Since its introduction in 2006, the hugely successful Nissan Qashqai crossover has seemingly done away with the need for a more traditional family hatchback, a segment in to which the Japanese firm has not ventured since the Almera was cast adrift from UK shores that same year. However, as stunning as sales have been, the larger Qashqai cannot and does not cater for all needs. With that in mind, those looking for a conventional Nissan alternative to the Ford Focus, Renault Megane or VW Golf will finally have their wishes answered with the launch of the new Pulsar hatchback.
For their hatchback comeback, Nissan have released official pricing and spec details which see the entry level Pulsar available from a snip under £16,000. Of its competitors from Ford, Renault and Volkswagen, only the Focus offers a cheaper entry-level option at £14,000.
So, the question is what will Nissan be offering in exchange for your hard-earned cash?
The four trim levels offered for the new Pulsar – Visia, Acenta, N-tec and Tekna – will already be familiar to existing Nissan customers. The basic Visia package, priced at £15,995, comes with a 5 inch colour screen, steering wheel mounted controls, Bluetooth and air conditioning all as standard. Meanwhile, further up the ladder, the Acenta model also includes Forward Emergency Braking and automatic lights and wipers while the n-tec version is equipped with 17” alloys, a colour reversing camera plus Nissan’s Connect 2 infotainment system. For the top spec Tekna, available from £20,345, buyers can expect added safety and comfort extras such as moving object detection, lane departure and blind spot warning as well as heated leather front seats.
Each trim level will be offered with a choice of two new engines, a 113bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit and a 109bhp 1.5-litre diesel with 192 lb/ft of torque. More powerful still is the 187bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol that joins the range early in 2015.
The new Nissan Pulsar hatchback will hit UK showrooms this autumn.
