2011 Nissan Juke 1.6L Petrol · ML61 AAO

The 1.6-litre petrol Juke typically returns 35–42 mpg in mixed driving, with insurance usually falling into group 12–15 depending on trim, and road tax of around £170–£210 per year for a 2011 petrol of this engine size (band G–H under the post-2017 system, or the older £220–£300 pre-2017 rates that may still apply depending on how the vehicle is taxed). Typical maintenance is modest: a minor service is in the £120–£180 region and major items such as front brake pads and discs sit around £200–£300 fitted. The suspension ball joint and lower arm work that this car appears to need will add £250–£450 on top if you have to do it soon after purchase.

Allow roughly £800–£1,100 per year in steady running costs for an older 1.6 Juke, but plan a one-off £400–£600 in the first six months if you intend to address the advisories raised at the most recent test. Fuel will be the largest line item; insurance depends heavily on your postcode, age and driving history. If the engine is the turbocharged DIG-T variant, expect a small mpg penalty and slightly higher insurance group, so verify before committing.

Start with the front suspension: with the car on a ramp or with the wheels unloaded, check both lower arm ball joints for play, paying particular attention to the offside because the July 2025 failure recorded it as 'excessively worn' and the advisory record suggests the nearside is also progressing. Listen for clonks over speed bumps and check the bushes — the 2026 advisory also flagged a worn pin or bush on the offside front arm. Tyres are the other priority; the 2025 failure included a structurally torn nearside rear tyre, and the offside rear was cracking, so inspect all four tyres for age (DOT date code), tread depth and sidewall damage, and budget for a fresh set if any are over five years old.

Then move to the brakes, which are the model's second most common MOT failure area. Check front pad and disc thickness, and on the rear verify the drums or discs for wear and the handbrake mechanism for seizure — Jukes are known for rear brake issues, particularly on higher-mileage examples. Finally, do the usual checks for a 14–15-year-old car: coolant and oil condition, condition of the exhaust and undertray, presence of any warning lights on a cold start, and a thorough test drive covering town, A-road and motorway to surface any drivetrain or turbo noises if it is the DIG-T variant.