Auto News 5

The Juke is the latest in a long line of truly distinctive cars that have helped Nissan stand out from the automotive crowd. (Besides the current Leaf, Cube, and GT-R, let's not forget about the Pulsar NX, the Japanese-market S-Cargo, and the Figaro of the late 1980s and early '90s). Already, the Juke's looks have been likened on this website to those of a frog, a deep-sea fish, and a Pontiac Aztek. This peculiar-looking, inexpensive crossover, like the Cube, is built on the underpinnings of the even-more-affordable Nissan Versa hatchback. Clearly, plenty of people are pleased with the aesthetic pizzazz offered for a starting price of just $20,330 -- Americans bought more than 29,000 Jukes in the vehicle's first ten months on sale (through July 2011).

The subcompact class is not one in which you can expect many thrills or frills. Subcompact cars occupy the bottom rung of the automotive ladder, intended mostly for those consumers who are looking for little more than basic transportation. Both Toyota (Yaris) and Nissan (Versa) are fielding all-new offerings in the segment for 2012 and are poised to battle each other in the bargain basement arena. Nissan is aiming for those truly short on cash, which leaves the team from Toyota City to aim a smidge higher with a more sport-infused Yaris.