2 – 2013 Nissan JUKE SL AWD (82.7%)
A well-deserved second place spot is reserved for the quirky 2013 Nissan JUKE SL AWD. In all honesty, the only reason this vehicle didn’t catch first place in this compact crossover alternatives comparo test is because of its polarizing exterior and interior designs, along with a few interior space issues.
To look at the 2013 Nissan JUKE is to look at a company that’s not afraid to think outside the box and offer something off the beaten path (clichés are the best way to say something nice, right?). Our comparo drivers used terms like “funky,” “futuristic,” “peculiar,” and “a face only Picasso could love” to describe the JUKE’s exterior styling cues. But, no one said they outright hated it.
Same goes for the interior bits and pieces. With coloured inserts (red, no less, to match the exterior) throughout the cabin in hard plastic, it was easy to see why the design was love-it-or-hate-it in nature. All agreed that despite the in-your-face colour, the middle stack was well laid out and easy to use. The steering wheel was comfortable, and the gauge cluster was both sporty and well arranged.
Fit and finish in the 2013 Nissan JUKE SL feels above and beyond its price range in some respects, and was noted as such by a few drivers. From the coloured stitching on the leather seats, to the feel of the knobs, all were duly impressed with the JUKE from the inside.
Driving the Nissan JUKE blissfully means you don’t have to look at its front fascia, so all is forgiven. Especially when you take into consideration the performance its 1.6L DIG turbocharged engine puts forth. With 188 horsepower (most powerful of the lot) and 177 lb-ft of torque all managed by Nissan’s CVT transmission, the JUKE impressed drivers on the winding country roads we traversed for our drive. Unlike some CVTs, the transmission isn’t overtly noisy, and the “shifts” are quick via the gear lever, when desired.
The Nissan JUKE also managed to score one of the best fuel ratings (second to the Trax) at 11.9L/100km, despite all comparo drivers feeling the need to push the little crossover a little harder because it was such a blast to drive.
Where the 2013 Nissan JUKE SL fell flat was in interior space and access. With a ground clearance rating in the 170 mm range it’s not the lowest to the ground (the MINI holds that spot at 122 mm), however, it felt the smallest and most compact due to small, angled door openings to the rear seats. The baby seat barely fit, and only did once the rear head rest had been removed, and even then the edge of the seat was wedged quite tightly against the rear pillar; and the 4moms Origami stroller didn’t fit in the trunk at all (which offers 297 L of space, surprisingly). Also, due to the design of the vehicle, all drivers noted poor visibility out the rear when compared to the rest of the pack.
A well-deserved second place spot is reserved for the quirky 2013 Nissan JUKE SL AWD. In all honesty, the only reason this vehicle didn’t catch first place in this compact crossover alternatives comparo test is because of its polarizing exterior and interior designs, along with a few interior space issues.
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| Our comparo drivers used terms like "funky," "futuristic," "peculiar," and "a face only Picasso could love" to describe the JUKE's exterior styling cues. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
To look at the 2013 Nissan JUKE is to look at a company that’s not afraid to think outside the box and offer something off the beaten path (clichés are the best way to say something nice, right?). Our comparo drivers used terms like “funky,” “futuristic,” “peculiar,” and “a face only Picasso could love” to describe the JUKE’s exterior styling cues. But, no one said they outright hated it.
Same goes for the interior bits and pieces. With coloured inserts (red, no less, to match the exterior) throughout the cabin in hard plastic, it was easy to see why the design was love-it-or-hate-it in nature. All agreed that despite the in-your-face colour, the middle stack was well laid out and easy to use. The steering wheel was comfortable, and the gauge cluster was both sporty and well arranged.
Fit and finish in the 2013 Nissan JUKE SL feels above and beyond its price range in some respects, and was noted as such by a few drivers. From the coloured stitching on the leather seats, to the feel of the knobs, all were duly impressed with the JUKE from the inside.
Driving the Nissan JUKE blissfully means you don’t have to look at its front fascia, so all is forgiven. Especially when you take into consideration the performance its 1.6L DIG turbocharged engine puts forth. With 188 horsepower (most powerful of the lot) and 177 lb-ft of torque all managed by Nissan’s CVT transmission, the JUKE impressed drivers on the winding country roads we traversed for our drive. Unlike some CVTs, the transmission isn’t overtly noisy, and the “shifts” are quick via the gear lever, when desired.
The Nissan JUKE also managed to score one of the best fuel ratings (second to the Trax) at 11.9L/100km, despite all comparo drivers feeling the need to push the little crossover a little harder because it was such a blast to drive.
Where the 2013 Nissan JUKE SL fell flat was in interior space and access. With a ground clearance rating in the 170 mm range it’s not the lowest to the ground (the MINI holds that spot at 122 mm), however, it felt the smallest and most compact due to small, angled door openings to the rear seats. The baby seat barely fit, and only did once the rear head rest had been removed, and even then the edge of the seat was wedged quite tightly against the rear pillar; and the 4moms Origami stroller didn’t fit in the trunk at all (which offers 297 L of space, surprisingly). Also, due to the design of the vehicle, all drivers noted poor visibility out the rear when compared to the rest of the pack.
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| Fit and finish in the 2013 Nissan JUKE SL feels above and beyond its price range in some respects, and was noted as such by a few drivers. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |