Nissan Juke 1.5 dCi

What is it?

Certain versions of the Nissan Juke have received a light tweaking as a result of a manual gearbox switch. The 1.6 petrol and the 1.5 dCi diesel now use a more compact unit rather than their former Nisaan Qashqai-sourced transmission. The result is a set of longer-legged ratios that result in improved official fuel consumption and CO2 emissions but without, says Nissan, blunting acceleration.

See pics of the Nissan Juke in action

What's it like?

So the 1.6 petrol now achieves 47.1mpg combined rather than 44.8mpg and its CO2 emissions fall by 8g/km to 139g/km. Meanwhile, for the diesel sampled here, economy climbs to 57.6mpg from 55.4mpg, and its emissions now sit at 129g/km, which drops it one VED tax band, too.

This torquey, civilised diesel is well able to pull the Juke along at a satisfyingly brisk pace, and according to the trip computer of the virginal example we drove – it came with 1.5 miles on the clock and was therefore a long way from run in – it managed 43mpg on a long drive south. So it must easily be capable of hitting 50mpg if you try.

In other respects the Juke is unchanged. The powertrain impresses, its stiff-legged ride less so, although that does allow it to corner pretty flatly, considering its height-to-width ratio, and it’s a pretty agile device.

Should I buy one?

The appealingly quirky interior forces few compromises inside, although some will find versatility undermined by a rather small boot, and the painted mouldings and the configurable centre console display do a good job of distracting you from the cheapness of some cabin plastics.

But it’s easy to see why the Juke has been a hit, Nissan’s Sunderland plant having now produced 150,000 rather than the 85,000 it had expected at this point.

Nissan Juke 1.5 DCi Acenta Premium

Price: £16,895; Top speed: 109mph; 0-62mph: 11.2sec; Economy: 57.6mpg (combined); CO2: 129g/km; Kerb weight: 1329kg; Engine: 4 cyls, 1461cc, turbodiesel; Power: 109bhp at 4000rpm; Torque: 177lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual