The all-new 2011 Nissan Juke is as fun to drive as any other small, sporty car in the market. With its raised ground clearance and rally-inspired design, the Juke feels like it can go anywhere, which sets it apart from the competition.

The Juke isn't for everybody. Actually, it's not for anyone with kids in rear-facing car seats, which just don't fit in the backseat. It's the kind of car you might want to get for your teen driver or maybe when your kids are out of large car seats (mine are in boosters and quite liked the Juke). A first-time driver — a teen or fresh-out-of-college adult — will probably appreciate its small stature and not care that the continuously variable automatic transmission is loud and whiny. Of course, the Juke was just so fun to drive that I almost didn't care about the loud CVT.

I wasn't prepared to like this five-passenger crossover as much as I did. With a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Juke gets to places in a hurry. There are three driving modes — Sport, Normal and Eco — that allow you to indulge in whichever driving style you'd like at a moment's notice. All-wheel drive, which is tough to find on smaller vehicles, is available on the Juke.

This crossover has a starting MSRP of $19,340. My test car, a top-of-the-line Juke SL with all-wheel drive, cost $25,860. It should be said that the standard features on this model were extensive, but that's still a bit more than pocket change.

• EXTERIOR
• SENSE AND STYLE
• INTERIOR
• IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
• SAFETY