Nissan Pulsar SSS hatch 2013 review

A defining car for Nissan in the past, the Pulsar SSS, has made a welcome return and promises to reignite the passions of many budget conscious young and not so young sporty hatch drivers. The segment is well provisioned with choices ranging from high cost European models that all have huge appeal through to the likes of Holden's new Cruze SRi-V.

The latter is a direct competitor for Pulsar SSS albeit with slightly less power but more kit. The arrival of a new SSS at sharp pricing may make buyers think twice given the performance levels on tap.

The past

Pulsar SSS was last available here back in 2000 having earlier sold up a storm particularly with a generation of young males who fitted loud exhausts, bigger wheels and even went so far as turbo-charging and other modifications to boost their pride and joy's performance and appearance. The standard SSS was pretty much a cosmetic upgrade sharing the same underpinnings with garden variety Pulsar but that didn't seem to matter.

Now

The latest SSS (and cheaper ST-S) have a completely different powertrain to other Pulsars along with other tweaks befitting their sporty intent. The SSS rides in on the back of a new Pulsar hatch range complementing the sedan that lobbed a few months back. It's available with a six speed manual transmission or optional CVT sports shift with manual mode.

Affordable

Nissan pitches the new SSS, indeed the entire new Pulsar range at the affordable end of the spectrum. Value for money is high with generous standard equipment across the range.

Engine

Where the ‘normal’ Pulsar hatch has the same 1.8-litre engine as the sedan the SSS (and ST-S) are powered by a 1.6-litre DIG (Direct Injection Gasoline) turbo engine with variable valve timing. It's capable of returning 7.7-litres/100km fuel economy. The single scroll turbo-charged engine is good for 140kW/240Nm output.

Refinement is boosted by many low friction techniques used inside the engine. These include a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating for the valve lifters and mirror finish camshafts. Low tension piston rings with a hard ceramic coating are used along with low friction engine oil.

Sodium filled valves lower temperatures to reduce engine knock, while the valve springs themselves are of a novel lightweight ‘beehive’ design, fatter in the middle than at either end.

The look

Filling the wheel arches are sharp 17-inch sports alloy wheels on ST-S and SSS. But differentiation is assured on the SSS with a fully integrated sports body kit, comprising front and rear spoilers and side skirts. Dusk-sensing xenon headlights with auto levelling and washers finish the sporty frontal design of the car. A full-size spare wheel is provided.

Price and equipment

Pulsar Hatch SSS is priced from $29,240, with standard kit including dual zone climate control, air-conditioning, cruise control, premium six speaker audio, Bluetooth phoned and audio, power windows, remote central locking with keyless entry, front fog lights, body aero kit, leather accented sports seats, auto xenon headlights, 5.8-inch integrated colour display with touch screen and steering wheel-mounted controls, satnav with 3D mapping, rear-view camera with distance guidelines and push button start.

Driving

The drive feel isn't in the same league as the likes of a VW Golf GTi or Ford Focus ST but is halfway between one of these really sporty hot hatches and a run of the mill car. By far the most impressive aspect of the new SSS is its engine which delivers strong, smooth and economical performance. The rest of the car has more in common with other Pulsars in terms of ride and handling.