Box Autos

Nissan has added to the appeal of its sector-busting crossover, the Juke, with the arrival of a gadget-laden, design-focused new model. On sale now priced from £16,295, the Juke n-tec delivers even more style, higher equipment levels and an enhanced Nissan Connect infotainment system featuring remote connectivity as standard.

Based on the existing Acenta Premium model, the new Juke n-tec adds a striking new look. Riding on dramatic 18-inch black and silver n-tec alloy wheels wrapped in 225/45 tyres it features gloss black B-pillars and door mirrors and black bezels for the bonnet light strips. On the inside, a gloss black centre console and gloss black door trim finishers complete the visual changes.

But the star of the show is the Juke’s advanced range of in-car technology. Taking centre stage is the new generation Nissan Connect system, which is fitted as standard to all n-tec models. Controlled via a large 5.8-inch colour touchscreen, Nissan Connect integrates the Juke’s satellite navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones and MP3 players. The new version also incorporates Google® Send-To-Car technology that allows owners to plan and send their route to the car before they leave the house. In addition to being more convenient, it’s also safer – removing the temptation to plot a route when on the move.

The enhanced Nissan Connect system also features a number of innovative features designed to make life behind the wheel even easier. Drivers have complete access to Google®’s comprehensive Points of Interest (POI) database, and can also request weather forecasts, local fuel prices and flight information.

Nissan has also enhanced the navigation system interface, introducing a new ‘exit view’ display with lane guidance, and an economy readout that ‘scores’ the driver according to how economically they are driving. The smoother and more efficiently they drive, the higher the score.

Juke n-tec models also feature Nissan Dynamic Control System which allows the driver to select preferred driving dynamic modes, as well as change other functions such as climate control settings via the central touchscreen. Other standard equipment includes a reversing camera with colour display, automatic climate control and audio with Bluetooth Compatibility and USB port.

The n-tec is expected to be the best-selling model in the Juke line-up and will be available across all engine and drivetrain combinations. Buyers can choose from three engines – one diesel and two petrol – with the option of Nissan’s ALL-MODE 4x4i intelligent four-wheel drive with rear axle torque vectoring and Nissan’s XTRONIC M-CVT transmission when ordered with the advanced 1.6-litre DIG-T engine. The latter also gets a black interior headliner and a dual exit exhaust finisher to further mark it out.

The Juke n-tec joins the line-up at an exciting time. In the UK, the Sunderland-built crossover is Nissan’s second most popular model behind the Qashqai with 28,862 cars sold in 2012, up from 21,900 in 2011. Since its launch in 2010, more than 290,000 Jukes have been sold across Europe, with the figure for 2012 hitting a record-breaking 140,000 units. More than 500,000 Jukes have been sold worldwide since launch.

To summarise, the Juke n-tec has the same equipment as the Acenta Premium grade including the all-new Nissan Connect system with Google functionality, plus the following additional features:

• 18-inch n-tec alloy wheels
• 225/45 R18 tyres
• Black bezels for bonnet light strips
• Gloss black door mirrors
• Gloss black B-pillar
• Gloss black centre console
• Gloss black door trim finishers
• Dual exit exhaust finisher (DIG-T engine only)
• Black headliner (DIG-T engine only)