THE NISSAN JUKE WITH MORE SPARK AND SOPHISTICATION

Ten Second Review

Nissan's little Juke crossover takes its first step into the electrified era with this Hybrid variant. Compared to the ordinary version, you get both more power and greater efficiency - though with a considerably higher price tag.

Background

Nissan may have been one of the pioneers in EV motoring but the brand has been slow to react to customer demand for Hybrids. It still can't sell you one you can plug in, but other petrol/electric bases now seem well covered. Mild hybrid tech was launched with the current Qashqai, which along with the larger X-Trail SUV also offers the company's clever e-Power drivetrain in which all the 1.5-litre petrol engine does is to supply energy for the electrical system.

For an electrification option with the brand's smaller Juke crossover, we'd hoped to see that innovative powerplant reappear again. Instead, Nissan has opted for something a tad more conventional, updating the four cylinder 1.6-litre full-Hybrid petrol engine already familiar from several Renault models. It's a pricier alternative to the continuing old-tech three cylinder 1.0-litre DIG-T petrol engine most choose in the Juke, but there's the appealing combination of more power and better efficiency. Should Juke folk be tempted? Let's see.

Driving Experience

The numbers here certainly deserve a second glance: 20% better fuel economy, 25% more power and all of it controlled by three Hybrid drive modes and six gears, four for the engine and two for the EV system. Nissan says that the whole confection is its own but actually, the Juke Hybrid drivetrain is basically the same one Renault uses in the Clio, the Captur and the Arkana. Albeit with changes made to the 1.6-litre petrol engine and to the set-up's electric motor (here putting out 48bhp and working with a 20bhp starter generator). Total system output is 141bhp. As with Renault, that e-motor is mounted within a four-speed 'multi-modal' auto gearbox which manages both power sources.

What we haven't seen before on any Renault is this Nissan's 'e-Pedal' function, which increases regenerative braking - to the point where the car can slow right down to 5mph when you come off the throttle. It also improves water cooling for the compact 1.2kWh battery, which always powers the car from start-off and can take you up to 34mph without troubling fossil fuel. Once you crest the EV speed barrier, the powertrain switches into 'series hybrid' mode, where the engine charges the battery - great for urban driving. And at high speeds and under heavy acceleration, the whole set-up reverts to 'parallel mode' in which both the e-motor and the engine drive the wheels.

Design and Build

If you know your Jukes, there's quite a lot to set this Hybrid version apart. Not only Hybrid badges on the front wings and boot lid but also gloss black trimming and smarter mesh for the partially blanked-off front grille, which has an active radiator shutter. As with the conventional Juke model, Nissan has in recent times redesigned the rear spoiler, revised the bumpers and added different wheel options.

The interior is a little different in this Hybrid model too, with a revised instrument dial set-up that shows the amount of power being supplied. The binnacle's 7-inch digital screen also shows energy flow as you drive. The 8-inch centre display this second generation version's always had continues and is beginning to show its age. Still, it includes most of what you'd need, with navigation and 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. An upgraded BOSE audio system can also be added.

Market and Model

Nissan doesn't offer the two base Juke trim levels ('Visia' and 'Acenta') with the Hybrid powertrain, which partly explains why the Juke Hybrid looks a tad pricey, the starting figure for base 'N-Connecta' trim up at around £27,500. An equivalent 1.0-litre auto model would save you around £1,800: an equivalent 1.0-litre manual version would save you around £3,200. The 1.0-litre Juke range starts at around £21,000. If you want a plusher version of this Hybrid model, there are 'Tekna' and 'Tekna+' derivatives on offer, with pricing up to around £30,500.

At least you get plenty of kit for the prices being asked. Even 'N-Connecta' trim gets you 19-inch alloy wheels, all-round parking sensors, keyless entry, an 'Intelligent Around View Monitor' and NissanConnect' navigation with TomTom traffic info. There's also power-folding mirrors, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, heated front seats, a heated windscreen and a clever luggage board system for the boot. The Hybrid also comes with the brand's 'ProPILOT Assist Pack' which gives you 'Intelligent Driver Alertness' (to detect driver drowsiness), 'Blind Spot Intervention', 'Rear Cross Traffic Alert', 'Intelligent Cruise Control', a 'Moving Object Detection' system to help with safer low speed manoeuvring, 'Lane Keep Assist' and a 'Traffic Jam Pilot' system that effectively drives the car for you in traffic queues.

Cost of Ownership

Let's get to the figures: this Juke Hybrid manages combined cycle fuel consumption of up to 57.6mpg (56.5mpg further up the range) and CO2 emissions from 115g/km. That compares with 40.9mpg and 133g/km for an equivalently-specified 1.0-litre DIG-T 114 model. So the 20% fuel economy improvement claim more than stacks up.

Even to achieve the real world figure, you'll need to make full use of this car's clever one-pedal brake regen technology. As soon as you turn on the 'e-Pedal' system and lift off the accelerator, you'll feel the car clawing back energy for the battery. There's an energy monitor on the centre screen to show you that happening in real time.

As with the conventional model, service intervals will come round every 12 months or 12,500 miles. As part of any Nissan dealer visit with your car, you'll be provided with a free courtesy vehicle and a video health check for your Juke that you can watch on your 'phone or computer. Nissan also provides a three year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard and that can be lengthened to four years but with the same mileage cap. There's breakdown assistance with roadside help included with the car's protection package. Insurance is group 14E-15E.

Summary

This Juke's better to drive than most of its rivals too. We wish the price premium over the ordinary 1.0-litre model wasn't quite so great, but if you can stretch to it and you want a stepping stone in this class to full-EV motoring, then this could be it.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Nissan Juke Hybrid

PRICES: £27,525 - £30,425

INSURANCE GROUPS: 14E-15E

CO2 EMISSIONS: 115g/km

PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 10.4s / top speed 112mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 56.5mpg {N-Connecta}

BOOT CAPACITY: [litres] 354

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4210/1800/1595mm