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Road Test: Nissan Pulsar SSS


Being offered the keys, or should I say key fob, to the Nissan Pulsar SSS for a whole weekend by the boss is a big deal for me. Normally I'm given the keys on a very limited basis for the express use of giving the photographer Ted a moving car to shoot for Driven.
So when I was offered a car for a whole weekend I couldn't refuse no matter what the car was.
The car in question, Nissan's new Pulsar SSS doesn't look like the most exciting vehicle on offer in the Nissan fleet, but don't be put off, the hatch has a lot to offer.
Starting with getting in the car for the first time, I was immediately confused by the keyless start. Only one other car I've driven, the Ford Fiesta ST, has been keyless and it took a lot of getting used to over the weekend.
The rest of the interior is a faux-leather trim and for a brand new car, is quite understated/classic Japanese unlike many of this years European hatchback offerings. The Steering wheel and dash are quite intuitive - and that means that even someone as simple as I am could figure out what everything was and how it worked, though I will admit it took until the trip back to Auckland from Whangamata to find the USB and Aux in points inside the center console, through which you can connect your smartphone/iPod directly into the stereo without having to play around with Bluetooth.
The rest of the infotainment system has everything you would want in a modern vehicle, a stupidly easy to use GPS navigation, CD player, cruise control, and reversing camera.
There is enough leg room in the rear to comfortably fit two adults for extended periods of time and enough boot space for a weekend trip away.

Driving the Pulsar SSS is what really altered my initial impressions, the CVT gearbox, the only option in the New Zealand market, is smooth as all CVT boxes are, yet fun and quick to upshift in manual mode. The power delivery is up with modern expectations for turbo vehicles with very little torque surge from the 1.6L turbo engine. The best way to have fun in the SSS however is to flick off the traction control and shift manually, which gives you a more engaging driving experience and puts that silly grin that only unleashing your inner hoon can. The only thing that I felt the driving experience was lacking was a bit of noise. Driving the SSS you could forget that you are driving the top of the range sporty Pulsar quiet easily, that is until you put your foot down and look at the speedo climb at a healthy rate.
Cornering is great for a front wheel drive car, not once giving me a feeling that I was not in full control or going anywhere I didn't point it myself.

Outwardly the SSS is quite the sleeper. It has 17 inch rims with big 50 profile tyres, which make the 17inch wheels appear smaller than they actually are. There is a positive outcome in this as the ride is superb. I'm talking fill the car with small sleeping children and then barrel along a gravel road good here. It does come with a big front lip, side skirts and spoiler in the SSS package but still is understated enough to potentially lose in a shopping center carpark.

I will admit I was quite amazed at the fuel economy figures I was managing while simultaneously wringing its neck. With a cruising fuel consumption of 12.2km/L and dropping to 11.2km/L while enjoying the joys of the great drivers roads the Coromandel Peninsula has to offer. I imagine even better figures can be achieved with a little self control but even then, putting $50 of BP's 98 octane had the fuel gauge raising by half a tank. That means that on regular premium a full tank would cost roughly $100. In today's world of unstable oil prices that's got to be a plus!

Would I buy it?
I personally wouldn't buy it, but that stems from it not being a car suited to my personal needs rather than the car being bad. I imagine that the Nissan Pulsar SSS would be ideal for the young professional family, where Mum needs a comfortable car to do the shopping, take the kids to school and pot around town,  while Dad likes to take the car on weekends for a fun road trip, to sporting commitments or just generally drive the pants off it.




**PLEASE NOTE: This review does not reflect the views of my employers and is my own opinion from my four days with the Nissan Pulsar SSS**

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