David Ross

I am having problems with my Nissan Juke's gearbox - will my warranty pair for the repairs?

"I have had my Nissan Juke since last September. It was starting to shudder but I didn’t think it could be anything serious or a red light would show. I’ve now been told that it’s the automatic gearbox. Nissan said they will give me £1000 towards the repair because it’s still within warranty. I was asked if a red light was showing to which I told them no because no light was showing. I’m terrified that the cost is going to be astronomical. I will have to still pay off the finance and will be left with nothing. "
We are sorry to hear you are having problems with your Nissan Juke. If the dealership has diagnosed a fault with your gearbox and they have said it needs a repair, they should provide clear information about what the fault is, what remedial work is required and what the cost will be, if they haven't already. As your car is under warranty, this should cover at least some of the cost if not all of it. If you have a written quotation for the cost of the repairs then you can see how much (if anything) you will have to contribute to the repairs above the £1000 they have offered. It is also important to take a close look at the terms of the warranty to determine what is and is not covered. If you are not happy with the service provided by the dealership in respect of the quote for repairs or the warranty, write a letter of complaint to the dealership, or to Nissan UK if you are not happy with their response.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Nissan Juke (2010 – 2019) cost?