JAKARTA - Unlike in Indonesia, the Nissan Juke is one of the best-selling B-segment crossovers in Europe (including the UK). The Juke is considered a pioneer of the compact crossover segment in Europe and remains a favorite to this day, especially after the 2024 facelift and the addition of a hybrid variant. Nissan is even planning to launch a third-generation, all-EV Juke in 2026-2027 specifically for the European market.
Recently, Nissan has begun road tests for the electric Juke, scheduled for launch next year. The SUV, which will be produced in Sunderland, England, is deliberately designed with a "divisive" style, nicknamed "Marmite," unlike its sibling, the Leaf EV. The electric Juke is expected to be a key player in Nissan's efforts to expand its electric vehicle (EV) lineup in Europe, directly competing with models like the Ford Puma Gen-E and Kia EV3.
As reported by Autocar, on Wednesday, November 11, this controversial design decision was driven by the need to differentiate the Juke EV from the next-generation Nissan Leaf, which has transformed into a crossover of a very similar size. Nissan's Chief Performance Officer, Guillaume Cartier, emphasized that the company's SUV buyers have a "completely different" profile and occupy a separate "customer bubble," so there will be no hesitation in choosing between the existing models.
Cartier explained that the Juke EV's design was deliberately polarizing to ensure the Juke stands out in the market.
"You'll have people saying 'wow' and people saying 'no thanks, not for me.' Based on that, I don't think this car will be compared to other cars," he said.
This strategy is considered crucial to creating a distinct market segment and ensuring the Juke doesn't overlap with the Qashqai or Leaf in the eyes of consumers.
Technically, the Juke EV will share the same CMF-BEV platform as the Leaf, with an estimated maximum range of over 350 miles (563 km) and a single-motor powertrain option of up to 214 bhp. Nissan Europe has also suggested the possibility of a personalized chassis setup to emphasize the Juke's more dynamic and distinct character. Despite the challenges, Nissan is targeting a starting price for the Juke EV to be comparable to the current petrol-powered Juke, which is around £21,000 (approximately Rp461 million).
A camouflaged prototype spotted during testing suggests the Juke EV will retain similar proportions to the current model, including a steep roofline and visor-shaped side windows. The car is also expected to adopt the distinctive light signature and accentuated body lines hinted at by last year's Hyper Punk concept.
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