Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke is a difficult vehicle to classify. Yes, it is a compact crossover SUV, but between its unusual styling and performance-oriented drivetrain, it remained an outlier in the Nissan lineup. For those customers who wanted even further differentiation from mainstream crossovers on the market, the Juke was offered in a range of bright colors with special color accents on the mirrors and roof spoiler. The interior was just as unique, featuring a color-coordinated metallic center console, but it fell short in rear-seat comfort. The available all-wheel-drive system featured torque vectoring for improved handling, and the top-level Nismo RS boasted a potent turbocharged engine for added performance.
Explore the evolution of the Nissan Juke
Get our expert take on used Nissan Juke models, or view year-by-year changes.
First generation Nissan Juke
When the Nissan Juke arrived in 2011, the reaction from many consumers and media was, “What were they thinking?” Nissan already had a compact crossover with the Rogue, but the Juke was something different, both in style and performance. While the exterior design was somewhat polarizing, the Juke featured a stylish interior highlighted by the polished, color-coordinated center console. Overall, the cabin had a sporty look, with an available gauge cluster that resembled the one in Nissan’s high-end GT-R sports car. The front seats offer both support and comfort, but rear-seat passengers may find the headroom to be somewhat tight.
The 2011 Juke came with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine teamed with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive was available on all trims, but only came with the CVT. The Juke’s performance was among the best for compact crossover SUVs, and it was further enhanced in 2013 with the introduction of the Juke Nismo.
Model highlights
More powerful Nismo version (introduced in 2013; upgraded in 2015)
Available manual gearbox
Custom styles available through Juke Color Studio (added in 2015)
Standard five-inch infotainment display
Impressive fuel efficiency
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2011 - 2017
2017 Nissan Juke
2016 Nissan Juke
2015 Nissan Juke
Looking for 2012 models or older?
CarMax only sells 2013 models and newer. But no matter the year, we'll happily buy your car.
Reliability
RepairPal gave the Nissan Juke an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Nissan Juke 8th out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Nissan Juke is $527, compared to an average of $442 for Subcompact SUVs and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Nissan Juke owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.9 times per year, compared to an average of 0.7 times for Subcompact SUVs and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 19% for the Nissan Juke, compared to an average of 12% for Subcompact SUVs and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Perry Stern has been writing about cars for almost 30 years and has been an enthusiast for much longer than that. Contributing to multiple automotive publications, Perry drives almost every new car on the market, ranging from base-level Kias to exotic high-performance Lamborghinis. But his favorite is still the 2006 Mazda Miata parked in his garage.
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to provide legal, financial or investment advice. We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before transacting and consider talking to a qualified professional about your unique circumstances.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
Editorial content contained on this page comes from Edmunds.com, Inc., a subsidiary of CarMax Enterprise Service, LLC, and information related to featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities. By clicking on any video links, you will be taken to a third-party site maintained by YouTube, Inc.