THE chunky, cheeky Nissan Juke broke the mould when it came out back in 2010.

Upright, miniscule and designed with a liberal dose of wackyness, it wasn't everyone's glass of sake but it was a big commercial hit nevertheless and lasted a decade - good going for a novel design..

Now the second generation model is with us and its styling is less radical and its audience is more receptive to small five-door SUVs.

What's more, there's a new automatic with a slick dual clutch transmission replacing the ponderous CVT box of the old model. Particularly appealing in a car that will be popular with city drivers.

There's a single engine option - a 1.0-litre, three cylinder that knocks out a respectable 115bhp. It might sound a tad on the small size.

Now built on the Clio platform - Renault is a Nissan partner - it has more cabin room and much better boot space, vanquishing a previous bugbear.

With diesel power now being absent from the line-up, it falls on the little three-cylinder to satisfy buyers. It's largely good news because the engine is willing and eager to please and has enough shove for most.

With the 60mph dash coming up in 11 seconds, it doesn't get left behind too often and there's sufficient torque to mean the automatic box isn't hunting for a lower ratio very often. On the fuel front, it's the equal of most rivals with an average of the mid-40s in our hands.

The interior has been treated to a full makeover with a noticeable improvement in the quality of materials and general comfort without a lessening in style or quirkiness.

The steering wheel now adjusts for reach as well as for height, making it easier to find the right driving position. As with most new models, the infortainment screen and sat nav is placed centrally popping out of the dash.

The 8-inch screen, standard in the Tekna and above, includes AppleCarplay, Android Auto and built-in sat nav. The Tekna +, driven here, also gets impressive Bose sound. Glossy black plastic abounds and turbine-likeair vents look great.

Leg and headroom in the front is generous and much improved in the rear, but headroom in the back remains somewhat restricted. The boot has variable levels and if placed in the higher position, the rear rear seats can be folded down without a step in the floor.

With a higher than average driving position (even by crossover standards), the Juke offers good visibility and is, in fact, light and easy to drive with pleasantly weighted steering.

The wheel-at-each corner design aids sharp handling and roadholding that won't disappoint. Like most rivals in this class, the Juke is front wheel drive. There is now no option of a four-wheel-drive in the line-up.