Pulsar packs in plenty
FOR a number of reasons, the Nissan Pulsar is one of the top cars in the family hatch class.
I know that’s a big claim, but I stand by it.
The cabin is big for a start, with room for five adults and plenty of rear legroom. Only one car beats this space and that’s the Skoda Octavia.
The handling and road holding are excellent, although I would like a little more feel from the steering, and the quality of ride is as good as the all-conquering Golf .
The range of engines is limited, but it does have one to suit just about everyone, with two turbo petrols and a good 1.5 diesel.
And Nissan claims it’s the best equipped car in the class.
I recently drove the most powerful offering, a 1.6 turbo petrol with no less than 187bhp and enough acceleration to bring up 62mph from rest in under eight seconds.
That puts it firmly in warm hatch territory and helps make it a hoot to drive.
And it also looks to be better value than the similar topselling Ford Focus with 1.5 turbo petrol power.
The engine is sweet and willing, spinning towards the red line effortlessly and the power delivery is a delight.
The boot is a good size, although there’s quite a high lip to lift things over and, of course, it also has split-fold rear seats to make more space.
Nissan’s claim that it is one of the best equipped cars in the class could well be true, looking at the kit on offer.
I drove the mid-range Acenta, which costs £17,860, and it comes with cruise control, electric heated mirrors, all-round electric windows, stop-start, remote audio controls on the wheel and 16-inch alloys.
The Pulsar seems to have slipped under the radar for many people, but a car with such a wide range of excellent abilities and big interior space should be a top seller.