Sabrina expands her horizons to include the trendsetting yet quirky-looking Juke

For many years now, automakers have been trying to attract women to buy cars. They do this by expanding their product offers and developing their designs, those range between bulbous greenhouses and colour variations.

With this in mind, car models like the Juke come to make a little more sense. Love it or hate it, there is no denying its ability to turn heads. Up front, the grille hints of the larger Murano. At the back, Nissan looked to its sporty 370Z as inspiration for the Juke's taillights.

Seen here in Sunlight Yellow, the fun-loving Juke automatically stands out from its more restrained siblings - the Qashqai and the X-Trail. Its compact dimensions make it a good town car, and is generally competent on highways and small roads.

The interior of the Juke is almost as striking as the outside, thanks to its 'floating' instrument panel and a centre console that resembles a motorbike's fuel tank. However, the effect is rather undermined by the fact its all made from hard plastics.

Powered by a 1.6-litre engine, the Juke feels brisk on the move, particularly in Sport mode. Available here only in front-wheel drive, its 158Nm of torque is more than enough to make daily commutes in and around town effortless. Compared to the four-wheel drive X-Trail, the Juke runs more economically with a fuel consumption of 15.9km/L as compared to 13.3km/L.

Priced at $116,300 (as of 14^th November 2016), it is slightly cheaper than the Qashqai. And though it may have less boot capacity and headroom as compared to the two, it does have plenty of space in the front to store bits and bobs in the dashboard and doors.

Compared to the Qashqai and X-Trail, the Juke is most definitely an acquired taste but you'll stand out like little else on the road.

There's no such notion as a perfect 'compact-urban family utility vehicle', but Nigel reckons this Qashqai comes close

There's no use fighting the compact-urban family utility vehicle resurgence anymore. Every road you take and any carpark you enter remind you that car buyers aren't so fond of sedans of late.

As much as many of us absolutely abhor this 'young family with kids' motoring trend, I try and understand why people adore such vehicles, since I'm still fast at heart and furious at mind.

From what research and friends explain, they're easy to get kids in and out of, spacious, easy and comfortable to drive, and great for cargo. Practical - that's what they are.

In my opinion, practical motoring in Singapore involves cars that are fuel economical, can host a family of five and fit some Ikea cargo, easy to drive and more particularly, easy to park.

The Juke is easy to drive, easy to park and sports quite an interesting design, which is a bonus. But, the Qashqai soaks up bumps and potholes more readily, and it's the quieter car. The Qashqai is also more practical because it's got more space - seating and cargo - and has a more matured and upmarket cabin. It isn't designed as funkily as the Juke but, heck, that won't be a problem.

How about the X-Trail then? If you consider the corresponding 2.0-litre variants, the Qashqai is the quicker car, taking just 10.1 seconds to complete the century sprint. This is because, the Qashqai's power is sent to its front tyres, while the X-Trail's goes to four. This means the X-Trail's fuel consumption is also higher. I value fuel economy more. Besides, there isn't mud, gravel or mountainous roads in Singapore for an X-Trail's potential to be unleashed. Yes, the X-Trail does have more space in the back but for Asians, seating in the Qashqai is comfortable enough. The X-Trail is larger, tougher to park, not as fuel economical and more expensive to buy.

So, to buyers considering one of these machines, you've heard my advice - go get a Qashqai. Or, put your home up for sale, ditch the wife and just get the new GT-R.

Desmond believes that bigger is better

Is bigger always better? Manufacturers are now offering Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in an increasing range of sizes, aimed at capturing various cross sections of the market. More than ever before, buyers have more choices. And perhaps bigger isn't always better - how else do you explain the recent trend towards 'crossovers'? With roads becoming increasingly crowded, maybe going small is the way forward.

In Nissan's SUV lineup, the X-Trail is certainly the biggest, and it's the one I would have. Two extra seats mean I have greater ferrying capacity. Two extra driven wheels mean full confidence on rainy days. And a 2.0-litre engine under the hood makes for a punchier and easier drive.

When it comes to cars, size often also directly correlates to confidence. The driving position is nice and commanding, and the X-Trail offers great road presence. The car also has some nifty additional features, such as cooled cupholders to keep drinks cold, especially useful given our terribly hot weather.

It may also be tempting to tout the X-Trail's off-road capabilities, but there aren't exactly many 'off-roads' you could drive to in Singapore. However, what the X-Trail does provide is greater flexibility and capability. A bigger trunk and roof rails mean that it's that much more suited for individuals who embrace an outdoor lifestyle - whether it's a weekend spent mountain biking or wakeboarding, the X-Trail is easily suited to such endeavours.  

You know the phrase 'go big or go home'? The X-Trail is the SUV that you can go big, and then go home. So yes, bigger is sometimes just better.