2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS new car reviews

Nismo, the factory poster child of Japanese tuning, has gotten ahold of the Juke, Nissan’s popular crossover. A crossover with a 215 horsepower turbocharged engine and a manual gearbox? We’re curious to drive it, to say the least.

We drove the 2014 model. As many of you know, the 2015 model was recently released at the Geneva Auto Show. The newer generation will feature more power, a finer suspension package and better equipment.

Other staff views

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens
Editorial Director

On paper, this has everything: turbo power, big wheels and aggressive stance. The Juke is practical, too, thanks to its five-door setup. It's close.

What torpedoes it for me? The front seats. Okay, fine, I'm not built like that Olympic swimmer who got busted for taking a few tokes. I'm me. And me don't fit in those seats. Okay, I do fit, but it's not something I want to endure when driving down the street to grab lunch.

These seats are aimed at two groups of people: track junkies and 16-year-olds. Small problem: I don't see either group buying this car. And at what is basically WRX money, is it going to steal people away from Subaru?

So, I like the idea of a track-ready Juke. Kudos to Nissan for pulling this one. I just wonder if it's more of a show car than something aimed at the general public.

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Comments
Trackmouse
Trackmouse New Reader
12/3/14 1:54 p.m.

If it ain't awd, I ain't interested.

OldGray320i
OldGray320i Reader
12/3/14 2:05 p.m.

It still looks like an ugly frog on steroids.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla PowerDork
12/3/14 2:18 p.m.
OldGray320i wrote: It still looks like an ugly frog on steroids.

What did that poor ugly frog ever do to you to deserve that?

Autolex
Autolex Dork
12/3/14 3:27 p.m.

Interested in seeing raw performance data, at 2800lb and 215hp, it should at least be as fast as the new Civic Si... albeit a LOT uglier (not that I thought that was possible)

BlueInGreen44
BlueInGreen44 Reader
12/3/14 3:31 p.m.

Ugly? Maybe, but I think it looks cool. Call it "polarizing."

bgkast
bgkast GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
12/3/14 3:33 p.m.

I like them, just wish the manual transmission was available with AWD

Duke
Duke UltimaDork
12/3/14 3:38 p.m.
BlueInGreen44 wrote: Ugly? Maybe, but I think it looks cool. Call it "polarizing."

Well, in that case, I am about as far down toward the negative pole as it is possible to be.

JFX001
JFX001 UberDork
12/3/14 4:03 p.m.

I like 'em...ugly enough to be hideously cool, yet not nearly desirable enough to be stolen.

irish44j
irish44j PowerDork
12/3/14 4:36 p.m.

If they made it so it could outrun a GT-R at the track.....I still wouldn't be the least bit interested in a Juke. I see a Juke RS in traffic every few days on my commute. There is no angle in which it looks good, even in the "R" trim. (IMO). Looks like someone just took an ugly juke, lowered it, and busted out their black and red paint.

NGTD
NGTD SuperDork
12/3/14 4:36 p.m.

Fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

I would rather walk.

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