When Nissan introduced the car in 2009, some were delighted, others thought it was a Juke. The Japanese manufacturer took Juke very seriously and introduced a strange-looking concept into production, and sales have been looking pretty good so far.
Although it is a relatively young model, it has also made its way into the secondary market. The prices are high, but that doesn’t stop getting interest. Is it a car worthy of attention?
The Juke is the result of Nissan’s strong commitment to replace all classic cars with crossovers in Europe. While the Qashqai is doing great as a compact, Juke still needs to support the smaller Micra to fill the lower segments.
The reason is the high price, which currently starts from $12,570, i.e. the level of the C segment. Nevertheless, this model attracts interest, especially women who, unlike many men, see its beauty in it and prefer to drive a Juke rather than a classic B-class car. or C.
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Nissan Juke MK1 Characteristics and construction
The car was prepared by Nissan, but using common elements of the Renault-Nissan alliance. The platform is a modified Clio IV platform, but has a shorter wheelbase of 2,530 mm.
The wheels are set wide apart, right at the corners of the body, and the suspension has been raised so that the ground clearance is as much as 180 mm.
This makes it a crossover that performs well in urban conditions, where it has to face high curbs and unusual parking spaces. A simple suspension with a MacPherson strut and a rear axle torsion beam helps here.
Few of the cars were equipped with the attached four-wheel drive, known from other Nissan crossovers. It is an electromagnetic clutch design, but don’t look for it on the market.
With this variant, the ground clearance is reduced, and the trunk decreases from a weak 251 liters to an irrational 207 liters.
Besides, it is only paired with the most powerful engine in the range, so you won’t have much choice. The only advantage, at least in theory, is the multi-link suspension on the rear axle.
The car can accommodate four adults, but you still feel cramped while sitting in the cabin. In fact, Juke’s interior dimensions correspond to segment B, but the reception is completely different.
The steering wheel and cockpit suggest sporting aspirations, and the high position – off-road. There is no axial adjustment of the strut, but it does not interfere much while driving.
In 2014, the car underwent a minor facelift. The most important change from Nissan is the larger boot, which now has a capacity of 354 liters.
This is a really good result and I cannot complain about it. However, it did not change in the version with 4 × 4 drive. Another novelty was the 1.2 DIG-T gasoline engine.
The history of the model in a nutshell:
- 2010 – market debut
- 2013 – introduction of a weaker 1.6 petrol engine to the offer
- 2014 – facelift and withdrawal from the offer of the more powerful 1.6 petrol engine and its replacement with the 1.2 DIG-T engine
Nissan Juke MK1 Engines
The main power of the Juke is a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 117 HP. It was installed until 2013, when the weaker 94 hp version was introduced.
This is due to the facelift carried out a year later and the new 1.2 DIG-T direct injection turbocharged engine that has been offered since then.
It produces a similar power of 115hp and replaced the previous 117hp naturally aspirated engine. From the very beginning, the range featured a powerful 1.6 DIG-T petrol engine, generating 190 HP. It also powers the Nismo, which produces 214-218 hp.
The diesel range is extremely modest. This is one 1.5 dCi engine with 110 HP. Of course, the Renault design, known from many Alliance cars.
Which Nissan Juke MK1 engine to choose?
Analyzing the engine versions available in this model, it is easy to come to the conclusion that the choice is very simple, because they are extremely different engines.
The strongest variety is the rarest and is expensive, so few have opted for it. The engine itself gives a decent kick, because it generates 240 Nm of torque, so you can easily count on a sports experience.
It is a relatively unpopular engine at the moment, so it is difficult to say something more about it. The Nismo version of the car provides excellent performance and is offered with front-wheel drive and limited slip differential or with 4 × 4 drive and automatic transmission.
Not much is known yet about the shortcomings of the 1.2 DIG-T engine, which is only partially an alternative to the 117 hp naturally aspirated 1.6.
Due to the fact that it is used in newer cars, with the simultaneous withdrawal of a larger engine, the prices on the market are slightly different.
While the 1.2 gives better performance due to higher torque, works quieter and more economically, the 1.6 engine is simply solid and proven.
It has a timing chain and you basically don’t need to do anything with it except for basic service. It’s also easier to buy parts and repair.
Expect fewer problems in the future as the mileage reaches the magic 200,000. km. Therefore, the choice should be treated as follows: the smaller gasoline 1.2 is for people looking for a restyled car, relatively young, while the 1.6 for those who choose cheaper pre-facelift cars with higher mileage.
There is also the 1.6 engine after the facelift, i.e. the 94-horsepower version. It’s hard to say anything about it, except that it is definitely weaker, less dynamic and rather more fuel-consuming than the 1.2.
However, it is an interesting alternative for people who want to buy a Nissan Juke with a certain engine for many years, but a facelift version.
Lastly, I left the 1.5 dCi engine, which was actually sold in two varieties, not in power, but in torque. Initially, it generated 240 Nm, but since 2013 it has already been 260 Nm. Thanks to this, it has become more dynamic, but also much more expensive to repair.
It is hard to expect that most cars would require any repairs, but it is worth knowing that from then on, piezoelectric injectors, a different turbocharger, electronic control of the oil pump, and the engine work with a differently stepped gearbox were used. The first two gears are shorter and the others are longer.
What to expect from such changes? Certainly, a greater risk of incurring higher costs in the event of a more serious failure, but also a higher durability of the injection system. It must be admitted that the 1.5 dCi engine is already a well-developed design, although we still advise you to change the oil at least twice as often as provided by the manufacturer, i.e. every 15,000. km.
The same applies to the older engine that was offered on this model from the outset. In his case, there is no need to scare you with some serious failures, because they do not happen.
At higher mileage, however, there are problems with the EGR or one of the sensors responsible for the proper operation of the engine.
However, you do not have to worry about the famous bushings. If you watch the oil service, the minimum you will do on this engine is about 250,000. km.
For 2010 and 2011, a remedial action has been announced for the turbocharger boost sensor bracket. However, in the 2015 year (May-October), the engine control software needs to be improved and the DPF filter should be replaced. Nissan service operations run smoothly and the cars that were supposed to take part in them are usually repaired.
So what engine to choose? It’s easy. You need a dynamic car – 1.6 DIG-T. The diesel version is a long-distance car. If you like to go faster sometimes, but you don’t ride a lot, the 1.2 DIG-T is a great proposition.
You do not care about performance, we recommend 1.6 94 hp. A 117hp engine will be best for cars with high mileage or those that you are going to drive for a long time.
What’s Common Faults On Nissan Juke MK1?
- Juke has a short internship but has already had some of the maintenance we mentioned. One of the next models were models from 2010–2014 with fuel leaks. It applies to a small number of cars sold in Europe. In addition, the 2012 cars had a defective airbag system in which small holes appear when opened.
- The suspension works quite well on US roads. The large and solid front lower control arm has a sturdy structure, but also replaceable bushings and pin. The cost of regeneration is about $23 lower than replacing it with a new one. The stabilizer link rods are subject to wear, but are cheap.
- If we were to replace the most serious defect with the use of this model, it would be an interior that was assembled carelessly in pre-facelift model. It has been a bit better since 2014, but still at the highest average level. Even in new models, it can crackle, and the decorative plastics on the dashboard and the central tunnel are made of glossy plastic, after a year of use, they are already scratched. Nissan should sell these items as accessories for little money.
Nissan Juke MK1 Operating costs, prices and availability of spare parts
In this topic, a lot depends on the year of the car. The fact is that there are few spare parts for the 1.2 DIG-T engine, and they are more expensive than the 1.6. In turn, for this engine there is no problem even with obtaining such components as a timing drive set.
However, we have suspension and brake components. The prices are not particularly high, which we confirm in the table below. Thus, the maintenance costs are relatively low. The same goes for diesel, which is so popular that you can buy almost anything.
A Nissan Juke with a gasoline engine should meet its needs with 8 liters of gasoline for every 100 km, even in urban conditions. It is a certain and safe value that is difficult to exceed.
The 1.6 DIG-T variant can burn more, but only with sporty driving. The naturally aspirated 1.6 engine burns about 7 l / 100 km, while the 1.2 liter needs less.
In the city, the turbocharged version will be more economical, but if someone has a heavy leg, they will burn more gas than 1.6.
Diesel 1.5 dCi is famous for its low appetite and average values around 5 l / 100 km should come as no surprise. On the road, this engine can go down to an impressive 4.5 l / 100 km. He is also very economical in the city.
The price of Nissan Juke tires largely depends on the size of the rims. The most common is 205/60 R16. Good quality summer tires in this case cost about $67 per tire. With the size 215/55 R17, the price of one tire increases by $23.
Nissan Juke is a car so fresh that most of them are fully insured. However, it is worth remembering that the car can be a tasty morsel for a thief, because there are not too many used spare parts on the market, and the popularity is constantly growing. It is worth protecting yourself against theft.
Nissan Juke MK1 Market situation
For a car so young, not very popular and expensive, the supply on the secondary market is surprisingly high, and the demand is also not small.
About 30 percent cars come from US showrooms, although the older the car is, the more likely it is to be imported. There is no shortage of both petrol and diesel (proportions 66:34 percent), and even strong versions of 190 hp or the Nismo.
The cars from the beginning of production cost less than $9000, although you can find something for $8000 to $ 8550. Much depends on the equipment and mileage, which is usually real.
Some models have a really rich standard, including a rear view camera, automatic air conditioning, navigation or cruise control. For about $13,500 to $15,750, you can now buy the 2013 version of the Nismo.
If you want to buy a one-year or two-year-old car in the regular version, you must have about $11,250. A poorly equipped new car with a base engine costs little more.
Is it worth To Buying Nissan Juke MK1?
It’s a matter of taste. Generally, crossovers of this class do not always make sense, but the Juke is a practical and nice car, especially the restyled version with a larger trunk.
It drives well, models with rough city terrain and gives the owner a feeling of originality. It is expensive, but the low fall in value remains a consolation.
When buying a Nissan, it is worth visiting an authorized service station to verify its technical condition and obtain information whether the car is not subject to a service campaign.
A sure thing in the case of this model is the 1.6 engine with 117 HP. However, all versions, including the Nismo, can be honestly recommended.
