NOW I have to confess that I was not a big fan of the original Nissan Duke – mainly because of its striking ‘marmite’ looks.

However, I was clearly not in the majority as they sold in great numbers here in the UK and the model was a big hit for Nissan.

Fast forward to the latest version where Nissan has toned down those quirky looks and greatly improved their mini SUV all round.

This second-generation model has a smarter interior, bigger boot and better engines – a 1.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre self-charging petrol hybrid. The 112bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol (badged DIG-T 114) takes 11 seconds to get from 0-60mph while the hybrid has a 141bhp 1.6-litre unit linked to an electric motor meaning a faster 0 to 60 time and the option of EV only motoring at lower speeds.

The hybrid also has regen braking with an e-Pedal button making stop-start driving less work and recovering power to the battery giving the Juke an impressive mpg figure of over 58.

The new Juke Hybrid also has firmer suspension and a raised driving position plus our range topping test car, the HEV 143 N-Sport, came with loads of kit for the £32k price tag including adaptive cruise control, sat nav, rear view camera system, wireless phone charging a raft of safety systems and a seven-speed auto gearbox.

It also boasted optional super bright special order Iconic Yellow paintwork which meant getting noticed on the road wherever you went and strangely was near identical to the yellow used on a £300k Maserati MC20 I was also testing that week. However, that was where the similarities ended and I have to say it was also a lot easier to get in and out of than the Italian supercar.

Getting comfy behind the wheel of the Juke is much easier than in earlier versions as the steering now has adjustment for reach as well as height and the sports seats provide plenty of side support to hold you firmly in place.

Another plus is that you get physical controls for the air conditioning on all versions and the Duke also has a big 12.3in digital driver’s display as well as the large central infotainment touch screen. The system is a big improvement on previous versions with sharper, more modern graphics.

The interior is an area where the Juke has improved greatly too compared with the original model. It feels plush, especially in the Tekna+ and N Sport trims, which have suede-like Alcantara material on lots of surfaces. No matter which version you go for, the Juke feels better built inside than some rivals with quality interior materials and finish.

There’s also plenty of space for tall people in the front thanks to ample head room and seats that slide a long way back. Rear space is also good for a small SUV with extra leg room over the original model.

The range starts with the N-Connecta rising through Acenta Premium N-Sport and Tekna+ versions with prices from £21k to £31k.

For more information see www.nissan.co.uk

By Motoring Editor Steve Howarth