Topic: First Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke

[CatsEye68]

Viewed it in person yesterday.  Love the looks, but again I like the original RAV4 - so what does that say. 

We all know exactly what that says: you like two of the most unattractive little POS wheeled boxes that have ever hit the roads.

[Leviathan]

Viewed it in person yesterday.  Love the looks, but again I like the original RAV4 - so what does that say. 

We all know exactly what that says: you like two of the most unattractive little POS wheeled boxes that have ever hit the roads.

Yikes. This Juke is likable and the original RAV4 was funky enough.

[CanuckS2K]

Saw the Juke for the first time in person this past weekend.  I really like the funky looks of it.  While it doesn't suit my needs whatsoever, I think Nissan will sell a bunch of these.

[Jaeger]

Saw the Juke for the first time in person this past weekend.  I really like the funky looks of it.  While it doesn't suit my needs whatsoever, I think Nissan will sell a bunch of these.

My sentiments exactly.

Jaeger

[Frontier1]

Was looking forward to get up to some snow and slush this morning!   Dam nothing

[Smudgeone]

Sorry if I'm digging up an old thread, but I thought I could add to this.

I initially was pushing myself past the "different" front end to get to the engineering aspect of this vehicle. I think that its pretty wicked what they have done in a small car. However, when I got to the dealer, I couldn't get past the front end. Those giant plastic extrusions on the hood that hold the signal lamps just shouldn't be there. They ruined the car for me.

I'm slightly north of 6'4" and the interior of this car was much more cramped than I'd like. The steering wheel was hard to reach and I was definately cramped. Dash controls looked dated for a 2000 car, never mind one from 2011, I wish I had a chance to see some of the auto controls.

I drive a Suzuki SX4, its got more usable interior room all around, and availabe with AWD/6speed/2.0L NA engine, all for around $20K. Ground clearance may be an arguable point, but you could easily purchase a lift kit for the SX4 to match.

As much as I like the engine in the Juke, its looks and high price don't justify a purchase. If the aftermarket can fix those fugly light pods on the hood, I think I'd go for it on the used market.

[dirtyjeffer]

i admit, the raised "eye brows" are....unusual.

other than that, the model i drove (fully loaded AWD model) was great to drive.

[Frontier1]

When I first saw photos of the Juke, it looked interesting from the side and rear view, but the front end left me well lets say speechless.

I saw my first on the road today, and it was "cute" from the back and sides but still butt ugly from the front.

There's now doubt the younger drivers( early twenties to early thirties) will like it as that is who Nissan's aiming this vehicle at, not the old geezers like me. Its to bad, because there are a lot of good features in this vehicle, and I am sure they would see more sales with more traditional front end styling.

hey old geezer...I'm 51 years young.

[dirtyjeffer]

When I first saw photos of the Juke, it looked interesting from the side and rear view, but the front end left me well lets say speechless.

I saw my first on the road today, and it was "cute" from the back and sides but still butt ugly from the front.

There's now doubt the younger drivers( early twenties to early thirties) will like it as that is who Nissan's aiming this vehicle at, not the old geezers like me. Its to bad, because there are a lot of good features in this vehicle, and I am sure they would see more sales with more traditional front end styling.

the reality is, the looks of vehicles will continue to evolve...perhaps the Juke is maybe a step or two ahead in progression, but i would imagine in 10-15 years, the Juke will look "normal".

[Frontier1]

When I first saw photos of the Juke, it looked interesting from the side and rear view, but the front end left me well lets say speechless.

I saw my first on the road today, and it was "cute" from the back and sides but still butt ugly from the front.

There's now doubt the younger drivers( early twenties to early thirties) will like it as that is who Nissan's aiming this vehicle at, not the old geezers like me. Its to bad, because there are a lot of good features in this vehicle, and I am sure they would see more sales with more traditional front end styling.

the reality is, the looks of vehicles will continue to evolve...perhaps the Juke is maybe a step or two ahead in progression, but i would imagine in 10-15 years, the Juke will look "normal".

We accepted the Echo way back in 2000

[dirtyjeffer]

We accepted the Echo way back in 2000

exactly...and the Element in 2003(?), the Cube in 2009, the Soul in 2009 and the other "odd" shapes brands like Infiniti has brought out over the last few years, along with Acura and Subaru.

[CatsEye68]

We accepted the Echo way back in 2000

Only people with no sense of style or good design.

[JohnnyCash]

What a hideous vehicle! They should rename this to the Nissan Puke.

I see many of you are praising Nissan for making something different. This is simply different for the sake of being different though. I don't see why this deserves praise?

I also find it very ironic when people complain about the "blandness" of cars. Do you people also complain about the "blandness" of furniture, and appliances, and houses? Cars are meant to, and should look like, well CARS.

Cars frankly should not look like faces, or animals, or cartoon characters.

As for reviews being good, that has very little to do with consumer acceptance. Automotive journalists might like it, but the consumer market could entirely shun this product.

I remember when the Aztek came out it got some pretty good reviews from automotive journalists as well.

Many "enthusiasts" online and automotive journalists alike were expecting the Nissan Cube to sell well here in Canada. So how is that working out? Let me tell you, not very well.

As for Juke sales in Japan, first off, the Japanese love quirky cars. Secondly, new products in Japan often have high initial sales, but then fall off a cliff later on. For example, the new Honda Insight, when it debuted in Japan it had great sales for a few months, but afterwords sales fell off a cliff. There is no indication Juke sales will continue to be high in Japan. Also if you actually look at the top 20 sellers in the Japanese market, NONE of them are as weird or quirky or ugly as the Juke. The top selling vehicles in Japan are mostly elegant or more "normal" designs.

I do not expect this "thing" to sell well at all.

[Frontier1]

I also find it very ironic when people complain about the "blandness" of cars. Do you people also complain about the "blandness" of furniture, and appliances, and houses? Cars are meant to, and should look like, well CARS.



As far as I know man has never been in love with a fridge, I like my fridge only because it`s full of beer.
Get a Corolla if you hate cars!

[safristi]

how aboot a Corolla full of beer............. .......Jukey ya gotta admit the cuv is POLARIZING.........many wont even date one cos of tha FACE......NICE UNDERPINNINGS THO.....that be life 101

[Shnak]

When I first saw photos of the Juke, it looked interesting from the side and rear view, but the front end left me well lets say speechless.

I saw my first on the road today, and it was "cute" from the back and sides but still butt ugly from the front.

There's now doubt the younger drivers( early twenties to early thirties) will like it as that is who Nissan's aiming this vehicle at, not the old geezers like me. Its to bad, because there are a lot of good features in this vehicle, and I am sure they would see more sales with more traditional front end styling.

I don't know... I think 'old geezers like you' are more into different and quirky cars than you think... afterall, Honda was aiming their Element at young drivers too, and it instantly became popular with 'old geezers like you'. The same might very well happen with the Juke.

[Shnak]

We accepted the Echo way back in 2000

Only people with no sense of style or good design.

 

[inco]

Old or young didn't matter to Honda much. They have discontinued the Elelment.

[Shnak]

Old or young didn't matter to Honda much. They have discontinued the Elelment.

What? That's the first I hear about this.

[JohnnyCash]

I hate cars? Hardly. I'm probably more of a true automotive enthusiast than you sir.

I appreciate and am enthusiastic about ALL kinds of vehicles, unlike stereotypical "car enthusiasts" who only care about sport, and edgy styling.

Yes, that means I can appreciate cars like the Corolla as well.

I never said anything about being "in love" with a fridge. My point is when was the LAST time you heard someone actually complain about how their fridge looked? What about complaining about the way their house looks? Point is, this very rarely happens.

Yet, I constantly see and hear about "car enthusiasts" complaining about how bland most cars on the road are. Honestly, when I hear that, I question whether such people are enthusiasts at all. Such sort of people sound more like "sport car enthusiasts" and not car enthusiasts in general.

Complaining about how all cars on the road are bland and liking a vehicle that's different *just* for the sake of being different does not make one seem like an actual enthusiast.

I believe TRUE car enthusiasts appreciate ALL kinds of cars.