AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2011 NISSAN JUKE

On The Cover Review: 2011 Nissan Juke

The Pontiac Aztek has taken the “ugliest vehicle ever made” award for nearly a decade.  But the Aztek had the distinction of being a forerunner in the crossover craze, and today, the homely hauler has lost most of its shock value.  Luckily, the contest gets a worthy new contender with the introduction of the Nissan Juke.  It takes some of the most controversial aspects of the Aztek, magnifies them by 500, and crams them into a smaller, less practical package.  Everything from the profile at the back of the top, to the way the windshield blends into the hood, to the large, round headlights drilled into the bumper comes together in a head-scratching potpourri of disjointed curves, lumps, and shapes.  Power comes from an adequate 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 180-hp.  The Juke is built on a modified version of the Nissan Versa economy car platform.  It is supposed to appeal to successful, younger men who live an action-packed lifestyle.  Unfortunately, the back does not convert into a factory-approved tent ala its Pontiac inspiration.