Nissan Maxima 2012 $40,705

Every now and again, an automobile company will create something never before seen, taking the risk that their invention will go down in history as either a modern classic or an utter disaster. It takes guts to build a car like the 2012 Nissan Juke, a radical little crossover that is part CUV, part sports car and part ultramodern rolling art. Actually, creating a radical-looking car isn't all that hard. But, making one that is also highly functional, fast and affordable, well that's a really neat trick. The 5-door Nissan Juke has all the attributes of small wagon, with a big rear hatch, folding rear seats and level cargo floor. But, the 2012 Nissan Juke also has a turbocharged engine with variable throttle settings and an enthusiast-oriented sport suspension that allows it to behave far more radically than a Honda CR-V or Hyundai Tucson. Filled with cool visual design elements, the Juke definitely has a youthful audience as its target market, but as Nissan has learned from the Juke's unexpectedly brisk sales, people of all ages who appreciate clever design are drawn to this car. With prices ranging from around $20,000 to $27,000 fully loaded, the 2012 Nissan Juke fits easily into most budgets, which makes it even easier to fit one into most driveways. You'll Like This Car If... If you're looking for a vehicle that performs like a racy little coupe, can tackle snow and dirt trails when asked and starts around $20K, the 2012 Nissan Juke CUV has you covered. The Juke's off-beat good looks and long list of electronic audio and communications options should help seal the deal. You May Not Like This Car If... Beyond its unconventional styling, the 2012 Nissan Juke crossover may not hold much appeal to those who require a big back seat and copious cargo space. If you want something stylish, fuel efficient and roomy, the Kia Sportage makes an excellent alternative, as does the MINI Cooper Countryman. KBB Expert Ratings Overall Rating 7.5 Driving Dynamics 7.0 Comfort Convenience 6.8 Design: Interior Exterior 7.6 Value 7.0 Safety 8.0 How It Ranks #1 out of 7 MPG #1 out of 7 Horsepower View all rankings Consumer Rating 8.3 out of 10 View all consumer ratings What's New for 2012 Fresh from its debut last year, Nissan has made no changes to the 2012 Juke crossover. Driving the JUKE Driving Impressions Drawing its highly regarded B-platform that spawned the Cube Wagon and LEAF electric vehicle, Nissan once again makes the most of its engineering ingenuity by delivering a compact crossover that... performs like a low-slung pocket rocket. The 2012 Nissan Juke crossover's taut suspension is adept in minimizing body roll and lean, with only a minimal trade-off in the areas of ride comfort. The electric assist power steering feels pretty spot on, although we'd still prefer a hydraulic setup in a car like this. The Juke's big standard wheels and tires combined with its wide front and rear track also aid in stability, but those same tires do create a fair bit of road noise, which is too easily transmitted into the Juke's cabin area. When equipped with Nissan's 'intelligent' all-wheel-drive package, the Juke gains a torque-vectoring setup and a CVT transmission usually found only in much more expensive vehicles. The system is able to route power front to rear as well as side to side at the rear axle. AWD Jukes also ditch the base car's torsion beam rear axle in favor of more desirable independent rear suspension. The Nissan Juke's raised driving position, oversized side mirrors and good driver sightlines make it easy to maneuver in all but the tightest confines, while the impressive list of standard safety and stability-control programs add an extra piece of mind. Favorite Features I-CON (Advanced-Integrated Control) system interface Standard on the Juke SV and SL, Nissan's slick I-CON interface/display toggles between 'Climate' and 'D-mode,' each with its own specific graphics. In the former, I-CON commands all heat/air functions while the latter

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