- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
83kW, 140Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 5.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
On the pulse
Pigeonhole: Medium class for the middle classes.
Philosophy: Honey, I shrunk the Maxima.
Who's buying it: Rental fleets, nannas and P-platers with $20,000 to spend. This explains why the average age is 42.
Why you'd buy it: To get the best value, best built, made-in-Japan car for less than $20,000.
Why you wouldn't: The chrome piano-wire grille reminds you of an AU Falcon.
Standard equipment: All the tricks of the trade. Air-conditioning, CD player, remote central locking, power steering and mirrors. No vanity mirror, though.
Safety: Driver's airbag and a body shell that takes in the benefits of six years of technology - it's been that long since an all-new Pulsar was released. It's so new the paint has barely dried so there's no independent crash data yet. Passenger's airbag and anti-lock brakes are only available on the flagship model.
Cabin: A huge leap forward in quality, fit and finish. Clever cubbies and storage compartments abound, including a neat cup holder. Looks good, not a straight line in sight.
Seating: Plush new fabric and broader, more comfortable seats go well in the new, roomier interior. Good adjustment for the driver and excellent leg room for rear passengers.
Engine: The performance of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder has been blunted by the increase in the Pulsar's size and weight but it's still economical. We tested a five-speed manual but it is safe to assume the auto would take its toll on power.
Transmission: Superb shift from the five-speed. No complaints.
Steering: Light but direct. Well weighted, easy to park. Turning circle a respectable 9.2 metres.
Ride: A big leap forward. Supple over bumps and relatively quiet.
Handling: No race car but no embarrassment either. Goes where it's pointed without a fuss. Quality Bridgestone tyres help.
Fuel: Expect a best of 7.4 L/100 km around town and 5.2 on the open road.
Brakes: Despite front discs and rear drums (four-wheel discs are preferred) the brakes felt good and responsive with plenty of bite when pushed hard.
Build: The car sampled had an excellent finish.
Warranty: Three years/100,000km.
Security: At last, an immobiliser is standard.
Audio: Respectable sound from the four-speaker AM/FM CD player but it seems to be biased to rear passengers rather than front seat occupants. It's okay, but it could be better with some minor adjustments.
Cost: The price of the new Pulsar is $19,390 plus on-road costs. The old Pulsar was $18,775 post-GST so, effectively, the price has gone up. Nissan says this is because it is a completely new car and cites unfavourable exchange rates and claims it has nothing to fear from the ACCC. A bit early for deals as it still has that new-car sparkle, but be patient and shop around. There is ample stock.
Verdict: Rarely is one of the cheapest cars in a class - with the most features - the better buy, but Nissan appears to have got it right with the new Pulsar. The old Pulsar set the benchmark balancing value with quality. The new Pulsar continues to set the trend.