[AviBen]

I am planning to buy a Juke (AWD SL) as a winter daily driver (~Nov. 1 - April 1, Chicago northern suburbs) and garage my Vette during that period. Of all the options in a new car, the Juke seems to provide the best combo of power, handling, fun, looks, features and reasonable price. Given the features, it looks like it ought to do OK in snow -- but I would appreciate any feedback from those of you with real experience with it in winter and snow. Thanks!

 

[msagustin]

I've driven my Juke in snow and ice this past Illinois winter. With a little bit of common sense in driving safely and keeping your distance, it's been phenomenal. The two AWD modes are fantastic in getting you going.
For even more assurance in winter driving, you might want to switch over to winter tires. (Although not necessary)
The Goodyear "All Season" RS-A tires are "V" rated up to 130 mph (go figure) and ride on the stiff side. (possibly for the other driving seasons)
I have dedicated snow tires that are "H" rated. I'll never exceed the rated MPH in the winter time.

From the Capt. Obvious files:
AWD and 4x4 doesn't mean God mode, if driven incorrectly you will get into an accident.


BTW, what were or are your other options?

 

[AviBen]

BTW, what were or are your other options?

Thanks for your reply! None of the other options appeal to me -- too little for the money, or too much money, or not enough fun, or look too boring, or not enough zip and power, etc. For some reason, only the Juke has me excited about and OK with not driving my Vette during the winter. Plus, I happen to like the CVT (especially in sport mode), having driven a substantially modded 2010 Altima Coupe V6 with CVT (which my wife currently uses as a DD).

 

[msagustin]

Thanks for your reply! None of the other options appeal to me -- too little for the money, or too much money, or not enough fun, or look too boring, or not enough zip and power, etc. For some reason, only the Juke has me excited about and OK with not driving my Vette during the winter. Plus, I happen to like the CVT (especially in sport mode), having driven a substantially modded 2010 Altima Coupe V6 with CVT (which my wife currently uses as a DD).

I also looked around for other alternatives and their really wasn't anything around with that many features and options for the price point. AWD was a must for me living in Illinois. Subaru was getting boring in the looks department.
The minor downside to other members with the AWD/CVT is the small fuel tank. (11.8 gal) I don't seem to mind.
If you get the Juke SL/AWD your wife will steal it from you. It's actually that reassuring in the winter.

 

[Jersey Devil]

If you get the Juke SL/AWD your wife will steal it from you. It's actually that reassuring in the winter.

+1

My wife takes mine every chance she can, snow or not. She loves her own car mind you (2003 cr-v ex) but I guess she's just tired of driving the same thing for almost 10 years.

 

[msagustin]

+1

My wife takes mine every chance she can, snow or not. She loves her own car mind you (2003 cr-v ex) but I guess she's just tired of driving the same thing for almost 10 years.

My wife had a 1999 CR-V and the thing would never die. (12 years and we sold it to a coworker.) I wasn't that impressed with the AWD system in the Honda.
She'll steal my Juke and I get to play with the WRX again.

 

[Jersey Devil]

My wife had a 1999 CR-V and the thing would never die. (12 years and we sold it to a coworker.) I wasn't that impressed with the AWD system in the Honda.
She'll steal my Juke and I get to play with the WRX again.

The honda system from those years isn't really all wheel drive. It's more like 4x4 that's on demand. It had open diffs in the front and rear, so it's hardly awd.

For that matter, the Juke isn't a "true" awd because it has an open diff in the front. It does have the advantage over the honda system in that you can force system engagement via the awd button and when driving straigh it has a locked "diff" in the rear.

 

[GuyOh]

winter tires!

 

[31055]

It's slushing here and I had to put it in ECO mode, because I had too much power, lol.

 

[ValBoo]

I've driven my Juke in snow and ice this past Illinois winter. With a little bit of common sense in driving safely and keeping your distance, it's been phenomenal. The two AWD modes are fantastic in getting you going.
For even more assurance in winter driving, you might want to switch over to winter tires....

+1
I could not agree more... I have had my awd Juke since Feb 2011; Drove it plenty in Montreal snow and it is phenominal in awd mode(s) to get around the city. I have to mention that I have dedicated winter tires (actually they are mandatory for us during winter)

...Mine are Pirelli "winter ice control" (P215/60R16) mounted on 16" steel rims.

 

[vettereddie]

Automobile magazine did a pretty good test drive of the Juke in the UP Michigan winter.

2011 Nissan Juke - Review - Automobile Magazine

The take-away is the stock all-seasons will manage in the snow, but require caution and aren't the best option. If you drive on roads that go days between seeing pavement, get a set of winter tires and the AWD and ground clearance should be more than enough to conquer anything short of whiteout conditions.

 

[akpak]

I just got mine a couple months ago, but it's snowed the last few days here in Alaska. So far, no trouble in the snow at all. The Juke seems very sure-footed, and I haven't had any trouble getting started through intersections.

I doubt I'll even need to get studded tires, so far no slip at all.

 

[EMatos]

Hello, I hope it's ok that I chime in with a question. I am hoping to purchase a 2012 Juke soon and I'm concerned about how it handles in the snow. I currently drive a 2005 Suzuki Aerio S and I am very attached to it, it's an animal in the snow and has been very reliable as far as driving over snowy mountains, roads, etc. I hate that I have to get rid of my Suzuki but, alas it is very old, high mileage and is unable to be saved. *sigh* So, I've been looking into the Juke and I love the way it looks and that it's AWD but, I'm reading a lot of mixed reviews on how they are in the snow. I see that a couple said that if you add snow tires, it helps. Can I ask, how well does it help? Does the Juke handle well in the snow, with snow tires? Do I dare ask, like an animal?

 

[RayDelien]

I have Goodyear ultragrip Ice WRT's on my juke and nothing stops me. It has not been a very good year for snow but I have been through 6 - 7 inches and barely paid it any mind. In the cabin you will not really feel wheel slip because the AWD system does such a good job and the juke is pretty well balanced to provide traction. A lot of AWD systems do not have enough power in the secondary axle to get you moving, but the juke does pretty well, I think the vectored AWD system is a step up from the AWD (by name only) systems that Honda and Mazda are famous for where all 4 wheels have power, but the secondary axle cannot put down enough torque to drive the car.

If you want to have some fun make sure you turn off the traction control.

 

[Kev m]

I've owned mostly AWD or 4x4s for nearly two decades now. I ran many of them with snow tires seasonally.

The Juke has done so well with just the crappy stock all seasons that this is the fourth winter I've not bothered with snow tires.

That's how good the AWD system is. I can't imagine how good it must be with snow tires. If I didn't work at home and have another 4x4 with better tires in the family I'd buy some snow tires and find out.

But fwiw it seems to be a system that is almost as capable in foul weather as Subarus which really are the AWD gold standard.

 

[Webdood]

Southwest Pa here.
My OEM tires were shot and I had no problems driving in snow. The tire guy asked me if it was hard to drive in the winter on worn tires and I honestly said I hadn't noticed and had no troubles at all.

My commute is very hilly - half rural back roads and half interstate and snow is just no longer a problem at all.

 

[skip029]

Stock tires here and never had an issue in Western Wisconsin. AWD can be toggled on/off along with locking differential for full time AWD (4x4) up to 25 mph.

 

[NISMO IX]

Stock tires here and never had an issue in Western Wisconsin. AWD can be toggled on/off along with locking differential for full time AWD (4x4) up to 25 mph.

What?

 

[Kev m]

What?

He likes ice skating.

 

[NISMO IX]

He likes ice skating.

Oh Ice-C