It’s been two years since Nissan Philippines, Inc. started its operations in the country. Since then, we’ve seen an explosive lineup revamp which includes the rise of the X-Trail, the Navara’s first salvo in the truck wars, and the all-around Urvan. On its second anniversary, Nissan is finally bringing its much-awaited sub-compact crossover to the country–the Nissan Juke.
Since its international debut in 2010, the Nissan Juke was an immediate hit all around the world because of its unique design. With bated breath, we anticipated if and when this funky SUV made its way to our shores. Finally, after a minor facelift in 2014, the Nissan Juke is ready to take on the Philippine market.
The Nissan Juke takes visual appeal to a whole new level. Thinking of the Juke immediately bring to mind its eccentric boomerang LED lights beside the hood. These complement the round headlights just below the iconic V-grille. Fog lamps on the Juke’s bumper complete the trio.
Curves and character lines on the Juke exude a bold and agile vibe, reminiscent of a sports car. All the while, the Juke has the toughness of an SUV. All of this is part and parcel to Nissan’s ROBIOTIC design concept: the fluid combination between raw mechanical power (ROBO) and organic design (BIO).
The Juke’s sportiness is further accentuated in the rear pillars where the rear door handles are embedded. It’s a subtle design quirk that gives the Juke an impression of being a two-door supercar. Inside, sport-bolster seats keep the riders’ bodies in place especially in tight turns.
The toughness of an SUV is exemplified behind the hatchback. A fold-down 60/40-split bench rear seat and flat load floor can be configured to accommodate more luggage space or room for passengers. A hidden compartment under the flat load floor further increases trunk space. Inside, the Juke allows five people passengers to fit in.
The Philippines will be getting the 1.6 Upper CVT gasoline variant with front-wheel drive. The engine can deliver 116hp and 154Nm of torque. It is mated to a new generation Xtronic CVT transmission system. The suspension is equipped with independent MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam axle at the rear. The 17-inch alloy wheels further add to the Juke’s sportiness.
The Juke features a more intelligent control display, the Integrated Control System or I-CON. The display offers drivers control over the Juke’s drive and climate modes. In Drive mode, the I-CON offers three different settings: Normal, Sport, and Eco. The Climate mode offers full autoclimate control over temperature and airflow settings to suit the riders’ individual preferences.
The Juke comes with a slew of safety features: ABS, EBD, brake assist, and dual front airbags. These are complemented by convenience features such as the above I-CON System, rear parking cameras, and cruise control. It also comes with a 6-speaker, 2 DIN Display audio system.
The Nissan Juke will be available in four colors: Red Alert, Solar Yellow, Pearl White, and Black Obsidian. It will be available for a competitive price of P980,000. Expected start of sales will be on January 2016.
With both design and performance that’s built to thrill, the new Nissan Juke continues the brand’s revamping of its product lineup. It offers the excitement of a sports car and the toughness of an SUV for a competitive price in its segment. Now, about that GT-R…
