2016 Nissan Juke Review

Two special-edition "Stinger" models are available, one in black with yellow accented mirrors, door handles, interior trim and stitching and the other yellow with black exterior accents and yellow interior treatment. Siri Eyes Free is also a new standard feature in S, SV and SL trims.

It might not be love at first sight, but a drive in the 2016 Nissan Juke will have you seeing the inner beauty of Nissan's feisty hatchback/crossover creation.

The Nissan Juke makes no apologies for its controversial styling, which is a part of its appeal. Nissan took it a step further in 2015, introducing a new Color Studio program that allows you to mix and match colors like an unsupervised kid at a soda fountain. Think what you will about the Juke's styling; the bottom line is it's one of the most capable performers in the compact crossover segment, which means big fun in the driver seat.

The 2016 Nissan Juke is a visual standout for this class.

A lot of what makes the Juke so enjoyable is what lies beneath the surface, namely a healthy turbocharged engine that is powerful yet efficient. An available all-wheel-drive system with genuine rear-axle torque-vectoring means the Juke can vary power delivery between the front and rear axles as well as the left and right rear wheels for optimum traction. A taut suspension makes for great handling when the roads start to curve and there are even 7 inches of ground clearance to help keep the body free of scrapes on rough roads. One of the few downsides to the Juke is interior space. Rear passenger legroom and cargo space aren't very generous, so if you often carry a full passenger load, the Juke will feel cramped.

If space is a concern, you might consider the more space-efficient 2016 Chevrolet Trax or 2016 Honda HR-V, both of which offer a big jump in rear passenger legroom and cargo space. If you just can't get past the Juke's exterior styling, then the sleek and sporty 2016 Mazda CX-3 is a good alternative for someone who values a sporty driving experience. Or if off-roading is more in line with your lifestyle, we'd recommend checking out the 2016 Jeep Renegade, specifically the Trailhawk trim.

The 2016 Nissan Juke features a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Juke Nismo has the same engine, but the Nismo RS gets an upgraded version good for 215 hp and 210 lb-ft (front-wheel drive) or 211 hp and 184 lb-ft (all-wheel drive).

Even the entry-level 2016 Juke features strong turbocharged power.

A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard on the S, SV and SL trims. The Nismo and Nismo RS offer a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or the CVT. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all CVT-equipped trims can also be had with all-wheel drive.

In Edmunds testing, a front-wheel-drive Juke with the CVT went from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, an impressively quick time for this category. An all-wheel-drive model was essentially just as quick, and a six-speed manual Nismo even quicker at 6.9 seconds.

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the Juke is 30 mpg in combined driving (28 city/32 highway) with front-wheel drive and the CVT. Opting for AWD drops those numbers to 28 mpg combined (26 city/31 highway). The Nismo model equipped with the six-speed manual gets the best highway fuel economy with 30 mpg combined (28 city/34 highway). The higher-output Nismo RS is rated at 27 mpg combined (25/31) with the manual transmission and 27 mpg combined (25/29) with the automatic and AWD.

All 2016 Nissan Juke models come with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, a rearview camera, active front head restraints (not equipped on Nismo RS models with Recaro seats), dual-stage front airbags, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags.

In Edmunds brake testing, the Juke stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is an average distance for a vehicle in this segment. The Nismo, with its performance-oriented tires, was notably better at 114 feet.

In government crash tests, the Juke received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with three stars for total frontal-impact protection (four stars, driver; three stars, front passenger), five stars for total side-impact protection and four stars for rollover protection.

Thanks to the Juke's multiple drive modes, it can provide relaxed responses to your inputs that maximize fuel economy when cruising, or sharpen everything up when you're on a fun back road.

If you're looking for driving entertainment in this class, the 2016 Nissan Juke remains a top contender.

The Juke's steering is nicely weighted, even if it doesn't provide the best road communication, and the standard suspension skews toward the sporting side. The ride quality is passable over smooth pavement, though it can feel stiff-legged over bumps compared with more family-oriented crossovers. A decent amount of suspension travel and ground clearance allows it to handle rough roads without scraping anything. There is some noticeable wind and tire noise at highway speeds, but most buyers should find it tolerable, especially given the car's sporting bent.

Although the Nismo Juke has the same engine as the normal version, it manages to shave a couple tenths off its 0-60-mph run with its easy-shifting six-speed manual transmission. Its sport suspension, paired with grippier summer tires, also makes it slightly more entertaining to drive quickly. An extra 27 hp and 33 lb-ft of torque should make this Juke RS more of a rival to high-performance hot hatches like the Ford Focus ST, Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI.

The 2016 Nissan Juke's cabin is nearly as aggressively styled as its exterior. There are a lot of organic curves and body-colored surfaces, while silver accents add cheerful ambience. Unfortunately there's no shortage of hard plastic surfaces, reminding you of the car's budget price tag. On the other hand, the Juke's controls are large and easy to operate, and the cabin features lots of thoughtful storage compartments.

The front seats are comfortable, with substantial side bolsters well suited to enthusiastic driving. A steering wheel that tilts but doesn't telescope can make it harder for some drivers to get comfortable, though, while a shortage of rear legroom makes the backseat better suited to smaller folks or kids.

The Juke's cargo area offers a paltry 10.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 36 cubic feet with those seatbacks folded down. By comparison, the Honda HR-V provides 24.3 cubic feet behind the second row and the Jeep Renegade 18.5 cubic feet. Even the more compact Mazda CX-3 has 12.4 cubic feet of cargo, or 44.5 cubic feet total with the seats folded.