Extra energy and fewer thirst for Nissan’s new Juke Hybrid

It was revised in 2019 and now we’ve the third technology Juke, which incorporates, for the primary time, a hybrid model.

Designed in London and inbuilt Sunderland, the Hybrid pulls off the neat trick of growing 25 per cent extra energy than the inner combustion engine (ICE) mannequin whereas utilizing 20 per cent much less petrol.

Different new options embody new 17 or 19-inch alloys, new keyless entry, a greater Bose sound system, new black mesh grille and reshaped wheelarches for higher aerodynamics.

The draw back is that bootspace is down from 422 litres within the ICE automotive to 354 litres within the Hybrid, which has to accommodate the battery beneath the ground. Nevertheless, acceleration from nought to 62mph is healthier – 10.1 seconds within the Hybrid, 11.8 within the ICE automotive.

Within the good high quality cabin, the rev counter has gone, changed by an influence meter, and you’ll watch as the facility swaps from pure electrical when the automotive units off to when the petrol engine kicks in when better energy is required. It may be pushed in pure EV mode as much as 35mph, with a pure electrical vary of simply 3km.

The best way the powertrain swaps from electrical to petrol energy and again is just about undetectable if you find yourself on the transfer, and if you would like one-pedal driving with the e-Pedal system you need to press a swap on the centre console. The automotive routinely defaults out of e-Pedal mode when the ignition is turned off.

The petrol engine is a 93bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit, mated to a 48bhp electrical motor and a 1.2kW battery, and the automated gearbox has 4 gears for the petrol engine and two extra for the electrical motor.

On the highway, the Juke responds properly to being shuffled alongside. There isn’t a discernible physique roll round bends, the steering is exact and the engine makes a nice noise. It doesn’t really feel fairly as sharp because the class-leading Ford Puma, nevertheless it feels brisker than most of its rivals. My co-driver and I each did round 44mpg over a number of hours of city and motorway driving.

I believed there was higher legroom within the rear than within the final mannequin however apparently area is unchanged. Low-speed trip appears to choose up each dimple on the highway floor nevertheless it improves the next speeds. That’s the worth to pay for the moderately agency suspension which comes into its personal on quicker roads.

The Hybrid model prices round £1,800 greater than a comparable ICE model, however its residual worth is three per cent higher, in accordance with Nissan, which ought to take a few of the sting out of it.

General, that is handsome and environment friendly package deal which is enjoyable to drive and sensible, particularly in hybrid kind. It ought to do properly.