Like many other manufacturers, Nissan has released their newest project that was built keeping in mind the need for a fun drive and good fuel economy. The project was codenamed: JUKE.
The JUKE, which is often compared to the MINI Cooper, is technically a Sport CROSS. That being said, it’s safe to say that the JUKE is one of the most fuel-efficient, non-hybrid Sport cars in the country. The car gets 27 M.P.G. city and 32 highway. (Something that space was clearly sacrificed for.)
Although the front seats were roomy, the backseats were uncomfortably small. The car seemed tiny, but not clown car or smart car tiny. I was able to reach over and touch the backseat door opposite of me while I was sitting in the driver’s seat. That in itself was weird, but after the drive all was forgiven.
The JUKE’s turning radius was almost as impressive has the Honda CR-Z’s, but the JUKE’s stop-on-a-dime braking seemed even more impressive. Braking from nearly highway speeds to a complete stop was all too easy and required very little space.
The JUKE was the first car I’ve driven that adjusted its own steering depending on the speed it’s traveling. While driving on roads the steering was loose for easy handling and maneuvering through any imaginable obstacles. When reaching highways speeds the steering will tighten up, perhaps in order to keep the driver from veering off course so easily.
Have you ever wished your car were a little faster when you were in a hurry? Or maybe you wanted it to accelerate more slowly so you wouldn’t jerk forward so much at all those stop signs?
Well, the Nissan JUKE hears you, my friend. In fact, every 12 times you step on the gas pedal, the JUKE will analyze your driving patterns and will adjust its own responsiveness to compliment your habits on the road.
The secrets behind this car’s fuel efficiency are also responsible for its speed. The JUKE has a four cylinder, turbocharged engine. But that’s not all; the JUKE also sports the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This means that the JUKE doesn’t need to shift from gear to gear in order to speed up.
Without the use of gears, the JUKE doesn’t have any shift-shock, maintenance is simple and M.P.G. is increased. Driving a car with CVT was rather ironic since it was considered to be technology of the future when we learned about it in my old auto-tech class last year.
The 2011 Nissan JUKE drives like a mini sports car and was incredibly fun to ride in. The car is as nimble as a gazelle on steroids. No it’s not GTR or Corvette fast, nor is it as spacious as a Navigator, but until I become a millionaire, the JUKE will do just fine.
