Key Facts:
Model tested: Nissan Juke 1.6 Acenta Premium, Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Tekna, Nissan Juke 1.5dCi Tekna
On the road price: £15,045, £17,745, £17,495
Date tested: January 2011
Road tester: Richard Dredge

The Nissan Juke is a junior crossover that sits below the hugely successful Qashqai. Available with front or four-wheel drive, this unusually styled small car is already proving a big hit.

Of all the cars that will arrive in the market this year, it's unlikely that any will polarise opinions like the Juke. You really do love it or hate it.

The Juke mixes coupe and 4x4 looks with its raised ride height and plunging roof line, plus its incredibly sculpted flanks. Nobody misses a Juke when it's around - and especially when viewed from the front.

The interior design isn't as adventurous as the exterior, but the metallic grey or red highlights add interest while everything is easy to use - it's just not especially futuristic.

Those in the front definitely get the best deal, as there's ample head and leg room and the seats are comfortable and supportive. While the back seats are also unusually comfortable, leg room isn't so good and head room is tight thanks to the sharply sloping roof.

The driving experience is also a bit of a disappointment. It's not that the car is poor, just not as much fun as those looks might have you believe.

The steering is rather numb and the ride is very firm, although this does help with reducing roll in bends - the Juke's body control is very good considering its raised ride height.

Buyers can choose between petrol and diesel engines, with manual or CVT automatic gearboxes. There's just one four-wheel drive model offered though, which comes only with the 1.6T engine and CVT gearbox. The choices are:

• 1.6 petrol: 115bhp, 116lb/ft, 44.8mpg, 147g/km CO2, 111mph, 11.0sec 0-62mph
• 1.6 DIG-T petrol: 187bhp, 177lb/ft, 40.9mpg, 159g/km CO2, 134mph, 10.7sec 0-62mph
• 1.5dCi diesel: 108bhp, 177lb/ft, 55.4mpg, 134g/km CO2, 109mph, 10.7sec 0-62mph

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The 1.6-litre petrol engine with its five-speed manual gearbox is expected to be the most popular, and it's easy to see why. It's the cheapest version, it's quick enough for undemanding drivers and it's a smooth unit too. But, on faster roads the engine revs too high even in top gear.

There's also a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine available, the DIG-T. It's very quick thanks to a power output that's in hot-hatch territory, but it's no enthusiast's car as it struggles to use its available power, while the handling still lacks sparkle.

The 1.6-litre DIG-T comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but can be specified with a CVT automatic gearbox. Choose this and the Juke also gets four-wheel drive automatically, so it's a shame that you can't buy a four-wheel drive Juke with a manual gearbox - or a diesel engine.

Pick of the bunch is easily the 1.5dCi diesel, with its six-speed manual gearbox, muscular engine and more relaxed cruising. It's worth the £1,350 premium over the 1.6 petrol version as it's much nicer to drive and will also probably retain more of its value.

With prices starting at just £12,995 for the entry-level 1.6 Visia, the Juke offers superb value, although if you're an enthusiast driver you might be disappointed by the driving experience.

However, while the Juke is ordinary to drive, it looks sensational, is very practical and well equipped too. It's also far more distinctive than key rivals - and it's made in Britain.