Nissan Juke priced from $21,990

NISSAN Australia has priced the quirky Juke crossover from a sharp $21,990 plus on-road costs ahead of its local launch in October, undercutting its newly-launched Holden Trax rival by $1500.

Just like the Pulsar small hatch, the Juke will also be offered in two hotted-up turbo configurations, the $28,390 front-drive ST-S and the flagship, all-wheel drive $32,190 Ti-S.

Pricing across the board is between $2500 and $3000 more expensive than the equivalent Pulsar version, but around $4000 cheaper the slightly larger Dualis small SUV.

The Juke is powered at launch by a pair of petrol engines: 1.6-litre unit developing 86kW and 158Nm in the ST, and a 1.6-litre turbocharged unit for the ST-S and Ti-S pushing out 140kW and 240Nm. This engine is the same as the one used in the Pulsar SSS.

The ST gets either five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission, the ST-S gets a standard six-sped manual gearbox and the Ti-S comes only with the CVT.

The ‘better-late-than-never’ October launch comes more than three years after the Juke was launched in Europe, and 12 months after Nissan Australia first confirmed it for local sale.

At the time of the Juke’s global premiere, Nissan’s local arm all-but ruled out launching the car, citing a need to focus more on its ‘core’ models. But the appointment of new managing director Bill Peffer in 2012 saw the business case revisited and green-lit.

Incidentally, Mr Peffer resigned his position last week to return to the US.

The UK and Japanese-built Juke’s oddball styling and customisable cabin have made it something of a youth-oriented icon since it was revealed as a concept at the Geneva motor show in March 2009.

The sharp opening gambit suggests Nissan Australia sees more than just niche potential for the Juke, and this is reflected by words from its executive general manager of marketing Peter Clissold.

“This is an exciting, fun-to-drive car that we expect will bring many new customers to Nissan,” he said.

“I’m confident Australian buyers of small SUVs will find the all-new Juke to be exceptional value. Each grade in the Juke model range has a compelling mix of standard equipment in a vehicle rich in stand-out styling and dynamic performance.”

This year, small SUV sales (under $40,000) are up 16.5 per cent, and a spate of new models such as the Ford EcoSport, Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur due next year will grow this even further.

Nissan’s own Dualis dominates the segment alongside Hyundai’s ix35, with sales up 9.5 per cent this year.

The Juke is just one member of an important triumvirate of new models poised for launch over the next few months, alongside the new-generation Pathfinder SUV and the Altima mid-sized, Camry-rivalling sedan.

GoAuto will bring you full information and drive impressions of the Juke next month, so stay posted.

2013 Nissan Juke pricing*

ST 2WD	$21,990
ST 2WD (a)	$24,390
ST-S 2WD	$28,390
Ti-S AWD (a)	$32,190

*Plus on-road costs