IT may be one of Nissan’s wackier cars, but the Juke is also one of their bestselling crossovers, having sold more than half a million worldwide in the last few years.

Its recent facelift includes a new engine, bigger boot and new styling packs, yet it still retains its quirky appearance and driving appeal.

Not so great for camping, however, as the boot size isn’t exactly big at just 354 litres, although this has increased considerably from the previous model. That said, we managed to squeeze everything in (just) and the fuel stretched a really long way – with more than 70 miles to the gallon.

Four petrol engines are on offer including the basic 1.6-litre, a new hi-tech 1.2-litre engine, and the top-of-the-range 1.6-litre DIG-T that can produce 187bhp.

A 1.5-litre diesel is likely to be the most popular choice due to excellent fuel economy and low emissions, costing just £20 per year to tax. Only the DIG-T and 1.6-litre petrol come with Nissan's Xtronic four-wheel drive system. There are four trims - Visia, Acent, Acenta Premium and Tekna.

There’s plenty of grip and the suspension has been tweaked, so at low speeds it rides reasonably well over potholes and bumps.

Other changes include a bold new design at the front and rear, new alloy wheels, the option of an opening glass roof, new audio system, the latest generation NissanConnect driver-vehicle interface and Nissan’s Dynamic Control system, which gives you a choice of three different driving modes - Normal, Sport or Eco - along with instant driving information.

Nissan is also offering xenon lights as an option for the first time on a Juke.

Standard equipment on all models includes LED daytime running lamps, CD radio with an AUX-In socket and a gear-shift indicator to promote a more efficient driving style and tyre pressure monitor.

Acenta models add front fog lights, 17-inch alloys, automatic air con, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control and limiter.

Tekna models introduce light and rain sensors, i-Key with Start/Stop and a rear-view parking/reversing camera.

The latest Juke is a marked improvement and the added boot space was definitely needed. Its funky looks lend themselves to a younger audience and the new personalisation options could be a lot of fun.

Factfile
Car:
Nissan Juke Acenta
On the road: £17,865
Top speed: 109mph
0-62mph: 11.2 seconds
Fuel: 70.6mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 104g/km