See all Motoring NewsThe second-generation Nissan Juke has gone on sale in Ireland, kicking off at €21,995. The compact B-segment crossover has a much larger boot and rear passenger cabin than before, a single petrol engine and an expanded technology and safety offering.
That tempting starting price is for the Juke XE, which is expected to account for a minute two per cent of overall registrations. It comes with cruise control and speed limiter, air conditioning, Bluetooth telephony, front and rear electric windows, sports seats, LED lighting and loads of safety equipment as standard. The majority of Juke buyers are expected to opt for the SV or SV Premium cars, adding €1,655 and then another €1,000 to the starting price. For that, SV buyers get an eight-inch touchscreen for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the reversing camera, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, while the SV Premium model also adds automatic climate control, electric parking brake, leather for the steering wheel and gear shifter, rear USB port, rear parking sensors, more speakers, privacy glass, heated and electrically folding door mirrors, auto wipers and keyless entry and start.
Above that sit the range-topping Juke SVE and Juke N-Design, both priced from €26,950. The former, based on the SV Premium specification, adds 19-inch wheels, heated seats upholstered in a mix of cloth and synthetic leather, active cruise control and a host of advanced active safety systems including Nissan's 'ProPilot' functionality. The N-Design is the one for those that really want to personalise their Juke, as it is the only grade that allows full exterior customisation, including the roof and mirror colours. It also gets 19-inch wheels and heated seats.
The only engine offered at the Juke's launch is a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit. Maximum power and torque outputs are quoted as 117hp and 200Nm, enabling a 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds and emissions of 135g/km (can vary a little depending on specification) for Band B2 motor tax. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is offered as an option for €1,650 (varies on some versions). All variants of the Juke send their power to the front wheels only. There is no four-wheel-drive model.
While Nissan has already ruled out a diesel version of the Juke, it hinted at other powertrain options. We presume that means a petrol-electric hybrid system as previewed in the Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid, though it could also mean the plug-in hybrid system of the Renault Megane and Captur.
When Nissan first launched the Juke in 2010, it had few rivals, but this time around it has to contend with a dozen or so. The most popular B-segment crossovers of 2019 were the Hyundai Kona, Renault Captur, SEAT Arona, Kia Stonic and Peugeot 2008. Nissan is aiming for top spot in the sector.
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