Nissan has been out of the compact family hatchback market since it bumped off the Almera nearly a decade ago. Now it’s back with the all-new Nissan Pulsar, a conservatively styled but exceptionally roomy competitor to the segment’s big names such as Focus and Golf.
The Pulsar is comfortable, easy to drive and well equipped, and the ride quality is good. By far its strongest suits are the rear head and leg room and the decent sized boot – key attributes in a family car. Power comes from either a 1.2-litre petrol unit or a sprightly 1.5-litre diesel, and there are three trims, the XE, SV and SVE. All have air conditioning, tyre pressure monitoring, multiple airbags and fuel saving stop/start. Prices start at €19,995.
Were this a school report, the Pulsar would be a ‘good average’, which tallies with Nissan’s own view that the Pulsar is a rational rather than emotional choice.
Interview with James McCarthy, Managing Director, Nissan Ireland
In Association with
What new cars are on the way from Nissan in 2015?
We’ve had an avalanche of new models in the last 18 months. It began with the introduction of the second generation LEAF in July 2013, followed by a new Micra and Note in September. The much-anticipated second generation Qashqai arrived in early 2014, and was closely followed by a brand new X-Trail and Juke in July. The final piece of the jigsaw was the Pulsar in October so we’re taking a bit of a break in 2015
Which model is selling particularly well?
The Qashqai has been a phenomenal success for Nissan globally with over two million units produced since its introduction in 2007. That success is replicated in Ireland, with over 20,000 Qashqais on Irish roads today.
We are also expecting great things of the Pulsar as it will be available at just €229 per month with our Go PCP. In a lot of cases this is less than what it costs per month to keep an older car on the road. The Pulsar’s 1.5 dCi engine is incredibly efficient, consuming just 3.6 litres per 100km, making it the most fuel-efficient engine in the C-segment hatchback market.
How have Irish buyers taken to the LEAF electric vehicle (EV)?
With the strengthening of the charging infrastructure across Ireland, EVs are starting to make an impact, and 200 Nissan LEAFs were sold in 2014. Eighty per cent of the population travel less than 100kms per day, and for these people the LEAF makes complete sense.
The LEAF has zero C02 emissions, costs roughly 1c per kilometre to run and returns the equivalent of 0.6 litres per 100km. That’s 435mpg in old money! We’ve also recently launched a new electric van, the e-NV200. The savings a business can make by switching to electric transport are vast.
Nissan is changing as a brand. How is the company repositioning itself?
Nissan has undergone significant change over the last number of years – financially, structurally and most evidently in terms of groundbreaking new models. The development of well-designed cars that offer exceptional specification levels and technological advancements are core to Nissan’s ‘Innovation that Excites’ philosophy.
