2017 Nissan Juke Review

Name: 2017 Nissan Juke Review
Brand: Nissan
Price: 14990 USD

2017 Nissan Juke NISMO RS 4dr Hatchback Exterior Shown

+86

Used Juke for sale

$14,990 - $19,998

6 listings

See Cars for Online Purchase See All for Sale

Appraise This Car

Nissan Juke model years

Nissan Juke for Sale

Nissan Juke types

Hatchback
NISMO RS

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

Edmunds' Expert Review

byJonathan Elfalan^{Director, Vehicle Testing
Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.}

Pros

Lively acceleration compared to other cars in the segment
Tight, sporty handling that makes it fun to drive
Sophisticated all-wheel-drive system for a car in this class
Extensive color customization options

Cons

Limited rear passenger headroom, legroom and cargo space
Unique styling translates into poor rear visibility
Doesn't ride as comfortably as some other subcompact crossovers
Cheap-feeling interior plastic trim

What’s new

Enhancements for 2017 Nissan Juke apply mainly to the SV trim as the previous Cold Weather package, which included heated front cloth seats and heated outside mirrors, is now standard. There are new 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels on the SV and SL grades and a special Black Pearl model with a white and black color scheme.

Vehicle overview

Your first reaction to seeing the 2017 Nissan Juke is exactly what the manufacturer intended. The Juke makes no apologies for its controversial styling, which is part of its appeal. Nissan even took it one step further with a program that allows buyers to mix and match colors like an unsupervised kid at a soda fountain. Regardless of your views on the Juke's styling, the bottom line is it's one of the most capable performers in the compact crossover segment, so it's big fun in the driver seat.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Nissan Juke S 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.58 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$192/mo

$183/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

A lot of what makes the Juke attractive lies beneath the surface, namely a spunky 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 bend, and there are 7 inches of ground clearance to help facilitate some light off-road exploration. One of the main downsides of the Juke is interior space. Rear passenger legroom, headroom and cargo space is scarce.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

3.5 / 5

It may not be love at first sight, but a drive in the 2017 Nissan Juke will have you seeing the inner beauty of Nissan's feisty turbocharged creation. When it comes to performance, the Juke is a subcompact crossover standout.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions, although trim levels share many aspects. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo (1.6L 4-cyl. turbo; 6-speed manual). NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current 2017 Nissan Juke Nismo now comes with the same engine from the lower Juke trims, making 188 hp instead of 197 hp. The engine has received some tweaks, specifically in 2015, for better fuel economy and response. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Juke.

Scorecard

Overall	3.5 / 5
Driving	4.0
Comfort	3.5
Interior	3.0
Utility	2.5

Driving

4.0

The Juke Nismo never feels overly quick, yet its acceleration is more like a car's than a small SUV's. Handling is decent, but we expected better from the Nismo version. With an easy clutch and shifter, the manual transmission is easy to live with.

Acceleration

4.0

With acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, the Juke is quick for the class. There's a bit of lag from the 197-horsepower turbo four-cylinder, but the six-speed manual shifts easily. Standard models with the CVT are likely to be slower.

Braking

3.0

We experienced a wild amount of ABS commotion during our instrumented testing, but around town the Juke's brake pedal feels normal and reasonably powerful.

Steering

3.0

We noticed some difference in assist level between the Normal and Sport modes, but not much. Overall, the steering lacks feel and doesn't telegraph what the front tires are doing.

Handling

3.0

With its short wheelbase, the Juke Nismo is a fun car to toss around. There's plenty of suspension travel and ground clearance that make it especially good on curvy, bumpy back roads.

Drivability

4.0

With a light clutch, smooth throttle delivery and and an easy six-speed shifter, the Juke Nismo is simple to drive. It would be good for those just learning to operate a manual transmission vehicle.

Off-road

3.0

The Juke is a pretty decent off-roader, with better-than-average front and rear clearance. The Juke Nismo, with its lower front air dam, side skirts and summer tires, is less suited for such things.

Comfort

3.5

A slightly stiffer suspension and high-performance tires give the Juke Nismo a harsher ride than the regular model. The fantastically comfortable and supportive sport seats partially make up for the harshness, and the lack of road noise is impressive.

Seat comfort

5.0

We've come across few seats better than these Nismo sport buckets. They're not just laterally supportive, but they're also cushy with a soft, grippy covering. The door armrests could stand to have more padding.

Ride comfort

2.0

The standard Juke models can be a bit firm. With 10 percent stiffer springs and dampers, the Juke Nismo is even more jiggly and things can get a bit bouncy on rough surfaces.

Noise & vibration

3.5

There's some wind noise around the side mirrors but minimal road noise, despite the high-performance tires. The Juke's short gearing keeps the engine revs higher at cruising speeds, and the seat squeaks against the center console as it makes contact when slid forward.

Climate control

The climate controls are combined with the drive mode selector, so they're a little more confusing than necessary.

Interior

3.0

Like its exterior, the Juke's cabin is a bit overstyled. Combining the climate controls with the drive mode selector is somewhat unintuitive and requires extra steps. There's plenty of headroom up front, less in the rear, and the sloping roof means cargo space is limited.

Ease of use

2.0

The integrated climate and drive mode selector adds extra steps to adjusting either system. Wide Nismo seats make it a little harder to reach the seat belts, and the knob detents need to be more obvious. The leather and faux suede steering wheel feels great.

Getting in/getting out

3.0

With long front doors and plenty of headroom, it's easy to climb in and out of the front seats, though your foot may sometimes hit the Nismo rocker panels. The rear doors are quite a bit smaller, so the entry/exit space is tight.

Roominess

3.0

There's plenty of front headroom and a good amount of space for the driver's right knee, but restricted elbow room on the door side. The rear seat is tight, with cramped knee- and headroom accommodations. There's no rear center armrest, and the front armrest is optional.

Visibility

3.0

The narrow front roof and side roof pillars make for decent front and side visibility. The sloping roof, short rear side windows, thick rear roof pillars and small rear window translate into poor rear visibility. The 360-degree camera system is a must.

Quality

3.0

There are some low-buck plastic surfaces around the cabin, and the optional center armrest feels chintzy, though we'd probably still get it. The front seats, however, look and feel superb, as does the steering wheel.

Utility

2.5

Utility is where the Juke falls slightly behind the competition with a tiny cargo storage area and limited small item storage in the cabin.

Small-item storage

3.0

The optional armrest bin and door pockets are a good size, with a small front bin and glovebox. The center cupholders are about average and won't accommodate mugs.

Cargo space

2.5

The trunk is surprisingly tiny for a hatchback at 10.5 cubic feet, but the rear seats fold down and there's usable underfloor storage.

2017 Nissan Juke models

The 2017 Nissan Juke is available in five trim levels: base S, SV, SL and sport-oriented Nismo and Nismo RS. All models except the Nismo RS come with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (188 hp, 177 pound-feet) mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and are available with the standard front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Nismo and Nismo RS trims offer a six-speed manual transmission option for front-wheel-drive models only.

Standard equipment on the entry-level S model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, air-conditioning, keyless ignition and entry, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-only steering wheel, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with a 5-inch color monitor, Siri Eyes Free iPhone integration, CD player, a USB-iPod interface and a hands-free texting assistant. A handful of accessories, but no packages, are available for the S.

The midrange SV adds a sunroof, rear privacy glass, automatic climate control, upgraded cloth upholstery, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, satellite radio and the Integrated Control (I-Con) system, which provides three drive mode settings (Eco, Normal, Sport) that alter throttle, steering and transmission (on CVT-equipped models) responsiveness.

The optional Tech package is only available on the SV trim and adds a navigation system with a 5.8-inch color touchscreen, NissanConnect smartphone app integration, a 360-degree camera system with moving-vehicle detection, and an upgraded Rockford Fosgate audio system with a subwoofer.

The SL trim comes standard with all of the above plus automatic headlights, foglights and leather upholstery.

Juke Nismo models include all the equipment from the SL along with a sportier suspension and tuning calibrations, 18-inch alloy wheels, high-performance tires, unique exterior and interior styling details, front sport seats, and a steering wheel wrapped in leather and synthetic suede.

The Nismo RS goes even further, with a more powerful engine, a limited-slip differential (FWD models only), bigger brakes, more aggressive suspension and steering tuning, Recaro front sport seats covered in leather and synthetic suede, and simulated carbon-fiber trim on the dash. It's worth noting that the Juke Nismo and Nismo RS models are not offered with heated seats, heated mirrors or a sunroof.

Various options are available depending on trim level, including alternate wheels, interior illumination details and a center armrest for more storage up front. And then there's the Juke Color Studio, which allows you to unleash a crayon box worth of colors with which to mix, match and accent various areas of your Juke's exterior and interior.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#8 out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Juke from 2008-2022.}

$527/yr

vs. $435/yr
for Average Subcompact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.86x/yr

vs. 0.69x/yr
for Average Subcompact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

18.8%

vs. 10.7%
for Average Subcompact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Nissan Juke.

5 (37%)

4 (41%)

3 (4%)

2 (8%)

1 (10%)

3.9

56 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 56 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

SNOW NO PROBLEM!!!!

Jennifer, 02/16/2016

2015 Nissan Juke SV 4dr Hatchback AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

Let me say I live in New Jersey and our winter's can be brutal or mild you never know. In the past I've had cars that were just terrible in snow and ice so much that I'd lose days at work because driving was just not an option. So I decided that I finally was going to buy either a Jeep Wrangler or something with AWD. After going to Jeep and they not being willing to come even close to my …

Amazing for the price!

Jeremy C, 12/08/2016

2016 Nissan Juke S 4dr Hatchback AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

I LOVE MY JUKE!!! I realize this car won't be for everyone so let's get the obvious negatives out of the way first; Cargo space is limited (but there is a split folding for extra room). The back seat is not for adults especially on longer journeys (headroom as well as leg room will be tight). There is a blind spot that requires more attention when you are changing lanes. The ride is …

My 2015 Juke SV

rjfinva, 04/24/2015

2015 Nissan Juke SV 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

800 miles so far. The manual shift mode is great allows you to downshift without hitting the gas and run thru the simulated gears. I have run sport mode briefly, basically it kicks up the CVT 1,000 RPM's and you get a lot more torque, but the gas bill will skyrocket! I am getting somewhere around 30 mpg which is great. The seats are firm as is the ride, the tires are great. I'm single …

Git up and gooo!

Jenn, 01/31/2016

2015 Nissan Juke S 4dr Hatchback AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

I drive 150 miles a day, and this great car makes it easy. Passing on the interstate is never an issue, just tap that gas peddle and she zooms. The Juke is not for tall or large in stature people though, it fits me perfect but I am 4'10 , my son had a hard time getting in...he's 6'2. She does amazing in the Colorado rain and snow, driving in the mountains is easier with fantastic …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Nissan Juke, so we've included reviews for other years of the Juke since its last redesign.

See all 56 reviews of the Nissan Juke

Write a vehicle review

2017 Juke Highlights

Type:

Hatchback

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$20,250
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$192/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Juke models:

Around View Monitor w/ Object Detection: Creates a bird's-eye view of the immediate surroundings to aid in parking.
Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive: Automatically moves power between the front and rear wheels as well as between the left and right rear wheels to maximize traction
Siri Eyes Free: Controls Siri-equipped iPhones through the audio system to lessen driver distraction.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall3 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Poor
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good