Nissan Qashqai vs Juke

At this point in time, the Nissan Qashqai is old enough to have a younger sibling and that is the Nissan Juke. Similar in stature and form, this has led to many enthusiasts pitching the two giants against each other in a kind of 'Nissan Qashqai vs Juke' matchup.

When making the decision to lease the Juke or the Qashqai, it's important to understand how they each fit in their respective markets and how exactly they differ from one another.

Where the Qashqai reinvented what it meant to drive a family SUV, it did tend to suffer from some of the quirks that can befall a larger car and so, with a slightly smaller design in mind, the Nissan Juke was born.

If you're on the fence about which to lease or are unsure of the differences between the two, then let this guide explain each of them in better detail.

An Introduction to the Nissan Qashqai and Juke

Before they enter the ring, let’s set the stage for these two Nissan models. As previously touched on, the Nissan Qashqai was a revolution upon its launch in 2007.

Born from equal parts desperation and innovation by the Renault-Nissan Alliance which existed to level the playing field amongst the hard-hitting competition, the Qashqai had to become an evergreen model. You can guess whether or not they were successful.

The Japanese manufacturer has since sold 2.3 million units in Europe alone with Qashqai accounting for one in ten crossovers sold amongst its two iterations. Generous interior space and sleek, ever-evolving outer design is matched only by its abundance of safety features, especially in the newer and higher-range models like Tekna and Tekna +.

A Car is Born

Where the Qashqai combines SUV and hatchback, the Nissan Juke takes things a step down by combining SUV with more of a supermini configuration (itself a Frankenstein of city car and hatchback).

Though slightly smaller than the Qashqai, the Nissan Juke was designed with space and style in mind. Inside, it shares the spaciousness, comfort, and high seating position of the Qashqai but, as we'll come to understand, controls in a slightly more agile way than its older brother.

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Nissan Qashqai vs Juke: Round 1 (Power)

Solidifying its place as the choice family crossover, each new iteration of the Qashqai looked to provide all the amenities that a young modern family needed from their everyday vehicle. This included plenty of space in the cabin and the boot, a smooth drive experience, and an excellent road feel.

Despite a powerful engine, the acceleration takes the whole family into consideration meaning even on higher range Tekna 1.3 DiG-T MH engines, the 0-60 is relatively high. Besides, if you were interested in leasing one of the best-known family SUVs on the market then you probably weren't planning on breaking the sound barrier any time soon.

Nissan instead puts heavy emphasis on active safety features with a suite of safety technology like lane recognition, autonomous emergency braking, and traffic sign recognition coming as standard with many of the Qashqai models. This focus on safety has brought Nissan recognition from the Euro NCAP awards; most recently the 2021 Qashqai achieved the maximum five-star safety score for adult occupants from the Euro NCAP.

This all makes for a perfectly pleasant driving experience when it comes to the Nissan Qashqai. The high driver's seat assures drivers that you know exactly what is ahead of them at all times, whilst the varying diesel and petrol engines do much in the way of keeping the passenger experience comfortably quiet in urban and rural settings .

How does the Nissan Juke compare?

The Nissan Juke was launched in 2010 as a subcompact crossover SUV designed with more agility in mind. Much like the Qashqai, the Nissan Juke was a trailblazer that sought to provide the SUV lifestyle to buyers with more modest room in their pockets.

The Nissan Juke acts similarly as an all-rounder that doesn't cost too much to run which may explain its impressive sales.

As well as being a great-looking vehicle, the Nissan Juke also boasts some of the most advanced technology available in its class including a host of active safety features such as automatic emergency brakes and blind spot monitoring amongst others.

It's not just about looks though, the Nissan Juke offers a very capable driving experience thanks to its responsive steering and sharp handling.

What are their different powertrains and engine capacities?

Up until recently, the Nissan Qashqai came exclusively with petrol or diesel fuel powertrains, boasting a variety of engine capacities, including a 1.5 Litre petrol engine and 1.6 and 2.0 Litre diesel engines.

This all changed with the latest member of the Qashqai family, the Nissan Qashqai e-Power. Sporting mild-hybrid tech, the e-Power's 1.5 Litre, 3-cylinder combustion engine works alongside an electric motor and lithium-ion battery which powers the vehicle with the smooth feel and low fuel consumption of an electric vehicle.

The Nissan Juke offers two different petrol options, both of which are available with either front or rear-wheel drive. The first is the 1.2 Litre petrol standard engine, which produces 88bhp and can be paired with either manual or automatic gearboxes. The second is the 1.4 Litre petrol standard engine, offering 110bhp and paired with either manual or auto transmissions.

So how does this translate into the driving experience?

Both of these popular crossovers provide a satisfying driving experience both in terms of speed and reliability. Their high-seating position allows drivers to make use of the entire front window so they can see much of the road - and any potential hazards - more clearly.

Where the Nissan Qashqai's more powerful engine can allow it to reliably travel on motorways at optimal speed (especially with cruise control switched on), its larger size makes tighter manoeuvres on country roads more of a task.

In this way, the Juke acts as the Yin to the Qashqai's Yang, offering a much sharper, more agile drive on tighter terrain thanks to its smaller design and more responsive steering.

The Nissan Qashqai e-Power's Electric Feel

Where the Qashqai sets itself apart elsewhere is through the e-Power hybrid model again! The stop/start system, eased by the mild hybrid technology, makes the e-Power Qashqai an easier vehicle to work with amongst the stop-and-go traffic of a busy city.

The mild hybrid tech also makes for a much quieter, smoother, more comfortable drive due to the electric motor powering the car and not the combustion engine. In addition, a reliable suspension allows the wheels to soak up the various humps and bumps drivers find on British roads.

Both cars are comfortable, responsive drives, with the Qashqai's larger size and suspension providing a different kind of experience to the Nissan Juke's slightly more controlled capabilities.

Nissan Qashqai vs Juke: Round 3 (Interior Design and Practicality)

We know what each of these vehicles is like on the road and with how much power they drive, but what about the driver and passenger experience before the engine is even switched on?

Both the Qashqai and the Juke offer a comfortable driving experience, with the heightened driving position complemented by an adjustable steering wheel and adjustable seat for extra space and comfort in the cabin.

When it comes to the dashboard, recent versions of the Nissan Qashqai and Juke offer logically arranged and simple touchscreen controls for the infotainment display, and easy-to-locate aircon controls.

Where previous models of both cars offered simple DAB radio and Bluetooth functionality, more modern trims like the Juke N-Conecta offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility alongside a touchscreen control panel.

The Qashqai Tekna goes a step further by showing vital information like speed and safety warnings directly onto the windscreen so those in the front seat can pay complete attention to their driving without checking a different display.

Passenger and Boot Space

Both of these cars are renowned for their family-friendly nature and their SUV-like status. Early on in its life, Nissan expanded its goalposts when it rolled out a 'Qashqai+2' model to accommodate up to seven passengers.

Both models also offer generous head and shoulder space for family members of all sizes, with wide-opening doors allowing little ones to be seated easily and taller folks to enter and alight comfortably.

All versions of the Juke have great boot capacity thanks to a height-adjustable floor. In terms of capacity, though, the Qashqai is afforded marginally more. Fold-down seats in both models offer competitive real estate, and a wipe-clean surface will allow you to take home the aftermath of any outdoor excursions without ruining the boot's upholstery.

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Interior Design

Speaking of upholstery, both Nissan models come with cloth and leather seat options depending on the trim. For example, the Nissan Qashqai Acenta trims comes with cloth upholstery on the front and rear seats as standard, whereas the Nissan Juke Tekna 5dr auto comes with synthetic leather seating for that extra premium feel.

Nissan Qashqai vs Juke: Final Round (Standard Equipment)

On top of the active safety suite, both base models come with a variety of equipment and tech as standard, including:

• Dynamic vehicle control (DVC) to help correct any over or understeering

• Intelligent braking which monitors the car's surroundings for possible collisions

• Cruise control and speed monitor

• Electrically adjustable door mirrors

• 'Follow me home' headlights which stay on for a short while after the car is parked up in the evening to allow for maximum visibility between leaving the car and entering your house

• Tyre monitoring system to check for the correct tyre pressure

The Qashqai ultimately comes out on top when it comes to the number of driving aids including:

• Electric speed-sensitive power steering

• Intelligent forward collision warning

• Maximum speed limiter to ensure you don't exceed the speed limit

• Lane departure prevention which alerts the driver when the tyres touch a lane marker

• Rear parking sensors to assist drivers of the larger Qashqai to park more easily and without damage to surrounding vehicles

What’s the verdict when it comes to Nissan Qashqai vs Juke?

Despite being close contenders with one another and attracting a similar type of driver, the Qashqai and the Juke ultimately provide slightly different driving experiences from each other.

With the Juke, Nissan ensured that they would be serving the vast majority of the family SUV crossover market that they had created with the Qashqai.

For the classic crossover experience with a plethora of bells, whistles, and safety features as standard, the Nissan Qashqai is the car to lease , but if you want a car that will provide a tighter, more agile drive then consider leasing the Nissan Juke.

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