When we first tested the Nissan Pulsar, we found it to be a safe and very practical hatchback,
but it’s fair to say it was missing the fun factor. Nissan had been away building
crossovers for some time, and when it returned to the family hatch arena, it failed to bring
a sporty version to the table. Well, now it has. With a 187bhp petrol engine,
the Pulsar DIG-T might not rival the likes of the Golf GTI, but it’s performance puts
it in contention with warm models like the Kia Cee’d GT, Peugeot 308 GT and Hyundai
i30 Turbo, while giving it a power advantage over the Leon FR 1.4 TSI.
So, what’s it like? Well, despite its fairly impressive power figures, it all comes from
a small 1.6-litre turbo petrol. In reality, that means it doesn’t feel really quick
at low revs, so despite slightly shorter gearing, you’ll need to hold on until the turbo comes
to life. When it does, the Pulsar can get to 62mph in 7.7 seconds, which is quite impressive,
even if it never feels quite this quick in reality.
Perhaps this is partly because it’s actually quite refined. This is no ‘boy racer’
‘go faster’ edition, instead, it’s a sensible car which offers an extra surge of
power when you need it. And, that should suit drivers who often use fast A-Roads and need
to perform the odd overtake, or people who drive on the motorway.
In the same vein, the steering and handling have only been mildly revised and sharpened
up, so while there’s slightly less body roll, it’s not significantly different to
drive to a standard model. We’d stick with the 17-inch wheels if possible though, as
the 18s do firm up the ride somewhat. The Pulsar comes equipped with Active Trace
Control, which can brake the front and rear brakes closest to the apex of a corner to
reduce understeer, but in reality, this feels more like a safety feature than a driver aid
and if it triggers, the Pulsar already feels out of its comfort zone. This is definitely
more of a cruiser than a hot hatch. Economy is respectable, with up to 49.5mpg, although
this drops to 47.9 if you go for the 18-inch wheels.
The DIG-T engine is available in three trim levels; Acenta, N-tec and Tekna, which all
get unique black and silver diamond-cut alloy wheels, redesigned headlights with a black
bezel and chrome projectors and a chrome tailpipe. Inside, there’s this trim which extends
the width of the dash, and the Tekna model gets white stitching on its three-spoke steering
wheel and leather seats. Other than that, there are no badges or sporty
dial packs, like you will find in the 308 or Cee’d GT, and the seats aren’t very
figure hugging. What you do get is lots and lots of space.
The Pulsar is actually based on the same underpinnings as the Qashqai crossover, and it boasts more
legroom for backseat passengers than any car in the class.
The boot is big too, with 385 litres just beating the Golf for size. We love the Around
View Camera, with its superb bird’s eye view of the car and the Pulsar is very safe,
with the full five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing and the option of automatic braking
to help avoid low-speed accidents. The Pulsar with the DIG-T engine is around
£2k more than the 1.2-litre, which is the only other petrol engine in the range, so
it starts from £19,645. We’re driving the top-of-the-range Tekna, costing from £22,645.
The entry-level Cee’d GT comes in at £20,705, while the petrol 308 GT is more expensive
at £24,095. While the Pulsar now has an engine with more
power, performance fans will still be waiting for a more hardcore hot hatch version. If
you’re after a fun, small Nissan, the Juke Nismo is far more entertaining.
But, the Pulsar is a spacious, safe family car, and if you just want a model which has
some grunt in reserve when you need it, the DIG-T could fit the bill.
So does the Nissan Pulsar hit the right notes, or fall flat? Let us know in the comments
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