New 2011 Nissan Juke FWD CVT

If you're in the market for interesting, cheap car, your choice is quite limited. Most of all, the MSRP under $ 20k these days is about as fun as kissing your sister. Sober. If the budget is limited car guy to do? Buy-out ragged Mustang GT? Of course, this is one of the options. But if you're an outsider with a great taste for the bizarre, maybe you should head back to the Nissan dealer.
Let us first clarify one thing. Juke styling either love or hate. Not much middle ground, sure. Personally, I think style is a bit bizarre and played all at once, but it's better than a Viagra to deploy to prevent boredom. The front end looks like a tractor, the rear looks like the Volvo V50, and when viewed from the side profile of a pregnant GT-R. Personally I believe that design is more consistent look in person than in photographs, the interaction between angles and concave surfaces of the vehicle that really attracts the eye.

What would it look better? Simple. Drop is 2 "and put some good laps. Damnjdm do not photoshop Juke experienced vomit-green TE37, and it looks like hell.
Juke Black TE37 with a deep-dish, good wine and a few yellow covers over the lights and you see the cars. So aesthetically, Juke has some serious potential. Fortunately, Nissan is not cheap, and all versions of Juke attractive 17 "alloy wheels What is really strange and plastic coil on the upper wings are clear, a huge circle of light in the bumper, yet elegant design features abound.?. As follows, for Valence three random circular holes, hidden behind the door handle (attached around the idea of the Alfa Romeo 156, but Nissan will probably swear that the old school, Pathfinder), organic look rear (which looks like a Volvo), bulbous fenders (Mazda RX-8) -. The list could go on and even Nissan says the glass looks like a racing helmet visor - I really can not already visible.

But style is a very simple issue that you would like it or not, and I tell you it will not change his mind. So let's move on. How does it feel inside and what it's like to drive?

Juke interior is a mix of success and disappointing failure. However, the price of the sold this car, it's damn fun. On the positive side: It's an interesting design. The center console is a noted style motorcycle fuel tank and the central part, and the deep cup holder, a large cup of coffee and have a champion. "The engine cockpit (I can not see the wheels from Nissan), a cover around the track a good job of protecting the instruments from the Sun washout occurs, there is always a pet peeve mine. The controller is similar to them in the 370Z, skinless.

On the other hand, there are a number of drawbacks. Juke is especially Versa (aka Renault Clio / Modus) below, which means that it is not very big car inside. Now I'm a big guy, but this car seems an incredibly small, there is ample room for alternative things like elbows and knees in the Juke -. It's all very useful, especially in the back, which could lead claustraphobia. - Based panic attacks within minutes of great people. The quality of small plants (eg card light switches, mirror switches, something like that) feels very low bidder and some control is relatively small.
Frankly, wondering where your head in if you are a backseat passenger. "Sitting in" knee quite solid in the front seat. But as the New Beetle (the car this car has many features in common with how I deal with later) Juke tag provides an enormous head and almost no one in the back. There is a hatchback, but not many places where you fold the rear seats folded.

As the vehicle is aimed at 20-something, it has a lot of good technical level and available. The AUX-IN port on the front of the device, pair your Bluetooth phone, available navigation, 6-speaker Rockford Fosgate stereo with subwoofer built-in USB port for iPod integration, and other equipment, satellite radio, etc. Even the basic models to the AUX and USB port, which is nice. Higher levels of SL gets heated leather seats, among other delicacies. Base model interior (eg horse SI) maybe a bit dull and gray, but more advanced SL gets a little funky, especially if red. You can also access a "voter drives), managing the top level of the modified engine and transmission properties and electronic climate control.

What is more interesting than the design is the driving mechanism. Juke is a rather unusual car
Juke has a completely new engine is no other Nissans and Renaults, and this is probably the best part of Juke. Replaced a 1.6L, full MR16DDT cool technology. All aluminum, gasoline direct injection with turbo and small air-to-air intercooler, there are two independent variable valve timing, sodium-filled exhaust valves and a relatively high 9.5:1 compression ratio. This coil of 188 hp and 177 Nm of torque and power is very attractive for low-end. Turbo low that just so you know you have a compressor, then a moment of shock and scoots away Juke much faster than you'd expect. To claim performance is 6.8 seconds 0-60 time for FWD CVT models - I did not bring the tribe, but it is certainly no slouch. I think the other engine manufacturers in this price category: baby Camry 2.5L 4 VW 2.0L 8V and 20V 2.5L, 1.8L and Honda engines 1.5LR - again, surprisingly, the technology for a price.

What is really strange is the transmission and driveline choices. Do you have a choice of manual or a CVT and front-wheel drive or electronic torque coupling AWD. But before you ask, no, I can not get the manual and AWD. I minutes for yourself. Give up? FWD only. Do you want AWD? CVT only. Hey, at least turbo engine is standard. Also, if you Juke FWD, it has a solid rear axle. If AWD is a 5-link independent. I can imagine Juke factory is a bit confusing, but - in relation to other countries, there are three engine options!

But the model I drove (FWD CVT) device looks like the worst choice. You do not create your own, and it will not do donuts in the snow. But it is not without merit - Exhibition, merge on the highway. Gas down onramp and the engine locks to 3,000 rpm, the turbo spools and has enough power to do a bit of torque steer. The engine continues to hold around 4,000 rpm. / My, which compensates for the gears and suddenly you up to 80 Passing power is this car forte, it will blow past the slower traffic with surprising readiness. It is not a Mazda 2.3 Turbo Disi (Speed3) engine, but the size of the car is spot-on. It reminds me quite a twin-scroll turbocharged Cooper S engine, which is difficult enough to brag about.

Disadvantages to run? Well, it's loud. 1.6 liters is a very small engine and CVT prefer a move to a relatively high speed and remain there for some time. Noise from the street was quiet, but there are a lot of buzz of the engine. CVT has an "entity" in essence. Six preset ratios, which is slightly less useful than an extra arm would begin in the second, and downshifts more than what he believes is reasonable, or intrusion into overdrive at low speeds, and there's not much engine braking to speak. Juke is much easier if you just leave it in "D" and below, puffing up to peak power rpm and stay there. CVT forced to act as a planetary gear automatic cheered. Why is the transmission, to be more efficient than gears ... and give it to gears? However, I propose that this motor with larger turbochargers, a good melody is entirely correct. It makes me hope for the Versa 6MT FWD SE-R with this engine.

The ride is pretty good too. 17-inch wheels and tires, which means you do not really catch irregularities such as Cadillac, but it is well managed and there is much less roll than you expected. It is closer to the hot hatch into a mini-SUV, but it can be a bit rough, as a result. The brakes are strong, but I am active in the field, and I doubt many will at least
So Juke is not perfect, but it's fun. It was tight, it seems strange, a little cheap, and might be looking to target. On the other hand, is a unique, fun to drive, relatively efficient, packed with cool tech, and at a reasonable price.

As I see it as a fact, to replace the New Beetle. It sounds pretty weird, but I try to do what the New Beetle was trying to do in 1998. Shortly afterwards, a cool retro stuff - ". It's cool," so if something wonderfully retro, based on the tread, with not very practical or logical reason to buy addition to being a great success for several years. Nissan says that young people who are tired of driving Corolla, and used Buick and wine and all that - to give people a taste of what is called today (CUV, hot hatches, high-tech gadgets, rally rep, sporting round) at a reasonable price. If it is successful. Of the more objective standards, I'm not so sure.

Except for "split" style, it is difficult to understand why the Juke does not sell well. Nissan dealers seem to have trouble getting them in stock, so maybe I'm looking for the actual depth of the market that people have neither. If you wish, by all means get one. If not, then by all means get something else. Since the cube!