2011 Nissan Juke review

It seems fitting that Nissan, the automaker behind everything from the toylike Cube to the shield-your-eyes Infiniti QX56, is also responsible for the Juke, a tiny crossover with a turbocharged engine, limited utility and exterior styling that's as bizarre as it gets. This thing fits the automotive landscape like an Idaho farmhand would fit in "Jersey Shore."

The situation, if you will, turns out hit-and-miss.

The Juke is more fun to drive than most small crossovers, but shoppers will have to justify their purchase in the face of a lot of shortcomings.

In ascending order, trim levels for the Juke are the S, SV and SL; click here to compare them. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic. All-wheel drive comes only with the automatic, a pairing I tested in the Juke SV.

See also:

Warning for low battery power
When the Intelligent Key battery is low, the Intelligent Key system warning light ( ) will blink green for about 30 seconds after the ignition switch is placed in the ON position. This warning ...

Small children
Children that are over 1 year old and weigh at least 20 lbs (9 kg) should remain in a rear-facing child restraint as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the child restraint. Forwar ...

Giving voice commands
1. Press and release the switch located on the steering wheel. 2. A list of commands appears on the screen, and the system announces, “Please say a command from the displayed list or say ...