Nissan Juke : facelifted SUV gets 1.2-litre turbo, bigger boot, more tech

While a slimmer front grille underscores new LED daytime running lights incorporated into the upper headlights that have new Xenon bulbs, styling changes are subtle. Door mirrors get LED side turn indicators and the rear tail-lights continue the trend – they’re packed with LED bulbs.

Personalisation is the key buzzword with the facelifted Nissan Juke. Beyond the new colour palette, headlined by Sunlight Yellow metallic, buyers can now choose from different coloured mirror caps and alloy wheel inserts, and coloured interior trim including around the entire centre console.

The ageing cabin is also given a healthy injection of new technology and connectivity options. Now available with NissanConnect, the Juke can access a latest satellite navigation system via a 5.8-inch touchscreen and link with Google to find weather forecasts, fuel station locations, hotels and restaurants. Owners can also find desinations at home and send the instructions to NissanConnect.

Also encapusulated in the screen are an around-view 360-degree camera, while lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and a moving object detection alert system that warns the driver of a potential collision are new active safety features. A panoramic sunroof is also now optional.

Further back, and a redesigned luggage compartment has resulted in a massive 40 per cent improvement in capacity, which now totals 354 litres in front-wheel drive models.

Under the bonnet, the Juke for the first time scores a 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Alliance partner Renault, which already uses the engine in the Clio.

Replacing the underpowered 1.6-litre non-turbo engine that managed only 88kW of power and 158Nm of torque, the new 1.2-litre delivers a lesser 85kW but a more substantial 190Nm.

Unlike in the Clio, the Juke gets stop-start technology to help reduce combined cycle fuel consumption to 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

The existing 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine remains pegged at 140kW, but has been tinkered with to improve bottom-end response below 2000rpm. A higher combustion ratio (from 9.5 to 10.5:1), improved friction technologies and cooled exhaust-gas recirculation round out the changes.

For the first time in front-wheel drive variants, an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) dubbed Xtronic mates with the 1.6-litre turbo, in addition to the existing six-speed manual.

The facelifted Nissan Juke will continue to be built in the Japanese brand’s plant in Sunderland, UK, with Australian-bound orders expected to flow from there from later this year.