2013 Nissan Juke NISMO grabs all the Q-ship cred

If the old Family Feud ever staged an episode for auto enthusiasts only and asked what kind of car a random 100 gearheads most want to see built, the best answer would be "affordable all-wheel-drive sports car." And suddenly, there's a new one: the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO, a less-threatening, more socially acceptable version of the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO that once enthralled us all. Yet I bet that most gearheads won't — or can't — look much past the hood.

Nissan sold about 36,358 Jukes last year, an underwhelming number compared to the 115,778 Kia Souls that hit American streets in 2012. To many, the Juke's simply too weird to consider, with a front end that looks like a half-folded Bakugan. It's not a bad car mechanically, and unlike the Versa and the Soul doesn't punish its budget buyers with a cheap-feeling interior.