Nissan JUKE NISMO 2018 Review

In the future annals of performance cars in Australia, the new JUKE NISMO RS will likely be remembered for having the same eccentricity as the HSV Astra VXR or Toyota HiLux TRD.

“Remember those?” trained observers will mutter in years to come upon seeing one of only 240 examples on the road. That’s no bad thing.

Ultimately, the JUKE NISMO is left-of-centre and wacky, but in a good kind of way.

Oddball credentials aside, the Nissan JUKE NISMO RS is the third instalment of Nissan Australia’s NISMO rollout. By all accounts, it is also the last for now, helping to broaden NISMO’s appeal in Australia, albeit in a limited-run order.

Like the GT-R NISMO and 370Z NISMO before it, the JUKE NISMO RS takes the donor car – in this case the JUKE Ti-S that has been on sale in Australia since 2013 – adds some visual flair and performance enhancements, and then seals the deal with requisite badging.

Don’t be fooled by the extroverted styling, including the red mirror caps and rear diffuser; the Japanese tuner has done some handywork where it counts.

And to that point, Nissan Australia has strictly overlooked machines deemed unworthy of ‘NISMO’ branding in the past.

First, engineers went about extracting more power from the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four already familiar with the JUKE Ti-S.

An ECU tune and exhaust are the main proponents, helping elicit a further 20kW and as much as 40Nm from the donor car – equating to total outputs of 157kW and 250Nm in the case of the CVT automatic, or 160kW and 280Nm if you opt for the six-speed manual.

Power isn’t the only determining factor in transmission choice. Whereas the automatic option (an additional $3700) sends drive to all four wheels, the six-speed manual is front-driven only.

A new suspension tune teams with a reinforced front transverse link, NISMO-tuned KYB twin-tube shock absorbers and stiffer front and rear stabiliser bars to endow the JUKE with a sportier, more agile edge on the road.

Elsewhere, the braking package is improved courtesy of beefed up 320mm front and 296mm rear discs.

In the case of the automatic transmission, a torque vectoring function has been introduced to reduce understeer.

Elsewhere, the JUKE’s dynamic acumen has been extended with a lower ride, sharper steering and a pronounced exhaust note.

The JUKE RS also purports to offer a more effective aero package courtesy of bespoke front and rear bumpers, side skirts and roof spoiler.

One of the biggest improvements comes in the form of interior embellishments. Polishing the insides of a vehicle that has been around globally since 2010 is no easy task, but NISMO designers have done an enviable job given what they worked with.

Settling in for a two-hour drive, the first distinctive features we notice are the JUKE’s deep bucket seats, which are comfortable and supportive, along with its Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, which lends a sporty vibe, highlighted by a red strip at the top of the tiller.

The car’s interior highlights take on more of a sporty feel, with a red ‘NISMO’ ring around the starter button and ‘carbon-look’ embellishments sprinkled around the cabin.

The interior space will ultimately limit the JUKE’s appeal for some; the rear seat is shy on legroom, befitting of the car’s 4.13-metre length, and the 354-litre boot capacity isn’t massive but matches many small hatchbacks.

A bigger potential sticking point is set to surround the JUKE’s technology and safety suites.

In the case of the former, there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility, and the infotainment systems and digital displays – most apparent in the 5.8-inch colour touch-screen – are feeling their age.

Meantime, the safety suite misses autonomous emergency braking, though the JUKE does maintain its date-stamped five-star safety score from 2013.

The NISMO version brings new technology including Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Departure Warning, along with a 360-degree camera.

What you do get in terms of equipment is adequate, though in today’s new-car set highlights the JUKE’s age: Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, climate-control, 5.8-inch touch-screen display, satellite-navigation and digital radio.

In a similar vein, the safety suite comprises front, front side and curtain airbags, two ISOFIX child restraint anchorage points, and electronic aids including stability control.

Nissan’s new car warranty scheme in Australia is likewise unremarkable in terms of coverage, capped at three years and 100,000km.

If you were to characterise the JUKE NISMO’s dynamics in a word, it would be ‘fun’.

This performance crossover won’t activate the senses in the same way a GT-R NISMO or 370Z NISMO does – that’s not its modus operandi – but the handling and engine improvements allow the JUKE to be a more effective accomplice on the right piece of road.

Most obviously, the enhancements lend our manual test car a much more mechanical and heavy-duty feel to the controls than its donor model. On the shift, it's rubbery, but engaging nonetheless.

The clutch is heavy, the steering takes on added weight and feedback, and the car’s fixed dampers reflect inconsistencies through the road more prominently than before, being fidgety without being crashy.

Similarly, the car’s exhaust note is another vital clue as to what’s going on under the bonnet, emitting a loud if at times persistent tune. It also has to battle consistent tyre roar for airwaves.

With all that said, this NISMO is still a comfortable vehicle to be in during our circa two our journey, with a decent selection of oddment storage and those ultra comfy buckets.

Up the momentum slightly and it’s clear the NISMO is happy delivering more urge. For one, the throttle urge is sharper and there is even some tugging at the steering wheel (torque steer) as the JUKE attempts to convert the added horsepower through the front wheels.

Acceleration is spritely, though never enough to induce sweaty palms, and the Juke lacks the low-down response many might expect from a car running on 98-octane unleaded and wearing a NISMO badge.

We cannot speak for how the equivalent automatic performs, fitted with all-wheel drive, but even with a limited-slip differential, power-down in the manual is a rush, such is the level of torque steer under a full head of steam.

The stiffened underpinnings endow the JUKE with better body control through the bends, and a sharper feel through quick changes in direction.

It will never challenge a Volkswagen Golf GTI on the track – its high-riding stature alone will put paid to that – but it does do the circa performance SUV thing well enough.

More than anything else, the JUKE NISMO RS forges its own path. There is little else like it on the road.

How much does the 2018 Nissan JUKE NISMO RS cost?
Price: $37,790-$41,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 160kW/280Nm (man), 157kW/250Nm (auto)
Transmission: Six-speed manual or CVT
Fuel: 7.2-7.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 168-172g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2011)