• The Car

• Seat Plan & Seats

• Dash & Controls

• Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

• What's Changed

• Features

• Our Opinion

• Other Opinions

• Mechanical

• Safety

• Data

• Buy with Confidence

• Legal Disclaimer

The Car

The Car

The five-door hatch is the Pulsar to buy if you're seeking a little youthful style in your small car. The twin-nostril grille - completely different to the mini-Maxima look promoted by the sedan - is a boldly attractive statement and there's a certain chunkiness promoted by the abruptly cut-off rear-end. A tallish stance helps interior space, but the Pulsar lacks generosity in the back seat.

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan & Seats

Seat Plan

The Pulsar has a relatively short wheelbase for its class (less than Holden Astra, Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 323), so this means something has to give and, surprise surprise, it's the back seat. However it's a relatively tall car (taller than its main competitors) so that helps in lifting seat cushion height and maximising what leg space is there. Front passengers will have no complaints.

Seats

The Pulsar has always laid a claim to having particularly comfortable seats and the latest version continues the tradition with good cushion comfort and quite positive lateral location. Adjustable headrests are used in both front and rear. Full cloth trim material is used. The rear seat has a 60-40 split fold, but there is no centre armrest or ski port.

Dash & Controls

Dash & Controls

Dash

The Pulsar driver is presented with a more-or-less conventionally laid out dash with the main instruments located directly in line-of-sight and a central location for radio, heating and air-conditioning. The dash is finished in dual shades of grey. A passenger-side airbag is standard in the hatch, utilising the blank seen in ST sedan versions. A height adjustable four-spoke steering wheel is standard. The small recess in the centre upper dash apes Maxima, but lacks the lid provided in Pulsar Q. The Pulsar also comes with a coin box.

Controls

Unusually for a Japanese car, the Pulsar locates its indicator lever European-style on the left of the steering column. The lever also incorporates the master light switch and dipping/flashing controls. Windscreen and rear window wipers are controlled by the lever on the right of the steering column. The pad for adjusting the remote control mirrors is located on the right side of the dash.

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres & Luggage

Wheels/Tyres

The Pulsar errs toward a larger wheel size than is common in base-level small cars with 15-inch rims. At ST level the rims are pressed steel; the Q model gets standard 15-inch alloy wheels. A full-size, steel spare wheel is used in both ST and Q Pulsar hatch models.

Luggage

The Pulsar hatch does not have a particularly large boot but it is up to 355 litres (309 litres previously). It is still smaller than any of its main competition but aided by the 60-40 split-fold rear seat. Luggage nets are provided. Front door bins, side seat trays, a small cubby on the centre console in front of the gearshift and a fold-out hook for takeaway food or a small bag of groceries are the things small hatch owners appreciate.

What's Changed

What's Changed

The latest Pulsar five-door is styled as a hatchback, not a mini station wagon, and tends to be more stylistically adventurous than much of its competition. A bold, twin nostril grille and large Nissan badge identify the hatch from sedan Pulsar models. ST uses black side mouldings where those on the Q model are colour coded.

Features

Features

Stand Out Features

Nissan went for slightly different body proportions with its latest Pulsar, edging towards the increasingly popular mini MPV look with higher than normal width-height ratios. All Pulsars use a 1.8-litre engine and there are a few Euro-style touches such as the left-side indicator stalk, the "curry" hook for holding takeaway food, the standard rear fog light and a pop-up dash compartment.

Climate Control

Integrated, CFC-free air-conditioning is a standard feature on Pulsars and is controlled by ergonomically correct rotating dials at the centre of the dash, below the radio.

Sound System

The Pulsar is fitted with a security coded four-speaker sound system comprising AM/FM radio and a single disc CD player. The fascia has simple-to-use controls with a relatively large round dial for adjusting volume.

Security

A "NATS" Nissan anti-theft system vehicle immobiliser is standard in the Pulsar hatch. Remote control "anti-hijack" (Nissan's term) central locking is also standard.

Our Opinion

Our Opinion

We Like:

Dual airbag safety focus, equipment levels, driveability

We Don't Like:

Low-speed engine torque, rear legroom, smallish boot

Nissan's Pulsar has enjoyed a favourable small car credibility rating since the third generation model, using Holden's Family II engine, appeared in 1987. The car's status has not lost any of its shine since then, even earning awards from national motoring magazines as it soldiered on to become the virtual saviour of Nissan's operations in Australia. In 1999 the Pulsar sedan was Australia's biggest-selling small four-door. So a new Pulsar is an important event for the local company. As a substantial source of Nissan volume, it shares with the Patrol 4WD an ability to bring customers into showrooms.

The sedan version of the current Pulsar has been with us since July 2000, and has enjoyed a warm reception from small-car buyers with its choice of 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines and a classy look that owes more than a little to big brother Maxima. The more youthfully oriented hatchback Pulsar has taken a full 12 months to reach us here and there can be no doubt dealers have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. They were also probably anxious to see what Nissan's stylists decided to do with the hatchback because the previous five-door tended to polarise opinions about its aesthetic qualities. The new hatch shows there was no cause for concern there because it follows more conservative, predictable themes while still managing to send out pheromones aimed at attracting younger buyers. The hatch shares its platform with the sedan, of course, which means it runs a slightly shorter wheelbase than its main competition. But it is clearly aimed at a different buyer than the one who favours the mini-Maxima sedan look. The front-end is distinguished by a bold, aggressive twin-nostril grille and a Nissan badge that looks as if it might have been borrowed from the commercial vehicles warehouse. There is no question of the hatchback's origins.

The hatch comes as an ST, or as a Q, but both are well equipped with a standard 1.8-litre engine, dual front airbags, air-conditioning, remote central locking and 15-inch wheels. The ST misses out on the Q's alloy wheels, leather trimmed steering wheel, power windows, outside temperature gauge and rear spoiler, but is not otherwise disadvantaged. The suspension is by MacPherson struts at the front with Nissan's clever beam-axle design (also seen in the Maxima) used at the rear. This system combines light weight, simplicity and better wheel location than many independent systems by employing a special linkage system that works similarly to a Watts Link to control lateral suspension movement. The Pulsar's engine is new, too - or it was at the launch of the sedan in 2000. It employs the usual twin-camshaft, 16-valve design but adds individual ignition coils to each cylinder as well as variable valve timing. The latter is aimed at helping maximise power spread across the rpm band but an examination of the figures reveals nothing special. The 1.8-litre has slightly less maximum torque than the Holden Astra and develops it at higher rpm as well, while the maximum power is about the same as everyone else manages. The rule does not always hold true, but the Pulsar's power figures give an accurate indication of how it actually drives. More of that a little later.

The packaging of the Pulsar hatch is aided by the tallish body height and restricted by the slight shortage of wheelbase compared to other cars in its class. The slightly higher than normal roof allows passengers to sit up a little straighter, giving a little more leg movement, but in the back the Pulsar remains far from generous if tall people are travelling in the front. It is noticeably down on its main competitors in this aspect and even suffers as far as boot space is concerned, despite Nissan saying that, at 355 litres, it is up on the previous hatch by 46 litres. But none of this detracts from the fact Pulsar has a neat pair of front seats, arguably the best in its class, and does not skimp on looking after those travelling at the pointy end. The driver's seat cushion adjusts via two rotating knobs for height and tilt and, unusual for a Japanese car, provides infinite backrest adjustment - also via rotating knobs. The general architecture of the interior gives a quite upmarket look - with the two-tone treatment of the dash and a number of seemingly insignificant but in the end handy features. Among these are the little recess on the top of the dash for temporary storing of lightweight items (this cubby is lidded in the upmarket Q version) and what the British describe as a "curry" hook for holding takeaway food, or a shopping bag. Unusual for a Japanese car, but maybe in tune with Nissan's seeming desire to add some European feel to the Pulsar, is the location of the indicator stalk on the left of the steering column.

Overall, the Pulsar is a decidedly pleasant small car to sit in, touch and feel. The impression is one of high quality. There's plenty of soft padding - rather than hard, unyielding plastic - to add to those impressions. Rear-seat legroom might be an issue for some, but mostly it is easily dealt with if the front seat passengers are prepared to accept a little compromise. 

On the road, the Pulsar holds its own with a good balance between handling and ride quality, quite accurate and well weighted - if slightly on the light side - steering and a quiet, smooth engine. Deciding not to mess around with the hatch by offering a 1.6-litre alternative as well helps give the 1.8-litre ST Pulsar a slightly sporting edge. But as mentioned earlier, the engine really needs to be coaxed to give its best and is not really happy with low-speed work. But get it into its comfort zone - which occurs from around 4000rpm and continues through to just short of 6000rpm - and it propels the hatch with vigour. The manual five-speed gearbox has well-spaced ratios and slots accurately between ratios. At 100km/h on the freeway, in fifth gear, the 1.8-litre is spinning just short of 3000rpm but the inherent lack of noise and vibration makes the Pulsar feel comfortable. General road noise and wind noise are low, too - although on some surfaces the tyres will set up a distant but noticeable humming. At the end of the day though, the ST is no sports car and there is never any doubt that understeer will set in early in the piece if the driver wants to continue pressing on. With this unmistakable, very predictable characteristic, the hatch is therefore a secure-feeling, trustworthy companion on the road that will always signal when it is being pushed close to its limits.

Taken in the context of its chosen battleground, the Pulsar hatch tends to stand out among most of its peers with appealing style, quality interior and an engine that, though it might not have the best power delivery in its class, is still a 1.8-litre and could never be described as lacking in outright performance. The back seat might be a little tight on legroom but that, to many, will not even be an issue.

Other Opinions

Other Opinions

Sydney Morning Herald: "The Pulsar has always been an above-average handler; the new model's suspension, though softened, is still secure and vice free. Stability is fine on rough roads, and the brakes are powerful and progressive"

Sun-Herald: "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"

Mechanical

Mechanical

Plan Views

Pulsar sedan and hatch employ the obligatory Japanese front-wheel drivetrain of a transversely mounted four-cylinder driving the front wheels.

Engine

Nissan's 1.8-litre, twin-camshaft, 16-valve, four-cylinder QG18DE engine - producing 92kW of power and 161Nm of torque - features the Nissan direct ignition system and Nissan valve timing control, which aims to provide improved torque at low to mid-range engine speeds.

Suspension

The Pulsar uses independent MacPherson strut front suspension with stabiliser bar and a multi-link beam rear suspension with coil springs, which ensures greater tyre to ground contact for better grip and handling. Improved ride quality comes partly through increasing body rigidity by 30 per cent.

Transmission

The hatch line-up is offered with either a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter.

Brakes

Pulsar hatch does not skimp on braking power, with four-wheel discs, ventilated at the front. The front discs measure 280 x 22mm in diameter. A tandem brake booster provides additional security.

Steering

Power-assisted rack and pinion steering is standard in the Pulsar. The hatch has a kerb-to-kerb turning circle of 10.4 metres. The ST model uses a four-spoke steering wheel with a soft vinyl rim while the Q model has a leather-stitched rim.

Safety

Safety

The N16 model Pulsar has been designed to meet European offset crash requirements as well as US side impact requirements, through improved ride and handling thanks to increased body rigidity. Both Pulsar hatch models have standard dual front airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters, front and rear crumple zones, energy absorbing steering column, door intrusion beams, height adjustable thee-point front seatbelts, fire retardant seat cloth and trim, and a fuel tank roll-over safety valve.

Data

Data

Engine:

• 1.769-litre 16-valve DOHC front-mounted transverse inline four-cylinder
  

Transmission:

• Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic
  

Suspension:

• Front: independent by MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

• Rear: beam axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar
  

Steering:

• Power-assisted rack-and-pinion

• Turning circle: 10.4 metres
  

Dimensions:

• Length: 4184mm  

• Width: 1706mm 

• Height: 1448mm 

• Wheelbase: 2535mm 

• Front track: 1470mm

• Rear track: 1455mm

• Kerb weight: 1210kg                                 
                              

Standard Equipment:

• Driver and passenger airbags  

• Air-conditioning 

• Four-speaker AM/FM stereo radio with CD player 

• Remote central locking

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

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Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.

The content of this guide is licensed from GoAuto © 2006