During limit handling testing, the stability control systems proved very effective, and less intrusive when indicated as switched off – even though they plainly remain active in the background at all times. This seems a chassis that would lend itself to more driver-oriented applications better than the last Juke’s ever did – assuming, that is, that another Nismo-branded version of the car, in today’s emissions-punishing market, wouldn’t be such a vain hope as to be almost laughable.
Nissan Juke comfort and isolation
It might surprise you to learn that 19in alloy wheels are now standard-fit on an upper-mid-trim-level, high-rised supermini. Nissan would be quick to reply that the Juke is anything but conventional, and in some ways quite reasonably. Be that as it may, those wheels impact adversely on the car’s ride isolation as well as boosting its design appeal and its grip levels.
There’s some background roar to the Juke’s ride at A-road and motorway speeds that is clearly perceptible in the cabin, although it doesn’t seem to punish the car’s measurable refinement levels, which remain pretty low. It’s a surface-dependent noise level, worse on coarser and more open types of Tarmac than smoother and better-sealed ones – but you can’t help noticing when the car crosses from the latter to the former.
The car’s secondary ride isn’t as terse or clunky over bumps and edges as you might think, however, and its primary ride control is commendable. Sharper inputs can draw the occasional thump from the axles, but they’re seldom harsh, which goes to show how much work has evidently gone into the dynamic development of the car and how carefully the ride has been tuned.
Seat comfort is good, albeit not quite at Qashqai levels of general support – and that’s partly as a result of Nissan’s decision to fit sportier-looking ‘monoform’ seatbacks with integrated headrests rather than seats with more adjustable separate head restraints.
Nissan Juke assisted driving notes
That the Juke’s score card (opposite) contains more red marks than green is somewhat harsh on it, given that many of the semi-autonomous driver assist systems necessary to deliver against the questions we ask simply haven’t filtered down to this price level yet. Compared with rivals, though, this car is well provisioned and tuned for active safety.
Its lane keeping system operates only when the intelligent cruise control is active, which makes sense given the places and roads on which you’re likely to want it active and the ones where you’re not. It’s clearly tuned to help you, not replace your concentration or inputs, and it’s supplemented by a Blind Spot Intervention system that works well.
Our car’s speed limit recognition system pretty consistently read the posted limit but didn’t seem able to adapt the car’s set cruise control speed to match. Equally, its propensity to warn if you go only slightly over the limit isn’t too insistent or distracting.
