Hybrid versions of the Nissan Juke are no closer to joining the Australian lineup, with an electric successor on the horizon.
Nissan’s smallest SUV model Down Under is now in its sixth year of production, after the second-generation light SUV launched in 2019. The Juke Hybrid was revealed in 2022 for the European and UK markets, and at the time Nissan’s local division said it was off the table for Australians.
However, amid surging sales of hybrid SUVs, that stance softened to the point that Nissan Australia was actively considering releasing the Juke Hybrid in the local market by the end of 2022.
The model was still under study for Australia late last year, but recent comments by Nissan Oceania managing director, Andrew Humberstone, suggest the brand may be holding out for the third-generation Juke, which will reportedly be all-electric.
“Juke [Hybrid] is an interesting one. I’ve been a bit on the fence myself, and the team has tried to convince me otherwise,” Mr Humberstone told CarExpert.
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Juke Hybrid
“We need to look in terms of where is it in two or three years’ time, as opposed to where it is today.
“I think the design is great, the interior is great, the ergonomics are great, but I think we need to be looking at different technology, and that’s coming. So the question then is, do we manage until then? That is the question for me.
“It’s not going to be in 2025. We’re talking within the next two to three years.”
Exact launch timing for the new Juke is not known, but a global reveal in 2025 has previously been floated.
Previous reports indicate that the next-generation Juke could take inspiration from the angular Nissan Hyper Punk concept showcased at the 2023 Tokyo motor show. The next Juke could use the CMF-B EV platform, with an electrically excited synchronous motor powering the front wheels.
Auto Express reports batteries in the first Juke EV could vary in capacity from 40kWh to 52kWh, and feature nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry, offering up to 400km of range. The new Juke could also gain a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup in higher-spec variants.
The next-gen Juke is expected to remain similar in size to the current generation at around 4.2m long, and will again be positioned to compete with the likes of the Mazda CX-3 and Toyota Yaris Cross.
Until the new Juke arrives, Nissan Australia could choose to either stick with the current petrol-powered model or introduce hybrid power.
The current Juke Hybrid teams a 69kW/148Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 36kW/205Nm electric motor and 1.2kWh battery pack. Nissan UK quotes system power of 143PS, the equivalent of 105kW. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a ‘multi-modal’ automatic transmission.
Hybrid vehicle sales are up 51.5 per cent so far this year in Australia, thanks largely to Toyota, while EV sales are down 21.7 per cent.
MORE: Everything Nissan Juke
