6 September 2013
Return of the sporty SSS badge
The new 2013 Nissan Pulsar hatch is available in three specifications; a 1.8 litre ST, 1.6 litre ST-S and SSS.
When Nissan brought the Pulsar moniker back to their lineup earlier this year, the announcement was made that the sporty SSS badge would also return to complete the model range. The SSS was a sought after model in days gone by so the announcement of its imminent return stirred a great deal of interest, with expectations that the latest version would be as adrenalin pumping as its predecessors.
The 2013 Pulsar hatchback has a conservative design, but while it’s not exactly a flamboyant head-turner that stands out in a crowd, it's attractive enough, spacious and comfortable with boot space on a par with other segment players and the practicality of folding 60:40 split rear seats to free up extra luggage room if needed.
The 1.8 litre motor is a reworked version of the old Tiida powerplant, with improved fuel efficiency and changes made to some internal components. It delivers 96kW/174Nm and fuel consumption is rated at 6.7L/100km in a combined cycle. The turbocharged 1.6 litre powerplant produces a healthy 140kW/240Nm with fuel economy of 7.8L/100km running on a preference of 95 octane juice. Both engines are coupled to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT automatic transmissions and SSS models have the function to shift the pre-set steps manually by pushing the gear lever up or down.
The 1.8 litre is no powerhouse but performance is adequate for this sector. The SSS’s free-revving 1.6 litre engine seems responsive enough when the loud pedal is floored but the flare that’s so typical of CVT transmissions takes the edge off the punchy clout we expect of force-induction engines. So the absence of a manual ‘box for our market and the use of a CVT auto instead of a conventional auto or double clutch affair which would provide a more direct drive to the front wheels, dilutes the sporty feel somewhat.
Standard features for the ST include a height adjustable driver’s seat, steering-wheel audio controls and cruise control. The ST-S gains the 1.6 litre force-induction powerplant, front fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheel rims and a rear boot spoiler. The SSS adds a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control airconditioning, push button stop/start, satellite navigation, leather seats, xenon headlamps and an aggressive-look body spoiler kit.
Tweaked for comfy motoring
McPherson struts up front and a rear torsion beam suspension setup provide comfortable motoring although body movement through tight corners is more than we’d like for a sporty hatch, therefore we’d prefer to see a firmer suspension setup for the SSS. The electrically assisted steering provides a light weighted turning effort and the steering wheel has telescopic and tilt adjustment.
Active safety features include Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) and passive safety features include frontal and side airbags for the front row seats as well as two head protecting side curtain airbags.
The 1.8 litre ST is priced at $29,990 and the 1.6 litre ST-S has a $5,000 premium at $34,990 while the range topping SSS is stickered at $39,990.
The 1.8 litre Pulsar is competitively priced and it’s a good choice for small family buyers looking for comfort and space, but enthusiastic drivers and previous owners of former SSS models may feel that the SSS’s driving experience doesn’t quite deliver the sporty characteristics expected of the coveted SSS badge.
Therefore, the ST-S which uses the same 1.6 litre turbocharged motor as the SSS but with a little less specification and a $5,000 saving is our pick of the range.