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A faster kind of funky.
On this planet considering that 2010, the Nissan Juke is the poster child for nonconformist new-wave crossovers. The design appears strangely amphibian, or like some thing you might encounter while scuba diving a deep reef near the Bahamas. Or a factor to be served with drawn butter and a nice side salad. Polarizing, perhaps, but guaranteed to attract attention.
Getting effectively defied convention, Nissan’s challenge becomes one of extending the Juke’s appeal—without diluting it. To that end, the firm will be creating some rather cautious tweaks to the exterior for the 2015 model. But the real appeal-enhancing formula is a lot simpler and considerably a lot more standard: make it go quicker.
Entertaining with a Capital F
As with other carmakers, Nissan has a department—NISMO (for Nissan Motorsports, now in its 30th year)—devoted to just that goal. Final year the mainstream Nissan product planners handed more than the Juke to the NISMO irregulars, with a straightforward mandate: Pick up the pace. When NISMO was completed, not a single but 2 Jukes rolled out of the shops: the Juke NISMO and the Juke NISMO RS. (There is also the quite-limited-edition, GT-R–powered Juke-R, but that is of one more earth.)
The basic distinguishing characteristic of the NISMO editions is elevated output from the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo. The normal Juke generates 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, output adequate to tow a 2011 Juke SL we tested to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and by means of the quarter-mile in 15.7 at 91 mph. Those certainly are not face-distorting numbers, but the car’s acceleration was enhanced by lively dynamics that we characterized, accurately, as “fun.” And as you’d hope, that characterization acquires a capital F in the RS.
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NISMO Energy Chart
The output of the NISMO 1.6-liter varies from NISMO to NISMO RS, and in the case of the RS, according to no matter whether the Juke is packing front- or all-wheel drive. In the Juke NISMO, each front- and all-wheel-drive versions are rated at 197 horses and 184 lb-ft. NISMO RS models with AWD pack 211 horsepower and 184 lb-ft, although the front-drive RS steams along with 215 ponies and 210 lb-ft of twist.
For the RS, the limiting aspect is transmission selection. Opting for AWD restricts the owner to the Xtronic constantly variable automatic, which has torque-capacity limitations. Front-drive models come exclusively with a 6-speed manual that can deal with a lot more muscle. The manual gearbox in our NISMO RS test automobile suffered from a scratchy 1-2 shift, but as soon as past that, it was exceptionally crisp and precise, allowing us to swiftly snick via the gears.
Extracting extra power for the RS entails the use of a freer-flowing exhaust system, tweaks to the ECU, and heftier connecting rods. The NISMO techs have also revised the RS manual transmission’s internal gearing and chosen a slightly shorter final-drive ratio. What all this adds up to is zero-to-60 in 6.7 seconds and the quarter-mile in 15.2 at 95, with a prime speed of 135 mph—not negative for a car with the aerodynamic profile of a croaker.
Higher output usually equals reduce mpg. But that is not the case here. Equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, the simple Juke, Juke NISMO, and Juke NISMO RS all acquire 25-mpg city and 31-mpg highway EPA ratings. We averaged 22 mpg in enthusiastic driving.
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Confident-Footed on This Planet
So, NISMO tends to make a faster Juke. But equally entertaining, possibly even a lot more so, is the car’s agility. We praised the reflexes of the standard Juke when it created its debut, and the NISMO massage raises the dynamic ante. Suspension components are firmer in the Juke NISMO, firmer nevertheless in the RS, augmented by selective chassis stiffening, a substantial footprint, and sticky performance rubber (225/45-18 Continental ContiSport Get in touch with 5).
The combination of front-wheel drive, a forward weight bias (in this case, 61.5 percent of the car’s mass lies over the front wheels), and a restricted-slip diff is a prescription for understeer, which our test track crew listed as “massive.” Nevertheless, the RS pulled an impressive .88 g on the skidpad. The car’s physique motions are modest for a tallish automobile, the electrically boosted energy steering is swift and precise, and the stiffly bolstered Recaro seats keep front passengers anchored when the g-loads begin coming from odd angles. Braking is another powerful suit. The NISMO RS brake package is larger than the regular NISMO’s, and braking performance—161 feet from 70 mph, fade free—is worthy of a sports auto.
Much more functionality adds up at the bottom line. No surprise there. Juke pricing begins with the basic front-drive S at $ 19,980, with the far better-equipped SV checking in at $ 21,800. The base price tag for the Juke NISMO is $ 23,890, and the RS begins at $ 26,930. Our test unit integrated a $ 1200 navigation package plus $ 215 NISMO floor mats for a grand total of $ 28,345.
That is sufficient to bolt you into a new Volkswagen GTI or Ford Concentrate ST. Both are quicker than this quirky Nissan. But neither aforementioned hot hatch is as probably to get you noticed—especially when you show up at the autocross—on this planet, at least.
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