A distinctive design!

I’m no stranger to Nissan vehicles having completed my higher-education in Sunderland Tyne & Wear in northeast England, a city which is the home of the brand’ s largest UK manufacturing plant.

It’s safe to say that during my university days I saw just about every model Nissan has ever produced - from the aerodynamic Altima to the majestic Micra.

However, when I first laid my eyes on the new Juke I was astounded by its uncharacteristic design.

The Juke is a mini-crossover vehicle which only went into production in 2010 but during its Japanese debut in June of the same year it sold 10,943 units in just one month. It then arrived with an impact in the US and Europe, proving that there is a huge global demand for this small and peculiar-looking car.

The Juke’s quirky exterior is dominated by the prominent wheel arches and the body’s high waistline; add to the mix some large, rally-inspired headlights and you have a unique design that is sure to draw attention on the roads.

A coupe-esque look is achieved thanks to the positioning of the rear door handles, which are located within the window frame near the C-pillars. I thought this was a nice touch because it makes getting in and out easier for taller people.

Inside, the Juke is fairly spacious and uncomplicated. There are various custom options available depending on which variant of this model you choose.

All the interesting features are located within the central stack in a clearly laid-out fashion.

One feature I enjoyed was Nissan’s integrated control system which designers call the I-CON. Essentially it’s a command module which not only manages the climate control, but also the vehicle’s drive mode of which there are three options (Normal, Eco or Sport).

Each mode affects the behaviour of the throttle, transmission and steering. While running in Eco mode, fuel consumption is significantly reduced … an ideal setting when you’re stuck in Manama traffic queues.

However, I couldn’t tell much difference between Sport and Normal mode but that may have been because I wasn’t driving the super-charged 180bhp version.

Under the bonnet, the basic model I drove featured a 1.6-litre engine which moved quickly enough to weave through traffic but certainly won’t break any speed records.

In terms of safety the base model features dual front airbags, ABS brakes, brake assist and electronic brake distributor.

Other features include power and tilt steering, urethane steering, an intelligent key system, halogen headlights, push button start and electric wing mirrors.

In all honesty, this model is probably not going to appeal to die-hard driving enthusiasts … but it would be ideal for young or new drivers looking for something with a bit of character.

Prices start from BD7,495. For more information, contact the Nissan showroom on 17732732.