Topic: Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke SL FWD

[Autos_Editor]

A Nissan Juke with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive has certain advantages over the AWD model with CVT, says editor, Greg Wilson.

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[Minou]

2600 rpm at 100 Km/hr with the 6 sp manual.  Too bad Nissan was unable to take advantage of all the torque available at a low 2000 rpm by making the engine spin say 400-500 rpm less at cruising speed.  So you basically end up rowing 6 closely spaced gears all the time for dismal fuel economy.

Anyhow, the Joke, er Juke is definitely not my kind of car.  Actually, it's more of a gadget than a car...

[hemusbull]

There is obviously engineering issue  - with 188 horeses and high low torque (this is turbo) plus 6-speed manual it runs with 2600 rpm... Come on, Nissan rework it! As well  it's thirsty - 10.6 is CR-V territory, but the latter one is considerably bigger vehicle. And this front is ugly in my oppinion. Overall, seems to me, Nissan succeeded creating one quirky vehicle with very limited customer base.

[5 Wheel Drive]

This would be my preferred Juke.  FWD SL with the 6 speed manual.  Every other Juke review I've read had been with the CVT.

Good review, thanks!

[aaronk]

This is a neat little vehicle. The only things that leave me wanting is a manual option with torque-vectoring AWD and more cargo room for my mountain bike. Speaking of bikes, if anybody has one of these and mountain bikes, I would be very interested to know how everything fits in the hatch.

[mr.steevo]

My goodness that's an ugly looking front.

[dragonfly]

 I love this car....Nav and leather, blue tooth and loads of fun, plus good MPG...All this for a negotiable list of 27 G's. How can you go wrong?
                        dragonfly

[whaddaiknow]

Quirky looking as it may be, it is an interesting package overall and would work well for someone who wants to be 'different'.
One concern I would have is with centre console shiny plastics that, even on the photos, appear to be scratch prone and attract a lot of dust.
With this engine-tranny combo, it looks like a fun ubran vehicle for a younger buyer.

[CanuckS2K]

The Juke is arguably a love it or hate it type of vehicle.  I totally understand why some despise it's looks and I also understand why people love it.  Personally, I love it.  To me, it's a sweet little package that is fun to drive.  If I was younger and without a family, I wouldn't have any issues having this as my DD.   

[mlin32]

Props to Nissan for at least making an MT available on a SUV, but why do carmakers assume that the only MT buyers are folks who want to save money and buy basic/base-level models, and thus limit it to front-drive models? I'm sure there are folks who want the AWD optioned up but don't mind three pedals.

[TopGun]

The Juke is arguably a love it or hate it type of vehicle.  I totally understand why some despise it's looks and I also understand why people love it.  Personally, I love it.  To me, it's a sweet little package that is fun to drive.  If I was younger and without a family, I wouldn't have any issues having this as my DD.   

Great summary.  The AutoBlog guys opined about how much fun this thing is to drive.  They are tiny though.

[johngenx]

For some reason, only Subaru has the technology to mate AWD and a manual trans.

[mlin32]

For some reason, only Subaru has the technology to mate AWD and a manual trans.

Well, not the technology, just the willingness to certify and sell.

Imagine, BMW makes the X3 20d in the US for export only. It would probably sell well in Canada.

[PJ]

I'm not to worried about the 10.6 L/100 km here.  Turbos are very sensitive to driving style.  Aggressive driving like you would do in  a road test will certainly drive the mileage down.

You can get this loaded up with the manual trans, you just can't get the AWD with it.  Odd but not that big a deal.  This isn't an offroader and for most people you are better off to save the weight and cost of AWD that you rarely if ever need.

[Jaeger]

The Juke is arguably a love it or hate it type of vehicle.  I totally understand why some despise it's looks and I also understand why people love it.  Personally, I love it.  To me, it's a sweet little package that is fun to drive.  If I was younger and without a family, I wouldn't have any issues having this as my DD.   

What he said.

Jaeger

[Loudpedal]

The Juke is arguably a love it or hate it type of vehicle.  I totally understand why some despise it's looks and I also understand why people love it.  Personally, I love it.  To me, it's a sweet little package that is fun to drive.  If I was younger and without a family, I wouldn't have any issues having this as my DD.   

+1

[Ace]

I notice not one word in this article mentions anything about the styling of this vehicle! This is the ugliest little car I've ever seen.

[bluelines]

Last time I checked, my BMW 328 wagon was both AWD and a six-speed manual 

For some reason, only Subaru has the technology to mate AWD and a manual trans.

[2JDM]

I test drove a SL FWD CVT version on Tuesday, in the rain. Man, does it TORQUE steer. It was very fun to drive, but it needed the AWD. Other than that, it was a decent small car on stilts. There is very low stock in Ontario right now...if you were to order one, the wait would be 4 months.

[CatsEye68]

I love this car....Nav and leather, blue tooth and loads of fun, plus good MPG...All this for a negotiable list of 27 G's. How can you go wrong?

Well, you'll have to look at it every single day. And you'll have to learn to handle the looks of others looking at you driving it who are thinking, "What was he THINKING?". Of course, if one used to own an Aztek or any other famously mis-styled car, that won't be such a burden.