Nissan Pulsar owner reviews
"The Nissan Pulsar family hatchback is spacious and refined, but it’s a bit lacking in the fun department"
Carbuyer Rating
4.0 out of 5
Owners Rating
3.8 out of 5
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Reviews
Owner Reviews
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- 3 out of 5
- 2 out of 5
- 1 out of 5
71%of people would recommend this car to a friendCommon Problems
- Electrics, Engine (1 case)
- Brakes, Suspension (1 case)
- Engine, Other (1 case)
- Brakes, Electrics, Other (1 case)
Review 1 of 14
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
DIG-T 1.2 techna 5dr
Year
2016
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
40
Tell us what you think about your car?
A brilliant car at a reasonable price. Packed full of extras and useful driver aids. As a driver I find it extremely comfortable with plenty of room. It provides a nice drive, smooth and quiet. The turbocharger gives enough boost to accelerate quickly if needed, and is impressive for a 1.2-litre engine. I previous owned a Nissan note and the step up is impressive.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Year
2016
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
44
Tell us what you think about your car?
The Nissan Pulsar is a very underrated car. We have been delighted with it and I cannot understand many of its reviews. It's very quiet, comfortable and refined. The handling is perfect with it's light steering and excellent steering lock. The interior may be a little plain but it is quite pleasant. Some say the Pulsar is a dull car to drive. Rubbish I say it is a great little car to drive and I prefer it to our Passat anytime.
We've not experienced any problems at all although only we've only run it for 4,000 miles so far.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.6 DIG Tekna
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
43
Tell us what you think about your car?
We love this car. We did a 4500 trip around France and Spain and it was a pleasure to drive. We averaged about 44mpg which included a lot of local driving and crossing the Pyrenees. The space is great and the performance is excellent.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
Digit 190 petrol
Year
2016
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
45
Tell us what you think about your car?
This car is very understated to look at. It's almost the same as the 1.2 model and only its lower profile tyres and wide-bore exhaust give clues to its improved performance. In my opinion this car is Nissan's “wolf in sheeps clothing”.
It has two personalities; quiet and restrained if you’re taking things easy or rather fast if you’re feeling a tad exuberant, the acceleration in 4th gear from 30-60mph is startling to say the least. The turbo is largely unheard but loves to be worked hard between 3 and 5,000 rpm. Fuel consumption at a steady 70mph is a healthy 52mpg and when driven hard drops to mid-twenties per gallon. Build quality is excellent and road/wind noise well suppressed,this car is at its best on the motorway and twisting lanes.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
3 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.5 dCi Acenta (Tech pack)
Year
2016
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
61
Tell us what you think about your car?
First, the good points. Very spacious, we also have a new Audi A6, and there is as much passenger space in the Pulsar. The car is reasonably nippy, and is fairly quiet even at high speeds. Handling is OK too. The level of equipment is very good, with plenty of gadgets to keep techno geeks amused. The sat nav is great, in terms of functionality and accuracy, way better than the one on the Audi.
Now the not so good. Fuel economy was advertised as 78.9mpg combined. I tend to be a very economic driver, but I'm getting nowhere near that figure, the computer is saying 60.4. That's a whopping 23 % below the advertised figure!
There are other niggles too. Yes, there are plenty of warning lights and safety gadgets, like telling me when I'm getting too close to the car in front, or when a tyre has deflated by 1lb psi, but doesn't tell me really useful stuff like when the windscreen washer fluid is running low. Also, when you've just stepped out of the car and click the fob to lock it, you often just get a beeping noise. This is because the system thinks that the fob is inside the car and won't let you lock it with the keys in.
The quality of materials is not great, the upholstery is very nylon looking, as are the carpets, and the dashboard is cheap looking. The body shell has a tinny feel to it. The rear view camera seems like a good idea, but when the roads are filthy it quickly gets dirty, the view is obscured, and there are no audible rear (or front) sensors to help.
I'll live with the car for the next year or so, but doubt I'll be in a hurry to get another.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No 
4 out of 5
Car Details
Model
Tekna
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
44
Tell us what you think about your car?
The car is comfortable, reasonably quiet, and satisfactorily quick. It is a sensible size for parking and yet quite spacious. The suite of extras, such as the safety shield items, is very useful. The reversing camera, which I quite like, does not suit all my family. One would much prefer "bleepers." Fuel economy is not as good as hoped, but not too bad. So far, no problems!
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
1 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.2 DIG-T
Year
151
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
45
Tell us what you think about your car?
My family currently own three Nissans (Pulsar, Juke and the Qashqai). The Pulsar has very good handling and the fuel consumption is decent although I have had a lot of problems with it breaking down in the last six months. The Juke and Qashqai in my opinion are a lot more reliable and have the same level of fuel consumption. In terms of size it is good and very practical although it is not a very exciting car in terms of looks or how it is to drive and I feel will look very outdated in a couple of years. The inside feels plasticky and cheap and the visibility is very poor with the small rear window. Overall I was not impressed with this car and I feel it is worth spending the extra money and getting a Qashqai or else buying a car in the same price range and getting the Juke as it is a much nicer looking more reliable vehicle.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.2
Year
2016
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
43
Tell us what you think about your car?
Comments about this car being not much fun to drive are ludicrous. They also say its not very exciting. Again totally untrue. Who needs excitement? What does not much fun mean ? I tried all of the Pulsars rivals before buying one and found it the most satisfying to drive. Any so called lack of excitement is made up by its quiet refinement.
The light steering might not be everyone's taste but it certainly was mine. A pleasure to park and it's strong castoring action makes it's roadholding seem fine. There seems to be some criticism of the interior. I cannot see any reason for this. The Interior seems quite plain but classy. The big plus for this car is it's interior space. We have a VW Passat and there seems just as much room in the Pulsar. All in all for quiet relaxing drive the Pulsar comes out very highly and warrants better reviews .
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
2 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.2
Year
14
Avg annual mileage
15,000 – 19,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
45
Tell us what you think about your car?
The Nissan Pulsar is not a very exciting car in any sense of the word. It has a large boot but it's an awkward shape so therefore this takes away from its benefits. The alloys that come with the higher models are nice and the climate control is great. Although I've experienced problems with the suspension after about a year of driving it, therefore I don't feel it is the most reliable car - this is a big negative for me. The interior and metallic paint are nice, like you will find with most Nissan cars. Another diaadvantge is the poor visability which can make parking very challenging.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.2 dig-t n-tec
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Tell us what you think about your car?
Having been the owner of five Nissans the pulsar is looking to be my favorite edging above my beloved Almera which I had for 16 years. I did have a couple of issues after I purchased the vehicle, one was the air conditioning unit had to be replaced the other was the air bag light, but I think the latter was caused by the garage after fitting a new air conditioning unit.
The drive is comfortable and roadholding is good. The equipment in the vehicle is very good . The seats are very comfortable with loads of legroom both front and back. The boot is of a good size although I would have liked the split boot found in other Nissans. One word of warning check above the rear badge as water seems to puddle there just under the glass. Regular cleaning and a good quality polish should keep this at bay.
In all the Pulsar is a very good car easy to drive and park fuel economy depends on how you drive but up to now mine is doing very well around town. Happy motoring!
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.2 digt 5dr tekna
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
50
Tell us what you think about your car?
This is my 3rd Nissan and I'm extremely pleased with the build quality and the high level of equipment as in my previous models , although through choice of paying as optional extras I personally wouldn't bother...Great punchy engine with plenty of performance which really surprised me when taking for a test drive! . Excellent fuel economy delivering around 50mpg .Ive to date had no reliability issues....
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.5 dCi Acenta
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
56
Tell us what you think about your car?
Had this car just over 12 months now. Before we bought it, we looked at many different cars and the Pulsar was the only one in our price range which met our specific requirements. Namely: Space, economy, comfort and also something which had fairly 'neutral' styling.
We've had no issues with it in the 12 months we've had it, it has been very reliable car. The 1.5 diesel engine is a very good unit and pulls well and the six speed gearbox is a lovely thing, it's very smooth and not notchy at all. Also, obtaining an average of 56mpg (up to 70mpg on a good motorway run) is always a good thing.
Sitting on the motorway at 70mph with the cruise control on what I feel this car was designed for in terms of driving ability. It's very good in that sense. Taking it down twisty country lanes, you do notice that is does feel a bit unsure of itself (if that makes sense). The body roll is quite noticeable and the steering could be more responsive. Maybe I notice this more because I used to own a Mondeo, that car had lovely steering response. On the plus side, it is very grippy and the ride is very smooth. The relaxing aspect of driving this car (it's one of the best I've driven in that respect) and the fact I feel still feel fresh after a 3 hour drive, in my opinion, far outweigh the negatives though.
The interior is on an absolutely galactic scale in terms of space. We've fit three adults in the back easily and there are plenty of cup holders and cubby holes - the sun glasses holder in particular is very good as you can fit the chunkiest, most over styled pair of specs in there. The dashboard is ok - it looks better in the flesh than photos suggest. Infact (despite the cheapish plastics on the lower portion of the dash) I've had people say it looks 'posh'. Maybe it's the piano black centre section that makes people say it, but I was surprised at the positive response too. In all fairness, it is very user friendly and the main intrument dials are very easy to read.
The boot is very deep and we've managed to fit a lot in there - It's certainly better than the Vauxhall Astra we had a few years ago, but obviously not as good as our old Mondeo.
I was debating what score to this car. It was going to get four stars, but as I sit here typing it, I see it parked on our drive. It actually looks quite handsome from some angles, not exciting in any way shape or form. Just a respectable looking vehicle that is quite a rarity in this day and age of over styled fashion statment cars - it's more substance over style.
It's no Golf I admit, but it has served our household flawlessly in the 12 months we have had it. It's practical, comfortable, quiet, spacious, economical, relaxing, reliable and all these things count for a lot now I'm a father of two young kids. It is for these reasons that I'm giving this car five stars. It's done what we've asked of it and more besides.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
1 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.2 Visia
Year
2015
Owned
2 - 3 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
39
Tell us what you think about your car?
This is probably the worst car I have ever had. My wife often said that this was the only decision she had known me to make with my head, rather than my heart! I thought that this car would have a good fuel consumption and really lower my motoring costs. It did reduce my costs somewhat, but the fuel consumption is really disappointing.
Good points: It's quite roomy inside. That's about all I can think of that's a positive really.
Bad points: Well, fuel consumption, as I said. About 39 MPG was all I could squeeze out of it. That was based on a 23 mile each way trip to work, on mixed roads but rarely doing more than about 50 mph to stay with the flow of traffic. Drive the car with some urgency, and you would see this figure reduce. I also found the size of the fuel tank annoying - about 300 miles (usually less) would see me back at the filling station.
The headlights are really poor, too. When I first got the car it was late summer so I never noticed an issue, but when winter came I often thought that they were not on at all. I would pull up on my way home to wipe the lights thinking that they must just be really dirty - only to find them okay – they're just really dim. I pointed it out to the dealer on each time it went in for service, but they said they were working correctly.
Then there are the little things, like the incredibly small washer fluid tank - well, that's more like a tea cup - the washers were always running out. The Bluetooth function on the radio for pairing with your phone would work maybe 3 or 4 times and then drop the connection. The dealer kept saying that they had fixed it with software updates, but they never did. It also seemed to have an excessive oil consumption, which again was reported to the dealer, but they said it was within tolerance.
The ride quality was okay, so if you were sitting on the motorway at 70 mph, the car felt quite relaxed, but day to day driving the engine felt under powered and overworked. I just don't think these small engines work very well. On paper they appear to offer a low fuel consumption, but in reality you have to work them a lot harder to keep up with other traffic, and if you want to overtake - well, you really have to plan for that!
The build quality isn't too bad. I had the car for 2 and a half years and covered some 34,500 miles in it, and nothing ever fell off. I was disappointed in the alloy wheels as all 4 had quite a lot of corrosion on them at the point of return.
Would I recommend the car to anyone? Well, if you are a very low mileage car user, maybe tootling into town to do the shopping on a Saturday, and are the sort of person that is absolutely not car orientated at all, then maybe this car is for you. It has all the personality of a tin of tuna, and the wow factor of a plain digestive biscuit.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
2 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.4 automatic
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
2 - 3 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
39
Tell us what you think about your car?
From new, we were struck by the quietness of the engine and the great views through the windscreen, but also struck by the poor visibility through the rear window.
The first problem was in the rain, passing parked cars a warning bleep sounded which we later found out to be a warning of being too close to the vehicle in front. There was of course nothing in front, then or the many times it's happened since. That problem was then quickly followed by parking for 10 minutes to shop finding that the brakes had locked on. It was only after jerking the car back and forth with the engine that the problem was resolved. The garage, after being told the brakes were "binding" examined the car, found nothing wrong. Later they told me on another time the brakes aren't "grinding"!
The car has refused on many occasions to simply start, it's only by opening and closing the door that I have been able to resolve that one. Again the garage told me not to keep the keys in my pocket, (they weren't) but later still they replaced the battery in the key seemingly curing that problem.
However, I regularly get a warning sign and alarm telling me that the tyres are below pressure, this has happened shortly after leaving the garage and even some 20 minutes after pumping them up at the filling station. Occasionally that one will resolve itself but often not.
Finally, the button on the seat belt that keeps the buckle raised up ready for use has fallen off and the windscreen rubber trim keeps popping out and flashing against the side window, still waiting for the garage to repair that one.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No
