History of the Nissan JUKE
The Nissan Juke (stylized as JUKE) was introduced to the market in 2010 at the beginning of a new wave of uniquely designed cars that were perfect for consumers looking for a bit of individualism in their vehicles. Although it was discontinued in the U.S. in 2017, the Juke continues to turn heads wherever it goes.
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Early history and updates
Production of the Juke was first announced on February 11, 2009. In 2010, following the Juke’s appearance as the Nissan Qazana concept at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, the subcompact SUV entered production at the Nissan Motor Manufacturing Ltd plant in the United Kingdom. Depending on the country, a variety of trim levels were offered, with the United States offering three: S, SV, and SL. The name was derived from the sports term “to juke” or “to dance or change directions demonstrating agility.” Given its small frame and peppy engine options, this definitely makes sense.
With its odd design, some of the Juke’s headlights spanned across its front end to the hood of the vehicle. Inside, a color-keyed center console housed the gear shifter and nothing else. Behind the back seats of the Juke was just 10.5 cubic feet of space. When those seats were folded down, that opened up 35.9 cubic feet of room; this SUV was definitely meant for singles or city-dwellers.
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Recent generation
The U.S. only saw the first generation of the Juke, as it was discontinued in 2017 before the second gen debuted in 2019. However, as the Juke left the American market, a new subcompact crossover was introduced as its replacement: the Kicks. Featuring a similar size but with more modern styling, the Kicks started a new era for smaller vehicles. However, those looking for a unique small SUV can still turn to the Kia Soul, which has maintained its signature style since it debuted.
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