Nissan Juke hybrid review: good things come in small packages

You could never accuse the Nissan Juke of being a subtle car.

The first generation of the compact crossover was well ahead of its time with a design that stood out from the raised hatchback aesthetic of most mini-SUVs. Its googly-eyed front end, angular rear and flared arches caught the eye and divided opinion like few other cars of the time.

Since then, pretty much every car maker has decided the small crossover segment is the “funky styling” one, throwing all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes into the mix. But Nissan hasn’t taken this lying down and the second-generation Juke, launched in 2019 has taken the first-gen’s looks and run with them.

The multi-level lights and gawping grille that set the first car apart are still present and correct and now LED-equipped. The pinched rear glasshouse gives a swooping appearance to the car’s rear end and the swollen wheel arches are present and correct, as are the hidden door handles that help the lines but are a nightmare for small children to reach.