Nissan Juke crossover priced from £12,795

Nissan has announced that prices for its new Juke model, which it describes as a "compact SUV meets sports car" product, will start at a keen £12,795. The range will extend to just shy of £20,000 for the top model fitted with the most luxurious Tekna trim, continuously variable automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. Three engines will be available - a 1.5 litre diesel and a pair of 1.6 litre petrol power units, one of which is turbocharged and delivers an impressive 190 horsepower.

In Europe and the UK, Nissan has moved away somewhat from producing cars for mainstream categories where the competition from other major manufacturers is intense, in favour of a niche strategy, an approach which has been especially successful in the case of the Qashqai, a Golf-sized SUV/people carrier cross with optional four-wheel drive.

The Juke is perhaps best understood as an attempt to "do a Qashqai" in the next size category down. Although the very purpose of producing these niche models is to carve out lucrative pockets of market territory that have not yet been invaded by the competition, among existing products, the new car is perhaps closest in concept to to Kia's Soul, the Korean manufacturer's first attempt at a "cool" car designed to sell overtly on style.

Nissan's UK plant at Sunderland has been central to the production of the company's crossovers, and the Juke joins the Qashqai on the production lines there – although all-wheel drive versions will be imported from Japan. The new car goes on sale in September but order books will be open from June.