Nissan Juke SUV review

The crossover craze rumbles on, and many credit the Nissan Juke for kick starting the shift in buying habits when it first arrived in 2010. It had a radical new design, and went on find more than a million customers, so you can't blame Nissan for evolving its styling for this second generation. The Japanese manufacturer has also concentrated on making its smallest SUV more family-friendly, economical and sharper to drive. With a new Nissan Juke Hybrid now available to buy, the Juke now promises to be greener and cheaper to run too.

It's actually all new, but so far as its design goes, the biggest change is the 'V-motion' grille that more closely links the Juke to the latest Nissan Qashqai SUV. Then, there are trademark oversized wheelarches and lots of black trim around the lower extremities of the car, helping fend off urban dings. Horizontal rear lights exaggerate the Juke's wide hips, and top versions get a contrasting roof colour.

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The old Juke's interior was starting to feel its age, so the replacement has a large eight-inch infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard, along with metallic circular air vents. Material quality is better throughout, to the eyes and fingertips, and there's also noticeably more space. The latest version is bigger in all directions, so you won't now have to worry about asking friends or family to sit in the back. There's more legroom and knee room, and the 420-litre boot is a small step up in size from the average family hatchback. Some rivals are better in both respects, though.

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Just a 1.0-litre petrol with 115bhp was offered to begin with, which should be quick enough for most and offers good fuel-efficiency. You can expect around 47mpg with either its standard six-speed manual gearbox or a new dual-clutch automatic fitted, and business drivers will find it affordable too. Nissan has also addressed criticisms that the old car was a touch dull to drive, and the new car shares its basic layout with the latest Renault Clio. It feels a lot like a supermini to drive, with hardly any body lean and positive steering giving it an agile feel.

Trim levels are numerous but most buyers will want to avoid the rather basic entry-level Visia and head straight to Acenta for its 17-inch alloy wheels and eight-inch touchscreen. N-Connecta and Tekna trims add to the kit and safety features, while Tekna+ adds stylish design flourishes like a contrasting roof and colourful interior trim.

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It might have been a trend-setter, but the original Juke was far from perfect. The second generation should make a better family car. It's more spacious, better equipped, good to drive and well priced. With so many great rivals, it's unlikely the second Juke will become as successful as the first but, particularly in mid-level N-Connecta trim, it's a strong proposition.