Nissan Will Kill Off Juke in North America, Get Its Kicks Elsewhere

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

When you burst out guns blazing from the get-go, it’s sometimes difficult to follow up with an impressive sequel. Such is the case with the Juke, which will have no second generation — at least not in North America.

According to two independent sources familiar with Nissan’s future product plans who spoke with TTAC, the Japanese automaker will kill off the funky four-wheel-drive subcompact crossover after the 2017 or 2018 model year, and replace it — in body and name — with the Aguascalientes-built Nissan Kicks.

Representatives for Nissan said it would not comment on future product.

Juke entered the North American market in 2010 to mixed reception thanks to its Kermit-like posture and awkward front styling, the latter of which was later cribbed to a degree by the Jeep Cherokee and Kia Sportage.

Inspired by the GT-R-powered Juke R, Nissan attempted to offer increased performance to enthusiasts during the Juke’s later model years when it cranked up the Juke’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and added NISMO badging.

Still, all was for naught, it seems. Juke found just 19,577 driveways in the United States in 2016, down from its peak of 38,184 units sold in 2014, according to GoodCarBadCar.

In global markets, both the Juke and Kicks are powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine, but don’t expect that engine for North America. It’s more likely the Kicks will arrive with the Juke’s 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder. However, sources claim the replacement may arrive sans all-wheel drive.

Mark Stevenson
Mark Stevenson

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  • RS RS on May 26, 2017

    It's too bad that it's styling hampered an otherwise interesting small AWD vehicle. Nissan should consider a restyle. Make it look like a scaled down Rogue and consumers may buy.

  • Sgeffe Sgeffe on May 26, 2017

    Perhaps THIS will signal the end of the D-pillars styled off the C-pillar of an AMC Gremlin??!! (I can hope, right?!)

  • Lemmiwinks Lemmiwinks on May 29, 2017

    "Yippee! A car that I didn't like and had no intention of buying will no longer be available to people who actually do like it. Hooray for me!" This is unfortunate. Love my Nismo. It's not perfect, but if you don't like the Juke, it's because you've never chucked one with a manual through twisty mountain roads. By all means, let's make our vehicles as staid and boring as possible. There is absolutely no room for a little brash fun. None.

  • Carsofchaos Carsofchaos on Jun 01, 2017

    I don't want to hear one of you naysayers ever complain about "all cars look the same these days" ever again. To be sure, the Juke is an odd looking car, but I give Nissan credit for mixing it up and making something other than another silver, white, or black CUV.

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