The Nissan Juke is not everybody’s cup of tea, whereas the VW Golf is as pleasant and unassuming as a car could possibly be. So whilst the Golf may be the obvious choice, the Juke possesses some hidden talents that might just tip the balance in its favour. We’re comparing the Juke 1.5 DCI Tekna 5 door with The Golf 1.6 TDI S 105ps 3door, priced at £17745 and £17845 respectively.
The VW has all the qualities you’d expect of the Golf, a kind o reassuring staidness, robust build and ease of use and the 105ps engine delivers a genuine, not a promised 60mpg plus if driven gently. The Nissan is positively packed with extra features that the Golf can’t compete with at this price point. Satellite navigation, cruise control, parking cameras and leather seat trim all come as extras on the Golf, and you’d have to pay a couple of thousand extra pounds to match up the specifications. Having said that the Juke struggles to get over 50mpg in real life conditions, a full 10 miles per gallon behind the Golf, and the rear is too cramped for adults. The VW is fine for 4/5 adults, but the middle seat in the rear is uncomfortable if you are a full size human.
Looks wise, the Juke is either an ugly bug, or a funky, fun hatch. How you view it will depend on your age, and it may well be that which divides the buyers of these two vehicles.
On the road, neither is a dynamic ride, with the Golf typically steady but uninspiring, with fun reserved for higher end cars like the GTi. The Juke fares a little better, having a little more spark but the engine noise penetrates the cabin more when driven hard. The Juke also has limited rear vision and a larger blind spot, so the reversing camera comes in really handy.
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So if you are interested in a VW Golf or a Nissan Tekna, help is at hand.