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IMAGE takes the new Nissan Juke Hybrid for a Sunday Spin
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Join IMAGE staffers Simone Kennedy and Soraiya Ryan as they take the new Nissan Juke Hybrid for a spin around Dublin city, sharing their perfect Sunday of yoga, vintage shopping and brunch.
PHOTOGRAPHY Melanie Mullan
Living in Dublin 15, one of the highlights for me of any trip into town is the route I take through the Phoenix Park to get there. On a chilly winter morning, with the grass glittering in frost, a drive through the park really lifts your spirits.
This time, the experience was elevated even more, as I was driving the new Nissan Juke Hybrid; it was my first time driving a hybrid car and from the moment I turned it on I was struck by how remarkably quiet and smooth it was. It was so easy to drive; helped by the innovative and smart gearbox, it drives like an automatic car. No clutch is required, and it can switch between driving modes to match your driving conditions…. leaving you to drive in great comfort.
Combined with the car’s high-riding seating position, it made me feel like I was gliding, with the added feel-good factor that the fuel-efficient hybrid model reduces the car’s environmental footprint.
Picking Soraiya up from Portobello, she commented on how eye-catching the sleek and sculpted new model exterior was coming around the corner. This slick exterior is matched by the smart interior and sporty yet comfy seats. The interior lighting set the mood as we drove around and, with great connected technology onboard, it was really easy to connect my phone to the hands-free system.
Our first stop was at Little Bird yoga studio and café, for a Slow Gentle Flow class. This is such a great spot for all yoga and food lovers, offering freshly made, and super tasty, vegetarian and vegan dishes, great coffee and home-made sweet treats in a really welcoming setting. Opened eight years ago by former architect and passionate sustainability champion Eileen Fitzpatrick, the place has gone from strength to strength. The new all-weather cover makes a great addition to the outdoor terrace, as pretty as a picture no matter what the weather.
Parking around the narrow yet picturesque streets of Portobello, however, can be challenging but with the Nissan Juke’s 360-degree camera system providing a bird’s-eye view of the car, parallel parking is a dream.
Next up, we made our way over to Francis Street to stock up on lush greenery from Hopeless Botanics, a gorgeous plant shop owned and run by Erin Thomas. From floor-to-ceiling jungle ferns to petit cacti, they have it all.
Followed by a stroll up the street to Aideen McHenry’s Ruby Ruby designer consignment store, where I was so excited to find the most amazing pair of butter-soft black leather Balenciaga wedges in my size (a teeny three), never easy to find.
Suitably stocked, we were able to fit all our bags, including plants, into the Juke’s extended boot space (at 422 litres, it’s considerably larger than the previous model). But we couldn’t leave the area without a final coffee stop in the achingly cool Two Pups Café, where we shared a plate of their decadent Nut Butter Toast.
Navigating the cobbled streets of Dublin 8, and the city throng, couldn’t have been easier and more fun thanks to the Nissan Juke’s compact size and smooth automatic driving experience, which made fitting into tight parking spaces and handling congested traffic (almost) enjoyable!
What you need to know about the Nissan Juke Hybrid
Hybrid technology Thanks to its Hybrid technology the new Nissan Juke offers a superior driving experience of quiet and comfort, improved fuel consumption, power and efficiency.
Innovative e-Pedal E-Pedal is a technology unique to Nissan, which means you can drive the car using a single pedal, so you can actively accelerate and decelerate through the accelerator pedal. Once you decelerate, the regenerative braking kicks in to charge the electric motor.
Agile Performance The new Nissan Juke offers up to 80% of your urban journey time driving in electric drive mode but without the need to charge, you get maximum efficiency and responsiveness.
Statement Style Just some of the statement style features of the Nissan Juke Hybrid include 19-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather seats, ambient lighting, sharkfin antenna, privacy glass, rear spoiler, iKey, 8-inch touch screen, 360-degree around view monitor, LED lights and more.
Engine and Power 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 36kW electric motor developing 143hp and 148Nm (engine) and 205Nm (electric) of torque, driving a six-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive.
Visit nissan.ie for more information on the new Nissan Juke Hybrid. Want to try it out for yourself? Click HERE to book your test drive today.
Simone and Soraiya wear gym gear by Irish brand New Dimensions.
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