2024 Nissan Juke ST-L review

It’s the light SUV with a bold and youthful edge. The second-generation Nissan Juke was refreshed in 2023 with design and aerodynamic changes and an updated feature list.

Since the mid-life refresh, VFACTS figures show the Nissan Juke is enjoying a moderate spike in sales, with 938 units sold so far this year (through April) compared with 463 in the same period in 2023. This places it in sixth position behind the Mazda CX-3 (5639), Suzuki Jimny (3037), and Toyota Yaris Cross (2582).

2024 Nissan Juke ST-L: Specifications

Engine: 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder
Output: 84kW@5250rpm / 180Nm@2400rpm
Gearbox: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.5, 225/40
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1225kg
Power-to-weight: 14.58:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 5.8L/100km
Our consumption: 6.8L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 46L/95 RON

Power efficiency: 14.48kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 5.41 seconds*
0-100km/h: 11.10 seconds*
60-110km/h: 8.01 seconds*
1/4 mile: 18.03 seconds at 127.8km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.759g*
100-0km/h braking: 37.57m in 2.96 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.310g*
Decibel at idle: 44*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 82*
Starting price: $34,440

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2024 Nissan Juke ST-L: How much does it cost?

Within the rest of the Nissan SUV range, the Juke is the smallest SUV, sitting under the Qashqai and X-Trail. There are five variants of choice; the ST, ST+, ST-L, ST-L+, and Ti. Prices commence at $28,390 and peak at $36,890 (excluding on-road costs). We have just spent a week with the mid-spec ST-L which retails for $34,440.

Alongside the rest of the compact SUV market, the Juke is typically priced, plotting itself somewhere in the centre. Cheaper alternatives are the Kia Stonic, which starts from $23,790 with auto, the Hyundai Venue with auto from $24,500, and the Mazda CX-3 from $26,950.

Then there is the Toyota Yaris Cross from $30,000 (though it now only comes with a more expensive hybrid powertrain), the Suzuki Jimny from $30,490 (which, unlike all competitors, is a 4×4), the Ford Puma from $30,840, and the Volkswagen T-Cross from $30,990.

2024 Nissan Juke ST-L: Interior & packaging

There is not a great deal of change when it comes to interior design. In fact, it is rather dated and basic. ST-L models and above score new black surfaces, leather-accented seats with contrasting white stitching, and a luggage board that sits over the boot floor. Materials used feel strong but plasticky. A small 8.0-inch lower-resolution touch-screen and analogue instrument cluster remain on all models.

The layout is rather practical for a compact SUV, with plenty of storage areas. Disappointingly, there are no rear air vents, rear centre armrest, or roof handle in the driver position. Further back, the boot is deep and generously sized for this segment, offering 422 litres of volume.

All models also see improved exterior aerodynamics, new colours, a new alloy wheel design, and updated badging. But the overall external design stays the same, which is now more in line with the current Nissan design language. The quirky, bug-eyed, frog-shaped front end from the previous generation is replaced by Nissan’s V-motion grille. It also looks more rugged for off-road use with flared wheel arches and black wheel surrounds. However, it’s not really capable of much off-roading with its 2WD-only configuration. More on that in the next section.

From the base ST model, standard features include all the necessary basics, like auto-fold heated door mirrors, auto LED headlights, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, a four-speaker stereo with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist emergency braking, lane departure warning, active lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent driver assist, auto high beam, and hill start assist.

Our tested ST-L model rewards you with 19-inch two-tone alloys, hands-free proximity key with walkaway lock and approach unlock function, push-button start, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, ambient interior lighting, an electric park brake with auto-hold, a bigger 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, a rear USB port for device charging, selectable driving modes (Sport/Standard/Eco), leather-accented seats, that luggage board, a front armrest, leather-accented steering wheel and gear shifter, a six-way manually adjustable passenger seat, a six-speaker stereo, 360-degree view camera with moving object detection, and adaptive cruise control.

During our time with the Juke, the key fob could not be detected to start the engine over two separate instances. The fob battery was not flat as it would still lock/unlock doors. We had to pull the fob battery out and re-insert it to get the car started.

Nissan offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and five years of complimentary roadside assistance. Uniquely, servicing is required less often than usual – every 20,000km or 12 months. Nissan also offers capped-price servicing on the first six services. They cost $344, $519, $574, $551, $387, and $1497. Or you can save a few dollars and opt for a prepaid package. They are $777 for the first two services, $1293 for the first three, $1789 for the first four, or $2138 for the first five services.

2024 Nissan Juke ST-L: Powertrain & handling

Like most other competitors in the compact SUV market in Australia, only one powertrain is applied to all variants. A unique 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine wheedles out 84kW and 180Nm, sent to the front wheels. For such a small engine, it has an impressive amount of brio. Especially in the mid range. But when there are extra passengers onboard, or a steep hill ahead, it needs to pull together everything it’s got to get the job done. Along the way it sounds gutsy; almost giving a false sense of progress. We timed 0-100km/h in 11.10 seconds.

Power delivery is horribly jerky, especially at low speeds. Taking off is delayed and rough. Aggravating the situation more is a slow start/stop feature – slower than others to resume and take off at the traffic lights. You need to quickly change your driving behaviour to suit. We also suspect the fitted seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox makes matters worse. It’s great to find that it is not an inferior CVT gearbox, but transitioning through the gears with this one further adds to the jerky power delivery.

Another annoying trait is how it is so hasty to get into a higher gear, often higher than the engine can comfortably pull. Peak torque occurs at 2400rpm, and it dumps the engine into higher gears too early, leaving the engine spinning much lower than where it sings best. It happens especially around 30km/h to 40km/h.

With an engine capacity equivalent to a carton of milk, you might expect pleasing fuel consumption. But it seems any fuel savings are cancelled out by the engine needing to work harder to get the job done. The official average is labelled at 5.8L/100km. However, our experience over a week and through mixed environments gave a higher average reading of 6.8L/100km. It also requires the more expensive 95 RON petrol.

Turning to handling, the Juke’s youthful appearance matches its road manners and dynamics. It feels light on its feet and it springs over bumps confidently, without a great impact to its track or passenger comfort.

The setup is made up of MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion-beam coil-spring rear suspension with front and rear stabiliser bars. Thanks to its 1200kg lightweight footprint and that agile suspension, you can zip around corners swiftly – and it feels natural and fun to do so. It’s a good-handling little SUV.

2024 Nissan Juke ST-L: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• Youthful, unique external styling: From many angles is actually looks like a concept car, especially with those huge-looking wheels.
• Price: It is fairly priced among the compact SUV market segment. And the ST-L seems like a good balance.
• Fun engine: It’s a zippy and willing 1.0L turbo three-cylinder that feels and sounds more powerful than the numbers state.
• Interior space: You get decent interior space for this segment, even though it does feel quite sporty inside, with a low ceiling.
• Handling: Agile dynamics and lightness on its feet matches the youthful looks.

2024 Nissan Juke ST-L: Key considerations before you buy

• Power delivery: There is a definite and noticeable jerkiness and delayed take-off with this small-capacity engine and dual-clutch transmission combination. It takes some getting used to.
• Real-world fuel economy: We expected a better real-world average fuel consumption given the engine size and official rating of just 5.8L/100km.
• Dated and small centre touch-screen: No digital instrument cluster here, even in the higher-spec models. And the multimedia screen is now well behind most rivals in our view.
• No rear climate vents: Not critical in a small cabin like this but some rivals offer them. There is no rear centre armrest, or wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay either.