First look video: 2011 Nissan Juke - Does it hold up to the advertising dazzle?

When I picked up my son the other day from school, we walked out to the parking lot and I asked him to try and find the car we were going to drive on our errands. He's used to me driving a different car everyday, but I knew this one would make him smile.

So he's scanning the parking lot and trying to guess. After a few tries, he spots an electric blue hatchback. "Is it that one?" he said. And as we got closer, his eyes grew wide. Then he said, "You brought home the Nissan Juke! My friends and I think this car is awesome."

I know it won't last, but Dad was cool for at least five minutes.

While we don't watch a lot of TV in my house, my son and I do occasionally watch some sporting events, and Juke commercials have been regularly showing up. Aside from the fact that the guy driving the car in the commercial saves the day by delivering donuts to the meeting (donuts: another tasty marketing detail not lost on my son), he also shows off the car's many electronic gizmos.

One feature my son was dying to see in action was the Integrated Control (I-CON) system. And after what he saw in the commercial, he wanted me to immediately push the "Sport" button in the D-Mode, one of three different throttle/transmission/steering response settings. And he didn't grow tired of watching the "boost" ring in the display light up while he felt the push of the turbo in his back. He didn't even want me to bother with the "Eco" mode.

For my son, the car lived up to the hype—even if we didn't buy any donuts.

But as far as CR is concerned, well, we're not as easily dazzled. We're accumulating miles on our Juke; We bought an AWD, mid-level SV model, priced at $23,300. So far, we're vexed by it: Is it a sports car, subcompact hatchback, SUV? All of the above? None of the above?

Check out our first look video and stay tuned for more updates.

— Mike Quincy