2011 Nissan JUKE

I-CON (Advanced-Integrated Control) system interface
Standard on the Juke SV and SL, Nissan's slick I-CON interface/display toggles between "Climate" and "D-mode," each with its own specific graphics. In the former, I-CON commands all heat/air functions while the latter features Normal/Sport/Eco settings that appropriately revise the electronic mapping for throttle response, transmission shifts and steering feel.

Intelligent AWD with Torque Vectoring
Available on all three Juke trim levels, Nissan's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system can create up to a 50/50 front/rear power split and also distribute torque from side to side on the rear axle to improve handling and reduce understeer when cornering.

Despite a dearth of soft-touch secondary surfaces, the 2011 Nissan Juke's relatively spacious and well-finished cabin is loaded with visual flair and welcome functionality. A thick-rimmed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and well-bolstered front buckets team well with its driver-friendly dash layout and legible main gauge cluster. The high-rise center console design ideally positions the Juke's shift lever and is contoured like a motorcycle gas tank to serve as an effective leg support. Scaled to accommodate average-sized adults, the 60/40 rear seat folds flat to bump cargo space from 10.5 to 35.9 cubic feet. Front-drive models also offer a hidden stow space under the cargo floor.

A blatant love-it-or-hate-it proposition, the Juke's sheetmetal defiantly blazes a visual trail where other competitors arguably – and perhaps prudently – fear to tread. Up front, prominent low-mount headlamps and bulgy running/marker units that sit atop boldly arched fenders give it a decidedly not-of-this-world face. In profile, the Juke's muscular side contouring, fall-away roofline and wedge-shaped greenhouse create a genuinely interesting look that resolves into a Murano-meets-Volvo C30 tail treatment capped with a decently sized single-piece hatch. Rounding out the mix on all three Juke trim levels (S/SL/SV) are 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/55 V-rated all-season tires.

All versions of the 2011 Nissan Juke are fitted with the automaker's new 1.6-liter "DIG" (Direct Injection Gasoline) in-line four-cylinder that boasts the holy trinity of modern engine tech – direct fuel injection, turbocharging/intercooling and variable camshaft timing (here on both the intake and exhaust side) to deliver an impressive mix of performance and economy. Generating a stout 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque from 2,000-5,200 revs, it matches well with the CVT (which includes S-mode that serves up six "virtual" gears) and the six-speed manual gearbox, and can comfortably handle the added weight of the all-wheel-drive system. A manual-equipped front-drive Juke can sprint to 60 mph in around seven seconds, while the CVT and AWD each add about a half tick each to that baseline figure.

1.6-liter turbocharged/intercooled in-line four
188 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
177 lb-ft of torque @ 2000-5200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/31 mpg (FWD manual), 27/32 mpg (FWD CVT), 25/30 mpg (AWD CVT)