It hasn’t taken long for people to start with the criticism of the new Nissan Pulsar. But when reviews instantly jump on a car and relentlessly bash it, the reality is rarely as bad as you’d think. Of course, the Pulsar isn’t a perfect car, it has its faults, but don’t believe all the negative hype, it has its attractions too.
The main criticism that can be levelled at the Nissan Pulsar is that it plays it very safe. There aren’t many risks being taken, and that might frustrate some car obsessives. But is it such a bad thing for the ordinary consumer? We’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of the car in this review.
Design
First of all, I’ll be happy to admit that the Pulsar isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing or attractive of cars on the market. That doesn’t mean it’s repulsive though, it’s just very middle of the road. But average looking cars sell perfectly well. A car doesn’t have to look like a sports car to pull in the customers. Functionality is key for many people.
So, let’s get specific. It feels like an amalgamation of a lot of other Nissan models. The bonnet and front of the car resemble the Qashqai while other aspects recall the Almera. Past that, it’s hard to pick out anything significant or interesting in the design, it’s very basic.
Drive
The way it drives is a lot more important than the way it looks to most of the general public. So, how does it feel behind the wheel? From the get go, it’s quite clear what Nissan was aiming for. They want to capture a smooth and reliable feel to the driving experience.
They’re clearly not interested in making the driving experience particularly fun or unique to the driver. So, again, there are no complaints but there’s nothing exciting on offer.
Technology
Technological innovation wasn’t a priority for Nissan with the Pulsar. That may sound strange for a company so often linked to the latest developments in the motoring world. Instead, more focus is put on space and comfort. There’s an incredible amount of space and legroom in the back, for example.
There is, however, a touchscreen system that lets you control navigation and entertainment. It also has a reversing camera for extra security when parking in tight spaces.
Price and Fuel Economy
Nissan are known for keeping their prices low, and things are no different here. You can browse used Nissan cars online and see that the manufacturer can be a very affordable option for most families.
In terms of fuel economy, the Pulsar does pretty well. But (do you see a trend here?) it’s not spectacular. The car will do about 56 mpg, which will be good enough for most people!
Verdict
The Pulsar isn’t exciting in the least, and that might prove a problem for some buyers. But I don’t think it will be enough to stop the car gaining traction and pulling in customers. People will be attracted by the car’s reliability, space and practicality. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
