New Nissan Juke: first images of the 2026 electric generation

It was almost a year ago, in March last year, that Nissan revealed what could become the next-generation Juke - the Japanese crossover that effectively defined the segment when it arrived on the market in 2010.

Now, 15 years on, the Juke is getting ready for its third generation. Due to reach the market in 2026, testing prototypes have already been “spotted” and, despite their camouflage, appear to be at a very advanced stage of development.

The upcoming model will take inspiration from the Hyper Punk concept, unveiled at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show. That show car stood out for its radical styling, shaped by angular forms and polygonal surfaces.

What can we see?

Although the disguise is heavy, several of the most important exterior changes can be made out. The front end seemingly moves away from the rounded shapes that defined the first two generations, replacing them with flatter panels and more pronounced creases.

As on every Juke since the original model, the lighting is arranged over two levels. A slimmer light signature sits at the top, echoing the brand’s latest design language.

From the side, the model still appears to retain compact dimensions, but its proportions suggest a higher waistline. Flush-fitting door handles are also visible on both the front and rear doors.

The new Juke’s rear section also looks straighter and flatter, with more angular rear lights and what appears to be a larger tailgate.

Exclusively electric

While the third-generation Nissan Juke appears, broadly speaking, to remain faithful to its identity, its biggest change will sit beneath the bodywork, out of sight. For the first time, the Juke will be 100% electric, taking its place alongside the new Leaf and Micra.

Contrary to expectations, it is not expected to use the new Micra’s AmpR Small platform. Instead, it will share the AmpR Medium architecture with the new Leaf. If confirmed, the Japanese crossover could use the same 52 kWh battery, which gives the Leaf a claimed combined WLTP range of up to 445 km.

Its electric motor could be shared too, producing 130 kW (177 hp) and 345 Nm. However, it may also be offered with the electric powertrains used by the Renault 4 and 5, with outputs ranging from 70 kW (95 hp) to 110 kW (150 hp).

Second generation will remain on sale

Where the launch of a new generation once usually marked the end of its predecessor, electrification has made it the “new normal” for the outgoing generation to remain on sale alongside the replacement.

The reason is easy to understand. The industry’s sales expectations for electrification have fallen well short of forecasts and, in order to maintain sales volumes, Nissan will continue selling the current combustion-engined generation alongside the new, exclusively electric model.

We may still know little about the third-generation Nissan Juke, but its 2026 arrival is already confirmed. Production will remain at Nissan’s Sunderland factory in the United Kingdom, which also builds the Leaf.