Five-Point Inspection: 2015 Nissan Juke

3. Entertaining Driving Dynamics

One thing was true from day one with the Juke and it hasn’t changed: it’s a lot of fun to drive. The steering wheel offers plenty of feedback, especially when you consider that it sits at crossover height.

But it’s the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes it even more endearing. The engine makes 188 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque in base form with more potent versions available in the NISMO and NISMO RS models.

Nissan used to offer a manual in the base front-wheel drive model, but now the only way to get a stick is with the most expensive NISMO and NISMO RS performance version. For 2015, the base car still uses a front-wheel drive layout, but it comes with a CVT. Models mated to a continuously variable transmission are available with both front- and all-wheel drive.

In its sport mode and equipped with the CVT, the Juke will actually simulate a downshift when it senses an upcoming corner so that you can exit with access to most of the power its little engine will squeeze out.