• Pros

• Unusual, fun appearance. Makes a statement that you’re not ready to drive a Camry, move to the suburbs, and have your 2.5 kids.
• It’s got love-it-or-hate-it styling. Some of us at Car Talk loved it. Some of thought it was the ugliest thing seen here since my brother walked into the office around noon. We think risky styling is a plus these days.
• Small, economical, and all-wheel drive. Less fun to drive but more practical than a Mini Cooper.
• Nissan makes reliable cars that are affordable to maintain.
• The Juke has a decent back seat that’s surprisingly roomy.
• The continuously variable transmission is quiet in normal driving. However, it does rev noticeably when climbing hills and under load, but that’s something we’ve noted on a number of CVTs with small engines.

• Cons

• If you hate the styling, that can be a deal breaker.
• This is not a car for the 45-year-old-plus buyer. It has that “feel the road” kind of ride. A daily commuter might tire of the ride quickly. Then again, if you’re trying to make a statement, ride comfort is not your top priority. Remember, lots of people buy Jeep Wranglers!
• The Juke is noisy. But Juke buyers will forgive that.
• Poor visibility out the back window and the rear side windows. A backup cam helps alleviate that problem.
• TomTom navigation system is included in the base price. It’s a nice touch having it included. Unfortunately, it’s a cheap, frustrating navigation system.
• With a base MSRP of $26k, this is an awful lot of money to spend on a small car. It’s not the most practical use for your money—for the same price you can get a Honda CRV or a Subaru Forester. But you don’t get to stand out in one of those cars.

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