MOTORING REVIEW: Nissan adds hybrid to its Juke line-up in Limerick

NISSAN introduced its funky small Juke SUV or compact crossover in 2010. The model was voted Continental Irish Car of the Year the following year. The second generation followed in 2020. Some people like the car’s muscular in-your-face style, others do not. But you simply can’t miss it on the road as there’s nothing out there quite like it. Nissan have added a full hybrid version to the model’s line-up.

The model sits behind its more popular siblings, led by the ever-popular Qashqai. Juke’s 2022 sales of 632 units represented a 44.69 drop on the year before. However, the addition of the hybrid option with automatic transmission may well add significantly to this year’s sales figures. Nissan firmly believe it will attract new customers.

The car sits squat on the road and has a low roofline. Its muscular look suggests it is on steroids. In looks, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the petrol ICE versions and this hybrid option. Changes are mostly to optimise the car’s aerodynamic efficiency and of course there are the hybrid badges on the doors and tailgate.

Limerick dealership drives off with top EV award

The funky interior includes soft touch material across the width of the dash. Seats, with integrated headrests, are upholstered in a synthetic leather with quilting which gives an expensive look. Black, in this instance, with contrasting white stitching. Seats have manual seat adjustments. Space-wise, there is decent knee room for an adult seated behind a 6ft front seat passenger.

The busy dash is dominated by the 9-inch touch screen with radio, Bluetooth, Voice Recognition, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay and Connected services, and the three large vents below. There are knobs for the temperature controls. The driver’s screen has been revised to provide information for hybrid driving. The power gauge shows all the different energy flows so you can see how the hybrid system is working and the state of the battery charge.

An EV switch can be used when you don’t want noise in residential areas, while a Drive Mode button allows you switch between standard, sport and eco drive modes. You can also opt to use the e-Pedal system, as in the Nissan Leaf EV, that enables the driver to start, accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. It's easy to get the hang of the system.

There is a reduction in boot space, now at 354 litres, of 68 litres compared to the petrol version, due to the packaging of the hybrid battery pack under the boot floor. There’s a skinny spare. With rear seats folded, boot space is 1,237 litres.

Trims are SV Premium, SVE, and N-Design. My mid-spec trim had 19-inch alloys, Blind Spot Alert, Auto Hold, Intelligent Cruise Control, ProPilot or Drive Assist, Around View Monitor with front and rear sensors and moving object detection, rear view camera, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, navigation services, Emergency braking with pedestrian cyclist recognition. The Around View Monitor makes parking easy with a virtual 360deg bird’s-eye view of your car. You can select from split-screen close-ups of the front, rear and kerbside views which is useful when parking. It also gives you an on-screen heads-up when it detects moving objects near your car.

Juke hybrid starts in 100pc electric mode and can reach speeds of up to 55km/h in pure EV mode. The powertrain consists of a four-cylinder 1.6 petrol engine, a 1.2 kw battery plus EV motor giving a combined output of 143hp. The hybrid provides 25pc more power than the standard petrol engine option with a fuel consumption reduction of up to 40pc in urban cycle, and up to 20pc over the combined cycle. Official fuel consumption is 5.2 L/100kms. However, I clocked a ‘best fuel combined’ return of 7.2 L/100kms during my many forays over different routes with the car. Annual road tax is €190.

I felt snug behind the wheel. You sit comfortably, the steering is nicely balanced, the car feels solid on the road with good grip when cornering and in frosty conditions. It was also quick to gain speed when overtaking or joining the motorway. However, a good bit of road noise came through to the cabin and the ride wasn’t quite as smooth as I’d expected even after changing from Sport to Normal drive mode.

Prices start from €26,495 incl VAT. My SVE trim is from €37,100.