Nissan brings a smile to our faces with its smiling crossover.
Quick first impressions: Much more fun to drive than the usual crossover, thanks to the compact size and responsive chassis. I can’t say that the CVT adds to the driving pleasure, though. I understand that they’re efficient, but I think this car would be better served by a manual gearbox -- it’s a shame Nissan doesn’t see fit to offer the manual in conjunction with all-wheel-drive. I love the red trim inside, which is a really simple and honest (no faux anything) way to liven up the interior. Speaking of the interior, the back seat is a little tight -- you’re passengers had better be under six-feet -- but not horrible. The same holds true with the cargo hold; with the rear seats up it’s pretty modest, but at least it’s easily expandable.
Photo Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke SV AWD - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine