A DECADE on from its original launch and the Nissan Juke continues to split opinion like no other popular model.

Love it or loathe it - and 1.5 million sales since 2010 confirm it as a runaway fans' favourite - the Juke has a style that sets it apart from everything else on the compact crossover scene.

And there's been no resting on laurels for the big guns at the Japanese brand, as the latest Juke is not only more spacious than before but also has the most advanced infotainment system ever fitted to a Nissan.

Not much has changed with the Juke's design though you do now get LED headlamps. It's still a bit like a car of two halves - the lower part very SUV with chunky wheels, wide tyres, extended ground clearance and rugged stance.

But the top half is pure sports car with its high waistline, slim visor-like side glass graphics and a coupe-like descending roofline.

That coupe effect is also underpinned by rear doors that have their handles hidden in the frame of the door - effective if hardly a new innovation.

Choosing the right engine, however, has become a lot simpler because there's only one, a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit producing 117PS and 180Nm of torque.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifts is also available for the first time and operated seamlessly on our tested Tekna trim model.

There's ample punch from the three-cylinder engine in a car that feels both spirited and stable to drive with terrific dynamics and favourable fuel economy.

In fact we were even able to outperform the official consumption figure, returning an average 48 miles to the gallon compared to the advertised 45.6mpg.

You also get something called a D-Mode switch enabling drivers to flick between the three modes of Standard, Eco and Sport, the latter appreciably sharpening the Juke's throttle and steering responses.

Another benefit of that Tekna spec - one level down from top of the five grades - is the potential to specify two-tone trim, in this case a simmering Pearl Black with Fuji Sunset Red roof.

It's an extra cost option though and, along with red mirrors and shark fin antenna, adds £975 to the tab.

Inside, there's the same futuristic cockpit feel as before but with the bonus of better passenger space courtesy of the car's wheelbase being four inches longer.

Significantly there's an extra two inches of legroom in the rear and luggage capacity is up by a fifth, aided by a movable boot floor.

As for tech, the new Juke is fully smartphone compatible, can access Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and has full internet connectivity with in-car WiFi, while safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and blind spot intervention.