2013 Juke NISMO - a dirt-loving funhouse
With a chance to drive the 2013 Juke NISMO for a week, we managed to put nearly 500 miles on the odometer and proved the one point we believed was missed by most who've discussed the Juke in this racing, NISMO package: it's not a road racer, it's a dirt rally funhouse.
2013 Juke NISMO proves it loves getting dirty
The Juke NISMO had a heyday in the dirt and gravel. Brake cornering, corner bumping, and puddle jumping all come naturally to the little Juke AWD and the NISMO package adds that extra zing the crossover needs to really make that offroad fun factor into a serious contender on the dirt rally course.
2013 Juke NISMO flies around the corners
Our hypothesis about the real reason to own a Juke NISMO AWD was confirmed when we really put the hammer down and smashed our way through the track. The Juke loves the dirt! Its short wheelbase, low stance, powerful engine for its size, and low-end torque output through the continuously adjusting all-wheel drive system and CVT make for a great combination of dust-throwing mayhem.
2013 Juke NISMO gets its first taste of dirt
Once we arrived, we wasted no time getting the Juke NISMO familiar with the dirt it was about to partake in. We paused momentarily, after a warmup lap on our chosen dirt rally course, to snap a photo and then jumped back in to really put the Juke through its paces.
2013 Juke NISMO headed for the hills
We climbed in and began the drive towards what we knew would be a fun-filled day in the dirt and scrub of Eastern Wyoming. At over 5,300 feet in altitude, the Juke still performs well on the road with 197 horses under the hood to propel this diminutive machine at a brisk pace.