Nissan Juke Hybrid Review

Nissan has continued its plans to offer a hybrid version of all its petrol cars with its crossover SUV, the Juke, getting the electrifying treatment.

The Juke’s also had some tweaks, with a revised front end, although it retains the same basic funky shape it’s known for.

There are a bunch of trims, and the Tekna+ reviewed here gets aerodynamic alloys, exterior styling tweaks and two-tone metallic paint.

The powertrain is a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, producing 143PS.

The battery is only 1.25kWh, providing an all-electric range of just two miles. But the Juke’s all about preserving fuel economy, rather than engineless driving.

That said, the engine doesn’t start up until you hit third gear or 35mph, and you can override this to leave it in all-electric mode.

The Juke Hybrid is keener to make progress than the pure petrol model. But the rate of acceleration dips as you approach 70mph.

A Sport mode helps increase the accelerator response, although the Juke is anything but sporty in terms of handling. Why? Well, it’s not incredibly athletic in the bends, despite a firm ride.

The Nissan is better suited to dual-carriageways and motorways, while the automatic gearbox is well-refined.

Inside, the Juke is fashionable, with circular air vents adding personality. Additionally, the materials feel pretty nice, although there are cheaper plastics on show.

The infotainment screen protrudes over the top of the dashboard and has been improved along with the car’s makeover. What’s more, the digital display gives valuable information about energy usage and battery statistics.

The seats are comfortable, and forward visibility is okay but compromised at the rear. That said, the hybrid includes a camera, which helps.

There is good space in the front and back, although not enough to comfortably fit three adults in the rear. Meanwhile, storage could be better, with small door bins and only one cupholder.

Boot space is 354 litres, ballooning to 1,114 litres with the back seats folded, while the adjustable boot floor helps minimise the load lip.

Nissan says you’ll get 56.5mpg, producing 114g/km CO2. But perhaps even more importantly, the Juke earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

The safety kit includes intelligent emergency braking, lane departure warning and intervention, traffic sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring. The Tekna+ adds lane-keep assist, a 360-degree camera, blind spot intervention and rear cross-traffic alert, amongst other technology.