WHEN Nissan's striking supermini/crossover Juke was first launched, it was a bit like the Tardis in reverse, looking alot bigger outside than it actually was inside.

With its high waistline, lights set into the bonnet, distinctive wedge shape and high ground clearance, it was a prime example of new phenomenon of compact crossover/SUV.

Ten years later, and after a £100,000 investment at its Sunderland plant, the new Juke, launched at the back end of last year, represents a quantum leap forward in terms of technology and connectivity, if not a massive change in the daring, ground breaking original stying. It is no longer the Tardis in reverse, with increased dimensions.

The latest model comes with upgraded design, all new chassis, new three cylinder petrol engine, mated, in this case, to a seven speed dual-clutch transmission and excellent handling performance.

It also features NissanConnect, an eight-inch touch screen monitor with in-car WiFi hotspot and voice recognition. Also available for the first time in the Juke is Nissan's ProPILOT technology, which offers electronically assisted steering, acceleration and braking.

A bit like the Honda Civic, Nissan took a bold step with the Juke. It took the off-the-wall design, ran with it and it appears to be paying off, selling 1.5 million models worldwide.

The new car retains design features including the signature circular headlamps, whichnow feature a Y-shaped LED signature anddeeper, almost V-shaped grille which complements the new slim headlight clusters.

It certainly looks the part, with this model offering two tone paintwork of black with red. All grades have good equipment levels, with this near-range topper offering D-shaped multi-function steering wheel, ambient lighting, heated front and rear windscreen, climate control and voice recognition as well as smartphone connectivity.

In addition there are smart 19-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and rear spoiler and reversing camera.

With its wedge-shape and sporty stance, it looks like a boy racer's dream, but in reality, in terms of red-hot performance, it's a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing.

The powertrain is a 115bhp turbo-charged, three-pot petrol engine, which although responsive, hitting 60mph in around 10.5 seconds, is more designed for economy. Official figures of 44mpg and CO2 emissions of 116g/km means it's pretty economical to run, tax and insure.

The seven-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is slick enough, but the stop/start did cause a few problems, being hesitant and then leaping forward if the throttle was pressed too hard.

Having said that, if you want a sportier drive "D-Mode" allows drivers to switch between Standard, Eco and Sport - to adjust the response of the car depending on the road or the driver's mood.

What it lacks in outright pace is mitigated by excellent handling with a combination of new chassis and agile suspension, plus excellent grip from the large tyres delivering an excellent driving experience.

Inside, the Juke now has an executive feel rarely seen in a car this size, with better rear head and legroom and an increase in boot space of 20 per cent which also features interchangeable shelves and adjustable luggage board.

Soft touch materials abound to dash doors and general trim and this model features leather uphoolstery.

A clever move is the front seats on selected grades incorporating Bose Personal Plus audio system, which delivers a high-quality 360 degree sound experience.

This, along with other major functions can be controlled via the infotainment screen. This controls sound, navigation and connectivity via the Nissan Connect Services., while a seven-inch TFT screen delivers on the go driving information.

The safety features include emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, speed assist, traffic sign recognition, lane assist, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning as well as blind spot warning. This is in addition to full set of airbags and stability and traction control.