Does the Toyota Yaris Cross finally have some competition? 2022 Nissan Juke Hybrid revealed as frugal and funky light SUV

Nissan has revealed a hybrid version of its Juke small SUV for overseas markets, though its inclusion in the brand’s Australian line-up is still unclear.

Differentiating itself from its chief Toyota Yaris Cross rival, the Juke Hybrid pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and high-voltage starter/generator to produce 104kW.

Driving the front wheels, the Hybrid variant is 20kW more potent than the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine found in the standard car.

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However, torque figures have yet to be revealed for the Hybrid, meaning it is still unclear if it betters the current car’s 180Nm output.

Being a member of an automotive alliance, Nissan has borrowed from its partners to produce the engine, with the starter/generator, inverter, 1.2kWh water-cooled battery and gearbox all coming from Renault.

Speaking of, the Juke Hybrid is fitted with an “advanced low-friction multi-modal gearbox” that eschews conventional synchroniser rings for dog clutches.

Nissan is touting four gears for the internal-combustion engine and two gears for electric power, with the Juke Hybrid starting up in EV mode every time and able to achieve a speed of 55km/h without emitting any tailpipe emissions.

“The gearbox is controlled by an advanced algorithm, managing shift points, battery regeneration, as well as the advanced series-parallel architecture,” Nissan said in the release.

“The powertrain can navigate through different hybridisation type possible (series, parallel, series-parallel) according to acceleration and power requirements seamlessly and without any driver input.”

Of course, features like regenerative braking and Nissan’s e-Pedal one-pedal driving system are included to maximise energy recuperation, allowing a fuel consumption average of 4.4 litres per 100km – an improvement on the current Juke’s 5.8L/100km figure.

From the outside, only diehard Juke fans will be able to spot the differences between the Hybrid and petrol-powered models, but changes include ‘Hybrid’ badges applied to the front doors and tailgate, a unique brand logo up front, an aerodynamically optimised front grille with an upper gloss-black strip.

The wheels also measure 17 inches and feature a new design, though they will also be available to the rest of the Juke line-up.

Inside, the instrumentation has been updated with a power gauge to reflect the electrified powertrain, while boot space is reduced to 354 litres (down 68L) due to the fitment of the 1.2kWh battery.

The Juke Hybrid will go on sale in international markets later this year, and CarsGuide has contacted Nissan Australia to determine its chances for local showrooms.