Nissan wants people to like the Juke from the inside as well as from the outside
JAMES ATTWOOD @atters_j
TESTED 22.3.24, BARCELONA, SPAIN ON SALE NOW
There may be bigger questions facing our society today than: ‘Will there be a yellow Nissan Juke again?’ For instance, how should we address the challenges posed by AI? What actions are needed to combat global warming? Is it acceptable to put pineapple on a pizza? But that first question has been among the most frequently asked of Nissan since it introduced the Mk2 Juke in 2021.
Rejoice, then, because Iconic Yellow is one of three paint options added as part of this mid-life facelift. It’s inspired by Juke Yellow, added at the Mk1 Juke’s mid-life facelift, but is substantially brighter. Indeed, it looks like Nissan’s designers were let loose with highlighter pens.
All this fanfare about paint may be because, a few new alloy wheel options aside, it’s the only exterior styling change that Nissan has made here. There is a reason for that, though: the brand’s research shows that design remains the top reason for people buying a Juke. So this update instead addresses areas that might then put them off: primarily comfort and technology.
Most notable are a 12.3in digital instrument display in place of the old analogue cluster and a new 12.2in infotainment touchscreen. The latter runs a new operating system that features customisable elements and built-in sat-nav and is generally quite agreeable. You can even play videos on it, although don’t expect Netflix: you have to load them through your phone via a USB stick.
There are redesigned air vents, too, below which the Juke retains physical buttons for the heating controls. Elsewhere the dashboard has been slightly revised, with the new N-Sport trim of our test car adding a bright yellow boomerang-shaped element (more demure colours are available).
There are also new partly recycled Alcantara elements in the seats. Other trim levels also get new seat materials and designs.
The centre console has been reworked, gaining a new armrest element, while all trims bar now entry-level Acenta Premium gain a wireless smartphone charger, as well as new USB-A and USB-C ports in the front and back.
Nissan has also increased the resolution of the rear-view camera from 0.3 to 1.3 megapixels and added a number of new driver assistance systems, including lane departure warning as standard. To meet new regulations, many of these default to on, but Nissan has developed a custom mode so
