2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS

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.

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

It still looks like an ugly frog on steroids.

OldGray320i wrote: It still looks like an ugly frog on steroids.

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

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)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

I would rather walk.

I am still confused why they pitch these as a MINI competitor when it looks like the competition should be the CR-V or some other small SUV. I see one of these fairly frequently. It is the only mini SUV I know with contrasting red side mirrors. These are cars I just do not get.

Mini has an SUV now (also ugly, but less so) so maybe that's what they are targeting?

I'm waiting for the Sentra Nismo to come out.

I test drove a Nismo Juke, but not the RS version and was really happy with the overall package. They are really small, nimble cars. I passed on it because the backseats didn't have much headroom and the trunk was a joke.

Datsun310Guy wrote: I'm waiting for the Sentra Nismo to come out.

Don't hold your breath. (And this from a current Spec V owner.)

I like it but it needs AWD and another 85 hp to get my money. With the WRX/STi, Focus ST (RS coming), Golf R and the Civic type R on it's way it's got it's work cut out for it.

You know, this actually looks pretty good. Very understated.

Feedyurhed wrote: I like it but it needs AWD and another 85 hp to get my money. With the WRX/STi, Focus ST (RS coming), Golf R and the Civic type R on it's way it's got it's work cut out for it.

Bingo. I've already decided that the Focus RS is my next car.

I like the Juke. They spice up the boring sea of bland potato cars around me. I don't particularly want one. If I wanted a small car, there are better ones. If I wanted a CUV there are better ones. I'm glad other people buy them though.

I still think if they sold it as a dune buggy the styling would be just about right.

Base price of $26K?? Um... no. I'd buy any other hatchback before dropping $26k on a Juke.

Trackmouse wrote: If it ain't awd, I ain't interested.

The Nismo RS is available with AWD but with the CVT, at least I last read that. I like these cars, but some of the crash tests turned me off. Then I get in an MG and drive in traffic because that makes total sense.

I like the way it looks. The FWD one has a lsd and good power and is probably better than a civic si. I don't get people saying it's the ugliest thing ever. You are being over dramatic.

You know, this actually looks pretty good. Very understated.

And if they make that the comments would be filled with people complaining it's not aggressive enough like with the new WRX. It's why I take nobodys comments on a car being "ugly" seriously because people call that car ugly.

Base price of $26K?? Um... no. I'd buy any other hatchback before dropping $26k on a Juke.

Cool. Name an alternative that actually has a limited slip differential and isn't some E36 M3ty unreliable VAG product and we'll talk about it. In the meantime this is the only serious performance hot hatch effort in this price range. I don't need to upgrade the brakes on this, I don't need to buy a LSD for this, I don't need to buy suspension for this. I can buy this, keep the warranty, and have a good ACTUAL hot hatch. Not some commuter car that slams the brakes and calls it torque vectoring.

And no i'm not an owner. I don't drive FWD cars. If I did it would be something like this. Not a GTI, not a Fiesta ST, not a Focus ST. This car. Two of those don't have a lsd. All will require me to mod them significantly this would not. This is by far the most serious performance hatch.

jstein77 wrote: You know, this actually looks pretty good. Very understated.

Mmmm.. After getting two rental Sentras in the last month, I can see myself in this. Since the closest thing to this out now is that Juke Nismo RS maybe it's time I go for a test drive.. Too bad i'll have to drive at least 100 miles to take that test drive-that's the closest a dealer has one in inventory.. The sux.. Found one equipped the way I want, it's only 250 miles away..