- Refined 1.8-litre petrol engine
- For Pulsar and SSS, powerful 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine
- Comfortable ride
- Spacious interior (particularly in the rear)
- Large boot
- Light, overly-assisted steering lacks feel
- Where fitted, droning noise from CVT when accelerating
- Rear seats don’t fold
- Dynamics fall short of Mazda BM Mazda3 and Ford Mk.3 Focus
- Reports of CVT failure
Review: Nissan B17.I Pulsar sedan (2013-15)
Overview
Released in February 2013, the Nissan B17 Series I (B17.I) Pulsar was a small, front-wheel drive sedan. Manufactured in Thailand, the B17 Pulsar was powered by 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engines that were mated to either six-speed manual or continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), the latter featuring a subplanetary gear which enabled it to switch between low range (for greater response at low speeds) and high range (lower RPM at high speeds).
MRA8DE engine
The 1.8-litre MRA8DE petrol engine had an aluminium cylinder block and heads, double overhead camshafts, continuously variable valve timing control (C-VTC) for the intake and exhaust valves, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.9:1. Co-developed by Renault and Nissan, the engine also featured a tumble control valve for the intake manifold, mirror finished crankshaft and camshaft journals and offset cylinders.
Dimensions and suspension
Compared to its C11 Tiida predecessor, the B17 Pulsar sedan was 220 mm longer (at 4615 mm), 65 mm wider (1760 mm), 40 mm lower (1495 mm) and had a 100 mm longer wheelbase (2700 mm); the body itself had a drag coefficeint of 0.30 Cd, while boot capacity was 510 litres.
The B17 Pulsar had MacPherson strut front suspension with a stabiliser bar and a torsion beam rear axle with an integrated stabiliser bar.
| Variant | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST, ST-L |
1.8-litre petrol I4 (MRA8DE) |
6sp man., CVT |
96 kW at 6000 rpm | 174 Nm at 4800 rpm |
| Ti | 1.8-litre petrol I4 (MRA8DE) |
CVT | 96 kW at 6000 rpm | 174 Nm at 4800 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the B17 Pulsar included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.
ANCAP crash testing
In ANCAP crash testing , the B17 Pulsar sedan received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 32.67 out of 37. In the offset crash test, protection of the front occupants’ chests and lower legs was rated as acceptable, though upper leg protection was marginal. Furthermore, there was a slight risk of serious chest injury in the side impact test.
Features: Pulsar ST, ST-L and Ti
Standard features for the Pulsar ST included 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/60 R16 tyres, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, MP3-compatibility and auxiliary input (3.5 mm), air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a height adjustable driver’s seat, trip computer and an immobiliser.
The Pulsar ST-L was further equipped with a 4.3-inch colour display, auxiliary USB and iPod inputs, premium cloth seat trim, front fog lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Visually, both the ST-L and Ti variants were differentiated by their headlights with LED accents and rear spoilers.
Beyond this, the Pular Ti featured 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 R17 tyres, a satellite navigation system (with a 5.8-inch colour display, 3D maps and touch screen), dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather seat trim, xenon headlights with washers, automatic headlights, a reversing camera with guidance lines, proximity key, power folding mirrors, rear privacy glass and push-button start.
Brochure
Related links
- Specifications: Nissan B17 Pulsar sedan (February 2013)
- Nissan News: The All-New Nissan Pulsar Sedan (January 2013)
Review: Nissan B17.II Pulsar sedan (2015-17)
Overview
Released in Australia in April 2015, the Nissan B17 Series II (B17.II) Pulsar introduced a revised range as the Ti was replaced by the turbocharged Pulsar SSS. Standard features were also extended for the Pulsar ST-L (see ‘Features’, below).
Pulsar SSS: MR16DDT engine
The newly-introduced Pulsar SSS was powered by Nissan’s 1.6-litre turbocharged MR16DDT engine. Compared to the MRA8DE engine, the MR16DDT engine differed in that it had a turbocharger and intercooler, direct petrol injection, sodium-filled exhaust valves, nano-finished camshafts, beehive valve springs and a compression ratio of 9.5:1.
| Variant | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST, ST-L |
1.8-litre petrol I4 (MRA8DE) |
6sp man., CVT |
96 kW at 6000 rpm | 174 Nm at 4800 rpm |
| SSS | 1.6-litre turbo petrol I4 (MR16DDT) |
6sp man., CVT |
140 kW at 5600 rpm | 240 Nm at 2000-5200 rpm |
Features: Pulsar ST-L and SSS
Compared to its B17.I predecessor, standard features for the Pulsar ST-L were extended to include Bluetooth audio streaming, a satellite navigation system with a 5.8-inch colour display, 3D maps and touch screen, and a reversing camera with guidance lines.
Relative to the Pulsar ST-L, the Pulsar SSS added 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 R17 tyres, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather seat trim, xenon headlights with washers, automatic headlights, a proximity key, power folding mirrors, rear privacy glass and push-button start. Visually, the Pulsar SSS could be identified by its sports body kit.
Specifications
Related links
