Last big refresh lifts look and reprises retina-searing colour. Will NZ be so bold?

SUNGLASSES might be required when viewing the facelift Nissan Juke on its arrival in New Zealand - final touch for the emboldened look is a eye-searingly bright  paint choice.

Potentially set to land at the end of this year - assuming NZ sticks with roll-out timing for Australia - the last big update for the current car ahead of a new generation type that fully embraces electrification has unveiled overnight.

The update delivers a revised design, upgraded technology and more comfort. 

Plus, it can be availed in very bright yellow that doesn’t so much say ‘look at me’ as yells it. 

Nissan UK, which builds the car for global dissemination, says popular demand was behind the decision to re-introduce a hue they used to use. 

Incredibly, the colour now is slightly toned down on the original mix.  The brand feels it reinforces brand message about how this update has kept the compact crossover modern and impactful. 

The update also announces with new alloy wheel designs and a revised grille pattern, but most change has occurred within the cabin.

The big event there is the car adopting the same dual 12.3-inch displays for the infotainment system and instrument cluster already seen in the Qashqai and X-Trail here. Current Jukes have a seven inch screen, with much less configurability.

The new set-up runs Nissan’s latest infotainment system, which supports home screen widgets, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, natural voice recognition, speed camera and fuel price information for the built-in satellite navigation, and a higher-resolution rear-view camera.

A larger glovebox and a redesigned centre console armrest with an increased reach and built-in card holders also involve, and there’s an an electronic park brake across all variants. Currently, the base and mid-spec model here have a mechanical park brake and rear drum brakes instead of discs.

A wireless phone charging pad designed to fit smartphones up to the footprint of the 2020 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max includes, but only for some variants, but modern USB-C charge ports join existing USB-A outlets in the front and rear in every type.

Lane-keep assist and an emergency stop signal during heavy braking now implement.

There are no revisions for the Juke’s powertrain lineup, so it’s expected ours will continue with the 84kW/180Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and front-wheel drive.

Will there be opportunity to see the Juke Hybrid. It’s been available in Europe since 2022, but reports say Australia isn’t keen and since our choices whether to their’s? Well, there’s always the Japan used car channel.

The facelifted Hybrid adds relocated E-Pedal and EV Mode buttons and optional rolling-resistance tyres.

Perhaps local market planners could have interest in a new N-Sport specification, with a contrasting black exterior trim, a boomerang-shaped interior yellow highlight across the top of the instrument panel, and yellow recycled Alcantara seat inserts.

As said, this will be the last refresh for Juke as we currently know it. The electric replacement is said to be set for entry in 2026, a timing that conforms to Nissan intention for its European passenger line-up to be exclusively electric by 2030.