Good morning! We’re turning up the tempo and the volume on our musical-themed choices today, with two turbocharged hatchbacks. Are you ready to shift to overdrive? Good, because they’re both manuals, as well.
We looked at two cars from 1979 yesterday, a frumpy Toyota sedan and a completely over-the-top Corvette. I expected the Vette to go down in flames, and it certainly had its detractors in the comments, but when the dust had settled, the majority of you chose side-piped over straight-laced. All I can say is, you’re my kind of people.
I think the thing with C3 Corvettes is that you have to be in on the joke. You can’t take a car like this seriously, nor can you get all bent out of shape when others poke a little fun at it. Is it for everyone? Of course not. But it doesn’t have to be.
You know when you really love a song by a band, but it’s the song the “real fans” hate, or think is an example of them “selling out,” or whatever, and they give you a hard time about it? Don’t you just hate that? Just let people enjoy things. My favorite song from the legendary British hard rock band Judas Priest is “Turbo Lover.” Yeah, it’s cheesy, and poppy, but I’ve always liked it, and I have a fond memory of it that I’ve written about before over on Opposite Lock. Likewise, I’ve always kinda liked today’s two cars, at least in this form. You may not think they’re cool, but if you let yourself enjoy them, you could have a lot of fun. Here they are.
2013 Nissan Juke NISMO – $4,400
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.6-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, six-speed manual, FWD
Location: Sacramento, CA
Odometer reading: 120,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I have really come to dislike the term “crossover.” All it means, as far as I can tell, is a wagon or hatchback that’s a little taller than normal, maybe with some extra black plastic crap stuck on the outside. What on Earth are they supposed to be “crossing over” into? It’s a dumb term. Nissan called the Juke a crossover, but look at it; it’s just a hatchback. This is the NISMO model, Nissan-speak for “the fast/sporty one,” and it has all the typical hot-hatchback cues: bigger wheels, stiffer suspension, special trim, and, of course, a little more power.
All US-market Jukes had a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but the NISMO version makes more power and revs a bit higher. The Juke was available with either a manual gearbox or all-wheel drive, but not both. Whoever bought this one new chose wisely. AWD is useful once in a while, but a CVT – the other gearbox choice – is boring all the time. It has only 120,000 miles on it, and it runs well, but it’s being sold by a dealership, so that’s all I can tell you.
We only get this one photo of the inside, but it’s encouraging. It has nice suede-looking bucket seats that could use a vacuuming, but don’t look damaged. The wall of text in the ad is a little hard to sift through, but it seems to indicate that the air conditioning works, and the stereo has Bluetooth. Hey, that’s better than a lot of the clunkers we look at here.
The Juke’s styling is weird, but the NISMO version is a perfect example of why the black plastic cladding trend needs to die. On the standard Juke, those flares over the fenders are black, and it looks cartoonish. This one, with body-color flares, looks a lot better. It’s still bug-eyed, and the taillights still remind me of Cylon Raiders, but it’s kind of charming. This one is in good condition, but it could use a wash and wax.
2013 Fiat 500 Sport Turbo – $4,700
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.4-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Piedmont, CA
Odometer reading: 118,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Revival models of beloved classic designs often fall short of the mark: Volkswagen’s New Beetle, and now the ID.Buzz van, are way more complicated and fussy than the simple, carefree originals, and a lot of the new Minis are anything but. But Fiat’s revival of the 500 stays pretty true to the spirit of the original. It’s bigger, sure, and the engine is at the other end, but it’s still small, cute, inexpensive, efficient, and fun to toss around.
The original 500 was powered by a two-cylinder engine in the back, driving the rear wheels. This one moves the engine to the front, driving the front wheels, in a design that Fiat pioneered in the late 1960s with the 500’s successors. In Europe, a 900 cc two-cylinder engine was offered, but over here, we only got a 1.4 liter four-cylinder, equipped with Fiat’s clever MultiAir variable valve timing system. This one is turbocharged, for a little extra oomph, and has five forward gears and a clutch pedal for you to play with.
Like the Mini, the 500 is fancier than a typical economy car inside. It has power windows, heated seats, air conditioning, and a big stereo. It’s in good condition, except for the bolster on the driver’s seat, where some of the bonded leather is coming apart.
It’s in really nice shape outside, and has been well cared-for. There are a couple of bumper stickers that you may or may not want to remove; I don’t understand why the seller didn’t remove them before putting it up for sale. I have applied my fair share of bumper stickers over the years, but peeling them off has always been part of the de-personalization of a car before sale.
I’ve always admired these upper-trim versions of economy cars; I just never seem to buy one. I gravitate towards the simpler base models. But these two look like a lot more fun, and the interiors look like a lot more pleasant places to be. And the extra power from the turbo engines is a nice little bonus. Which one would you choose?
I voted Fiat until I realized it wasn’t an Abarth. I’d take an Abarth over either of these, but the Nismo Juke over the basic 500 Turbo.
when I look for steering wheel and upholstery that nor ABARTH
I’ve driven Jukes and they’re fun and handle well. Feel very natural, they lend instant confidence. On the other hand, the Fiat is the perfect thing to collect a cappuccino at the drive thru window at Starbucks and that seals the deal. In the Juke you’d have to satisfy yourself with one of those ridiculous bubble tea abominations. How can I take you seriously holding a transparent drink glass with a comically oversized straw, swallowing tapioca balls at random intervals? How vile and uncouth. Cappuccino, on the other hand, is a civilized drink for the thinking man who looks you in the eye with dour expression and forthright conviction and tells you how positively silly you look chewing tapioca balls.
Do yourself a favor, get the Abarth.
Abarth is better than Ferrari Dino.
Didn’t read a word today, just scrolled to the poll and voted for the Fiat.
No way in hell I’m voting for a Juke in any circumstance in which a vote for it is a good thing.
Legendary British Heavy Metal band Judas Priest. Turbo is not quite Screaming for Vengeance but it’s still good and Turbo Lover is a great song! Somehow I convinced my wife to go see Priest with me this fall.
Oh yeah, the Fiat, but the Juke is pretty ok too!
I’ve never driven a Juke, but I did get the manual 900cc Fiat as a rental when we stayed on the Amalfi Coast. Since you can’t really drive all that fast on the one coastal highway, it was a hoot on the curves in the hills to go….anywhere. The Turbo 1.4 would likley be a blast.
I generally like bigger vehicles, but I heartily recommend a manual Fiat….when it works, its fun.
Also, Turbo Lover is the worst song on that album. The live version kicks ass, though.
Song, song, dong when you do autostrada 200 km/h by abarth.
I saw that tour. Priest made that as a pop album for sure. Nothing wrong with making something mainstream, sometimes you do it without realizing. Wow! What a good single! Oof, I am sure Ac/Dc has had the same criticism. Or Metallica. Kill Em All was the best. Or the black album, boy that was a good show, better than the Roll the Bones Rush tour the same year in the same seats in Worcester. Anyways, Juke for the win, as it’s got a backseat for my dog and room for my toolbag and Veto bag in the back. The wife’s Highlander does all the limited family stuff these days, although we do miss the old Sienna.
I’ll take the Juke as it’s a cool performance hatch where I can reserve the tiny back seat for my dog, and the hatch space can take my tool bag and laptop Veto bag. Smaller than my SportWagen, but the 500 would be too small
I like my Fiat 500s basic, so what the heck I will vote Juke
My first car Fiat 500 rear engine 600cc, what a fan in 1970.
I like odd vehicles (a Vehicross is one of my dream cars) so I’ll take the Juke. I like 500s too but I’d rather pay extra for an Abarth.
I’ve always had an irrational disdain for the Juke in every form, so the Fiat wins by default.
I think the NISMO Juke is the better vehicle… so it gets my vote even if it doesn’t look quite as good.