The last couple of years have been all about the boxy vehicles, but now we are starting to see them morph in to Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUVs). One such vehicle is the recently revealed 2011 Nissan Juke. The Juke (yes, we couldn’t resist the jukebox reference) is kind of like a beefy version of the Kia Soul with an organic twist. However, it isn’t just the exterior that could make the Juke popular among the college scene. All I have to say is: All-wheel drive.

Sure the Juke has some interesting and, frankly, unusual design cues, but its functionality is what will really sell the vehicle among college crowds. For those who live near ski areas or that like to take off-road excursions, the Juke might just be a little piece of heaven on earth with its torque-vectoring ALL-Mode 4x4-i system. Sounds techy and complicated, right? Really all you need to know is that the system is capable of having half the engine power go to the front and half go to the rear wheels. Even better, it can also move it from side-to-side. You can imagine this would be excellent for winter driving for those in school on the east coast, northern central states and the Rocky Mountains.

The price and engine details are still a little fuzzy for the U.S. market, but the vehicle is expected to make its North American debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Once the Juke hits “The Big Apple” more details should be available. If you are looking for the European specification details to gauge what might be coming stateside, then check out the article over at our partner site, AllSmallCars.com. While you are waiting for the Juke, you could always go Rogue—or at least check out the vehicle from Nissan.

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