Next-Gen Juke Grows Up, Adds Tech

Nissan Motor Co.’s redesigned Juke compact crossover vehicle is larger, better equipped and features less polarizing styling than the first-generation model that launched in 2010.

Deliveries in Europe are due to start in November. There are no plans to offer the Juke again in the U.S., where it was replaced by the similarly sized Kicks crossover last year.

The 2020 crossover rides on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance’s CMF-B platform, which also carries Renault’s Captur and Clio small cars. The new Juke measures 166 inches long, 63 inches high and 71 inches wide. The car is 3 inches longer—thanks to a 4-inch larger wheelbase—and nearly 7 inches wider than the outgoing model.

Despite its larger size, the new Juke is 50 lbs. lighter, thanks to the increased use of high-strength steel. The new platform also is more rigid, which Nissan notes enhances stability and cornering capabilities.

The original model’s basic profile, thin running lights and oversized round headlights are toned down slightly. The curvaceous fenders also are more subdued, while the new model adds sharper lines and Nissan’s new "V-motion" grille design.

The larger footprint yields more than two inches of extra legroom and about half an inch of additional headroom for rear passengers. Cargo capacity grows by 20%.

The new Juke’s interior also has been updated, with the old model’s odd center console replaced with a more conventional design. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display appears to be floating on the dashboard.

The NissanConnect system enables over-the-air software updates, wi-fi connectivity and remote control of certain vehicle systems via a smartphone app. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard.

The new Juke also benefits from Nissan's latest safety and assistance technologies. These include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving capability on select highways.

At launch, the only engine available will be a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine that makes 115 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque. Buyers will have a choice of either a 6-speed manual transmission or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive is optional.

Other engines will be added later, possibly including a hybrid-electric variant. But the diesel variant is being dropped.