Skip advert
Advertisement

New Nissan Pulsar Tekna 2015 review

Warm Pulsar with 187bhp 1.6-litre DIG-T petrol engine aims to give hatch some bite

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Nissan Pulsar
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

If you’re after a discreet, efficient family hatch that’s brisk in a straight line, then the Pulsar isn’t a bad choice. But there isn’t enough dynamic ability to control the power. It lags behind rivals like the Peugeot 308 GT to drive, isn’t as comfy as you would expect and doesn’t look the part, either. The Nissan makes much more sense as a mid-spec diesel, where its practical and durable strengths can shine through.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Nissan will freely admit that its Pulsar isn’t designed to get your heart racing, despite the name. 

Best hatchbacks to buy now

That could change early next year with the likely arrival of a Pulsar Nismo though, and to whet our appetite, the brand has just slotted in its 1.6-litre DIG-T 190 turbo petrol. We’ve driven the Ford Focus rival to see if it finally injects a boost of adrenaline to the range.

There aren’t many visual clues to the slightly more racy engine under the bonnet – all you get is a new exhaust tip and the 18-inch alloys on this top-spec Tekna model. It looks identical to the bland standard Pulsar, and there isn’t even any badging to mark it out as the hotter car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Fiesta

2020 Ford

Fiesta

33,437 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,218
View Fiesta
EcoSport

2022 Ford

EcoSport

5,539 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,658
View EcoSport
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

22,091 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,799
View Puma
Fiesta

2019 Ford

Fiesta

12,669 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,425
View Fiesta

Best family cars

The direct-injection turbo petrol engine, which delivers 187bhp and 240Nm of torque, is used in the standard flagship Juke crossover. It’s actually slightly faster in this form, as the Pulsar sprints from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. 

It’s smooth and pulls well from as little as 1,500rpm, although it tails off – like many turbo units – as it nears the red line. It doesn’t sound particularly sporty while doing it, either, but that does mean it’s refined when you’re not in the mood.

The Nissan returned nearly 40mpg with us, which is impressive considering its power, but that figure will drop away if you floor it. CO2 emissions of 138g/km are competitive – they’re similar to the Peugeot 308 GT and SEAT Leon FR’s, and better than the Hyundai i30 Turbo’s 169g/km. 

Nissan claims that it’s done a lot more than just chuck a bigger engine under the bonnet. The steering and dampers have been tuned for extra agility and feel. You can notice the firmer set-up reducing body roll, plus turn-in is fairly direct, but there’s precious little feel through the wheel and a dead, vague feeling in the straight ahead. 

Push hard, and grip runs out sooner than you might expect, while the firmer dampers mean the Pulsar loses some of the standard car’s cosseting ride quality. It doesn’t offer the composure of the Leon FR, for example.

The rest of the package is business as usual, which means you get class-leading rear legroom and a 385-litre boot, plus a strong equipment list considering the sub-£23,000 price of this Tekna car. With this new engine, the Pulsar starts at £19,775.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £8,094 off RRP*Used from £13,199
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025