Test Drive of the Nissan Juke Hybrid: A Good Value for Money

Vehicle Highlights:

• Intuitive technology
• Comfort at the front
• Competitive price

Vehicle weaknesses:

• Lack of comfort on rear seats
• Too much information on the dashboard
• Too small trunk

Nissan offers in the SUV Coupé market a Juke Hybrid in a compact size (4.21 m), which benefits from the advantages of both gasoline and electric power thanks to its hybrid technology.

The visual aspect of the Nissan Juke Hybrid raises questions about its personality. The front position lights resemble feline eyes. The low beams and high beams are quite round, providing maximum visibility at night. The bi-tone paint, specific to the N-Design finish, adds a nice touch. At the rear, the trunk is fairly compact, and the taillights are as thin as the front position lights. This creates an overall impression of continuous flow throughout the vehicle, both sophisticated and robust.

Price, Range, and Fuel Consumption

We covered approximately 550 kilometers with the Juke Hybrid, mostly on the highway. In mixed cycle, we recorded a consumption of 7.3 L/100 km. This is reasonable for a vehicle of this size. The charge mode in this vehicle is heavily used in big cities, especially during peak hours. With such a hybrid system, just filling your tank with unleaded 95 will allow you to complete your journey without issue.

Finally, regarding price, the N-Design trim of this 143 hp Juke Hybrid is priced at €34,100, excluding options like the Techno Pack (+€1,500) and Nissan Connect (+€500). The new vehicle warranty applies for 3 years or 100,000 km, and the “Electrified powertrain components” warranty covers 5 years or 100,000 km.

Top acceleration and braking thanks to hybrid powertrain

The Nissan Juke Hybrid SUV features a 143 hp hybrid powertrain, with a dual engine consisting of a 94 hp thermal engine and a 49 hp electric motor. It has no clutch; all start-ups are in 100% electric mode before shifting gears or engaging a dual thermal/electric mode depending on driving needs. Additionally, the Nissan Juke Hybrid benefits from an intelligent multimodal automatic gearbox connecting the two engines to the front wheels.

The gearbox in this vehicle uses dog clutches, a system borrowed from motorsport and also present in the Renault Captur. Plus, all braking regenerates the battery!

Mobiwisy tested this particular system for you, and the results are positive. Acceleration is instantaneous with the first press of the pedal, and braking is equally responsive. The engine is fairly quiet overall, even in “Power” mode where the thermal engine is engaged for acceleration. You only hear it at 100 km/h, where it’s harder to keep quiet.

In terms of handling, the Nissan Juke scores many positive points. It accelerates well out of corners and maintains its trajectory under rain. The coupe SUV allows both novice and experienced drivers to stay on course. The only downside in this regard is the stiffness of the suspension when passing over speed bumps, causing a slight jolt at the rear!

A Comfortable Vehicle… at the Front

The Nissan Juke is equipped with good front seats, quite comfortable for long trips. Adjusting your seat is easy, thanks to levers on the left side that allow you to modify the head position and the seat’s tilt. Over long distances, this helps reduce back pain. The vehicle also offers plenty of legroom both front and rear. On the center armrest (in N-Design), you can fit a 1-liter bottle in the cup holders, and other storage spaces are spread throughout the cabin.

At the rear, although the space is fairly generous, the comfort is less so… Firstly, the bench seat is quite rigid and cannot be adjusted. Secondly, the middle passenger seat is not wide enough for an adult to sit comfortably without encroaching on the other seats.

Finally, the space under the ceiling at the back is quite limited. To measure this, Mobiwisy used an age-old method: placing a hand vertically above the head. We found that in the rear left and right seats, with an average height person (171 cm), you can fit four fingers vertically before touching the ceiling. The middle seat allows only three fingers.

Intuitive technology and very useful during driving

Dashboard

The dashboard in this vehicle is well designed with fairly intuitive controls. It also allows the driver to do everything from the steering wheel without touching the 7-inch multimedia screen next to it. If you need to change the music, it’s done via steering wheel buttons. To check your fuel consumption, there’s another display mode on this dashboard. This can be distracting, especially in heavy traffic! Depending on your driving style, there are three modes: “Charge, Eco, and Power”.

While driving on the highway, we noticed that the Power mode is only useful for acceleration after toll booths or rest areas. Otherwise, driving is mainly in Eco mode, especially if you use the standard cruise control.

Steering wheel technologies

From an ergonomic standpoint, the directional pad is appreciated, allowing the driver to navigate between different dashboard modes. All buttons for the music (volume, next song, previous) are located on the left side of the wheel. On the right, within easy reach for right-handed drivers, are the buttons for assisted driving and calls.

Additionally, behind the steering wheel, on the right, are the windshield wipers, which are well designed to activate automatically in rain. The system even indicates on the dashboard when you need to slow down, with a small flashing limit indicator at the top of the dashboard.

The LED headlights benefit from the same intelligent technology. An automatic mode triggers according to ambient light, adjusting the headlight intensity. Only the high beams and fog lights require manual operation via turn indicators.

Driving technologies

The Nissan “ProPILOT” system available in the Juke Hybrid SUV enables the driver to utilize features such as lane departure assistance and intelligent cruise control.

We tested this technology and found it satisfactory. The speed limiter was helpful on the highway, allowing us to drive at 130 km/h or 110 km/h without worrying about exceeding the speed limit.

On the exterior mirrors, you will find a triangular “Danger” indicator showing if a vehicle is in your blind spot. Very practical, especially in heavy traffic and limited visibility. The warning lights are clearly visible both during day and night. Ensuring safety while driving.

The lane departure assistance is a well-designed feature in this vehicle. Given the SUV’s dimensions (L 4.21 m x W 1.80 m x H 1.59 m), it’s impossible to see the wheels from the driver’s seat. This system gently vibrates the steering wheel when crossing a line, and guides you gently but firmly back into your lane. To change lanes, you must activate the turn signal in the intended direction. Smart and compliant with traffic laws!

Multimedia Screen

The Nissan Juke Hybrid’s multimedia system features a 7-inch touchscreen suitable for both the driver and front passenger. With control buttons below the screen, you can toggle between modes easily using these buttons and your fingers on the screen.

Having tested Apple CarPlay with personal music, we can commend the BOSE audio system (included in the optional Techno Pack). The sound is clear, with moderate bass, and the audio automatically mutes when important GPS alerts appear.

This component is an important feature in any modern car. It helps the driver navigate through cities in France and Europe, guiding to a final destination. In the Nissan Juke Hybrid, the GPS with 3D maps is an optional feature in the “Nissan Connect” pack. We were rather disappointed.

Although it is well connected, with indications on the dashboard and the multimedia screen, the navigation system lacks real-time data. Comparing the vehicle’s system to a smartphone app, we noticed missing information such as static or mobile radars and roadworks updates.

However, the GPS adapts well visually depending on the time of day, with a softer display in the cabin at night, and the background switching to night mode.

Voice recognition for audio system and hands-free calls

Nissan offers good voice recognition in French through its built-in microphones. It activates by pressing a button on the steering wheel and accepts voice commands related to calls and contacts on your phone.

Call audio is transmitted in all directions, somewhat like a cinema surround sound, allowing you to clearly hear your interlocutor without leaning towards a microphone or speaker.

There is also an emergency call button located on the ceiling above the central dashboard, marked in red with the SOS logo.

And for parking?

The rearview camera is also a crucial element, especially given the limited external visibility of the Juke. The Nissan Juke Hybrid has a 360° parking assistance system with cameras showing if you are too close or too far from obstacles. Front and rear cameras help you park precisely with audible and visible signals. Additionally, the vehicle features the “Intelligent Key” system for opening and starting—all you need to do is be nearby with the key, no need to search your bag or pockets for keys.

Lastly, regarding the trunk, we found it too small with a high access threshold. You have to lift your suitcase to load it. The capacity is 354 liters, or 1,237 liters with rear seats folded down.

Summary

The 143 hp Nissan Juke Hybrid we tested last week offers a good balance between quality and price.

Front seat comfort is good, and it offers all modern driving technologies for driver enjoyment. For short city trips, Nissan Connect and the ProPILOT pack facilitate navigation, although some minor issues with speed limit and lane keeping may occur.

The N-Design finish of this compact SUV allows you to travel locally and long distances with most of the features found in modern vehicles, combined with a hybrid system and Nissan powertrain. Note that you won’t benefit from ecological bonuses or trade-in incentives when purchasing this vehicle.

Additional images from our test:

Technical Specifications