1985 Nissan Pulsar Reviews

Small-car buyers have plenty of reasons to welcome the Nissan Pulsar back to their shopping lists. Around 18,990 of them, by our count.That's the driveaway price for the Pulsar sedan and hatch until the end of this month, and it's unlikely to go much higher in 2013 as boatloads of the born-again Japanese small car continue to dock in Australia. Nissan has set a year-end target for deliveries of its born-again baby and is now landing the cars needed to hit the bullseye, with big incentives on several fronts to ensure it happens.The current deal includes on-road costs and a $1000 bonus, labelled as the 'Switch' incentive, but if you drill a little deeper you discover the reality of Nissan's pricing push. It effectively means the Pulsar - if you allow $2000 for on-roads and then add the extra $1000 - is a $15,990 car in Australia at the moment. And that's unbeatable buying.The Pulsar is not the best car in the class, and we think it's a bit dowdy in some areas, but it does the job and a lot of people are coming back to the badge after the unfortunate experience - for Nissan and its customers - with the underdone Tiida. What the Pulsar really means is that any brand with a small car to shift needs to be setting the bar low enough to compete with the new Nissan, both sedan and hatch.We've seen it many times in recent years, back from the 1990s when Hyundai was the first to go big on driveaway pricing with its Excel tiddler and other rushed to join the feeding frenzy. It's been the same more recently with five-year warranties and capped-price servicing, which are both intended to give customers a benefit that doesn't affect the car's resale value while also giving them certainty on their purchase.Not long ago, baby cars like the Hyundai i20 were pegged at $15,000 and $19,990 became the default setting for small cars. Toyota admitted as much last year when it landed its all-new Corolla and priced it just below the psychological barrier at $20,000.But the Nissan push has driven down the transaction prices - the level at which cars are really sold, not advertised and definitely not the Recommended Retail Price - considerably below the $19,900 level before on-roads or the near-essential automatic gearbox that drives the deal closer to $25,000.If you scan the advertising over the past month it's easy to find driveaway rivals at $18,990, including the Ford Focus, with most small cars now pitched with an on-road price at $19,990. We've compiled our list of contenders using the RRP because there is always going to be some sort of sales incentive, so keep a sharp lookout and watch for the day when your first choice goes on sale.Best of all for buyers, the price genie is now out of the bottle and - as Nissan continues to push the Pulsar - there will be deals through to the end of 2013 and probably well into next year. And beyond.Holden Cruze Price: from $19,490 Output: 1.8-litre four, 104kW/176Nm; 5-spd manual/6-spd auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 7.0L/100kmThe surprise packet this year, as a seemingly-minor facelift makes the locally-made Cruze a better drive with more class. Now a car you definitely recommend to friends, especially with a tasty starting price.Hyundai i30Price: from $20,990Output: 1.8-litre petrol four, 110kW/178Nm; 6-spd manual and auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 6.5L/100kmAs good as the Toyota Corolla for comfort and class, but better as a value deal and definitely the one to benchmark in this class. The former Carsguide COTY winner has always been good buying, too.Ford FocusPrice: from $20,290 Output: 1.6-litre four, 92kW/159Nm; 5-spd manual/6-spd auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 6.2L/100kmThe best driving car in the class thanks to a tight chassis, although the 1.6-litre base engine is nothing special and nowhere near the fun factor providing by the turbo in the 2-litre ST. A sensible choice, although the dashboard is a confusing miss-match of switches.Nissan Pulsar Price: from $24,990 Output: 1.8-litre four, 96kW/174Nm; 6-spd manual, CVT auto, front-wheel driveThirst: 6.7L/100kmA lot of people have been waiting for the Pulsar to return and it's a solid contender, not an outright leader. Quiet and comfy, for sure, but not as good as some of its rivals. But Nissan has big ambitions for the Pulsar and it's the leader on dollar deals.BUYING SECONDHANDThere was a time, for a very long time, when a Toyota Corolla was the automatic choice for anyone looking to buy their first car. That drove up secondhand prices and helped provide plenty of willing buyers who graduated to a Corolla for their first new car. But not now.The first Japanese baby car to really hit the sweet spot in Australia has been overtaken by compact contenders from South Korea and the Hyundai i30 is the current Carsguide choice for savvy secondhand shopping. A Corolla might look good, and plenty of people still recommend them, but their prices are artificially inflated by their history in Australia.The i30 matches the Corolla in most areas including comfort and economy, and is bulletproof reliable. But it's smarter buying and you can get an equivalent car, or something newer or with fewer kilometres, than you would spend on an equivalent Corolla. What makes the i30 more enticing is the five-year warranty, which means buying near-new at around $15,000 can provide a car that still has the remainder of the manufacturer's cover.If you're spending more, or intent on a diesel engine for long-distance driving, the i30 ticks that box. And there is also an i30 wagon, in a class where SUVs have virtually exterminated the once-popular baby station wagon. 

Here it is. The all-new singing and dancing Pulsar SSS, a name that set many a boy's heart racing a few years back. Most people will associate the name with the early 90s hatch with its defining high rise rear spoiler and bold, `monster' style SSS decals on the back.The new SSS sheds the boy racer looks, cutting a much more conservative figure but Nissan would probably like to think it holds the same sort of appeal. Maybe, maybe not?Priced from $29,240 for the manual and $31,740 for the auto, it remains an interesting proposition. The price buys you a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with 140kW on tap, a body kit and 17 inch alloys - but you'd be forgiven for missing the understated kit that does little to lift the car's image.It is perhaps appropriate at this point to mention the option of the cheaper ST-S model, with the same 1.6-litre turbocharged engine priced from $24,990 - minus the body kit and a some other bits and pieces.At the same time we should all fall to our knees and thank the Nissan Gods for getting rid of the ugly, misshapen Tiida and for restoring the Pulsar name - we hate to say we told you so (but we did).Standard equipment this time around includes leather, dual zone climate air, xenon head lights, six-speaker audio and a 5.8 inch touchscreen computer with satnav and a reversing camera - but why no LEDs?The main selling point, the 1.6-litre direct injection, turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine is a detuned version of the unit that powers the Renault Clio Sport, with 140kW of power and and 240Nm of torque from 2000 revs, with a fuel consumption figure of 7.7 litres of fuel per 100km.This compares with the standard 1.8-litre Pulsar's 96kW and 174Nm, but who really cares? The more interesting figures are those for the 1994 N14 SSS powered by a 2.0-litre twin cam that produced 105kW of power and 179Nm of torque, and used 7.0 litres/100km (the increase in consumption can be explained by the additional weight of the new model with its extra safety systems).Several techniques have been used to reduce friction and make the engine smoother. These include a carbon coating for the valve lifters and mirror finish for the camshafts. Low tension piston rings with a hard ceramic chromium nitride coating are also used along with low friction engine oil. The turbo is paired with either the six-speed manual we tested or a CVT style auto with M or manual mode, the latter designed to optomise power versus economy.The car is surprisingly roomy inside, with an impressive amount of rear legroom that does not appear to have been at the expense of luggage space. The cabin is trimmed to a high standard, with faux carbon fibre surround for the centre instrument console while the computer screen is smallish but functional, with support for bluetooth audio streaming. The boot looks tacky in contrast and hides a full size steel spare wheel.It gets a full five stars for safety, with six airbags, electronic traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.Our manual test car is likely to be the first choice for enthusiasts and while it generally works well, it can be easy to lose track of gates when banging through the gears. Fortunately the turbo doesn't suffer from the same shocking throttle flair that marks the 1.8-litre manual. There's a tiny bit in evidence, but thankfully not enough to be a nuisance.Driving the car for the first time, it's not the extra power but the significant increase in torque that is immediately apparent.  There's a spring in its step in just about every gear and it can make it difficult to identify what gear you're in without reaching for the gear stick.You can feel the car lift as the tacho approaches 3000 revs and the boost from the turbo kicks in. It's a bit awkward to get off the line cleanly, but offers strong mid-range response where you want it. Fitted with 205/50 17s the tyres look a bit skinny for the car, but do a good job of keeping it glued to the road. It felt flighty at first, but tucks into corners and rounds up nicely even when pushed hard.It's no Golf GTI, but then it's not trying to be (and it's about 10 grand cheaper). The SSS is more of an in-betweenie, with a significant increase in performance but there's still plenty of room for improvement in the looks department - Tiida or no Tiida. 

The re-appearance of a Nissan Pulsar in sedan and hatchback variants is welcome as it caters for a wide audience on a budget who want a reliable, practical, economical and well specified car.They call Pulsar a "small" car but the new model is dimensionally more towards medium size, especially in terms of rear seat legroom and boot space. It actually looks like a scaled down Nissan Maxima in sedan form right down to the profile, boot lid shape and front face.And you can get into one right now for $19,990 drive away for the car we drove — an ST manual sedan. That represents a lot of car for the money — a five seat sedan with a full safety suite and an engine that will sip minimal fuel while delivering respectable performance.Adequate power comes from a 96kW/174Nm, 1.8-litre, four-cylinder, long stroke, petrol engine. With variable valve timing in the inlet and exhaust sides, we've seen something similar to this for yonks. It's relatively simple and honest, improved no end with the Xtronic CVT transmission.Some clever technology finds it way inside the engine in the form of  'beehive' valve springs to reduce friction and inertial loss. Nissan says the CVT equipped Pulsar consumes as little as 6.7-litres/100km while the manual goes through a tad more.The new Pulsar's body/chassis is suitably strong and helps the car achieve a five star crash rating as do a range of secondary safety features - air bags, side reinforcements, child restraints and so forth.From the driver's seat, you look at a relatively standard dash with some wow factor in the backlighting and pleasing curves to break up the shape. The overall result looks  good and is easy to use.It's half a decent handling device, a bit roly-poly when pushed but capable of delivering comfort and control in mixed driving environemts. The front suspension is by strut, the rear is a simple torsion beam arrangement. Steering is electro-hydraulic. The strong chassis also cuts noise and vibration which both at low levels in the new Pulsar.Pity the six-speed manual version has what we call throttle flair — when the engine revs don't immediately drop when you change gears. It's an annoying trait that is becoming more prevalent and even plagues the new Toyota Corolla manual. Answer, get the CVT auto, it's a better drive anyway and just as economical.All Pulsar models come with a multi-function steering wheel adjustable for both reach and height as standard. Nissan says "Pulsar's comprehensive audio system remains one of the best in its segment." It's OK especially the peripherals like Bluetooth and multi-media connectivity.We don't mind the new Pulsar as an everyday hack. It's 'honest', not too bad to look at, roomy and very well specified. Only trouble is there's a new Mazda3 coming said to be a cracking good thing and the new Corolla is also a super strong contender... 

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?Replaces the Tiida. Bigger than you might think, just like the Pulsar of old. The Ti is Nissan's top of the line Pulsar with all the bells and whistles.Prices for Pulsar start from $19,990, or $22,390 driveaway. This one goes for $28,990 before on road costs or from $31,660 driveaway.Plenty of them. Mazda3, Corolla, Lancer, Elantra, Cerato to name a few (all of them for around the same price).Nothing special. 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine. It delivers 96kW of power and 174Nm of torque. The engine in the Ti is paired with a seamless CVT auto  but unlike other CVTs does not offer a manual mode.The beauty of CVT is that it continuously optimises power versus economy. This means at 100km/h the engine is barely ticking over at 1700 revs, while at the other end of the gearing spectrum it delivers sharp acceleration off the line.Has a 52-litre tank and takes standard 91RON unleaded. It's rated at 6.7 litres/100km but we were getting closer to 6.2. Mind you the trip computer shows kilometres per litre.Produces 160g/km of CO2 and gets a four out of five star rating from the Green Vehicle Guide (Prius gets five).Gets the Australian stamp of approval with a five-star crashing rating from ANCAP. Comes with six airbags, reversing camera, four-wheel disc brakes, Traction and Vehicle Dynamic Control, ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution, with Brake Assist.Bigger than the Tiida that it replaces, it's quite roomy inside with large, comfortable seats and a huge boot.Easy and adequate, but largely uninspiring. This is a car to get you from A to B. The CVT auto is the pick and delivers better economy. If you want a manual you'll have to drop back a grade and deal with throttle flair.Ti gets partial leather and dual zone air and 17 inch alloys along with satellite navigation as standard. Comes with a full size spare and Bluetooth, but the latter is a right pain in the butt to hook up.It's all about value and for many people this car will represent the perfect solution to the value for money equation.

Kia Cerato S and Nissan Pulsar ST go head-to-head in this comparative review.

During the latter stages of the life of its ill-fated Tiida, Nissan Australia conducted research into the significance of model names to potential buyers. While it came as no surprise that the Pulsar name had been greatly missed, what did raise eyebrows was the fact that the SSS name rated even more highly than that of Pulsar.That research played a large part in Nissan Australia’s decision to reinstate the SSS model as a member of its just launched 2013 Pulsar hatch range.Now, much to the delight of its fans, the Pulsar SSS is back, priced at just $29,290, putting it around $10,000 less than models such as the Subaru WRX and Golf GTi, albeit with significantly less performance than they provide.To distinguish itself from the standard Pulsar, the SSS gets a sportier look with front, side and rear skirts, a modest rear spoiler, front foglamps, LED rear lights and 17-inch alloy wheels.This time around the Pulsar SS comes with a 1.6-litre turbocharged, DiG Turbo (Direct Injection Gasoline) engine pushing out 140 kW of power, and 240 Nm at just 2000 revs.The engine comes with a single scroll turbocharger that sends the SSS sharply off the mark with almost no lag. It’s a punchy unit that’s at its best from 2000 rpm upwards. While the engine note can’t match that of its hotter rivals it still adds a bit of character to the car.We reviewed both the six-speed manual and CVT variants; the manual is light and smooth with plenty of grunt even in sixth gear for safe overtaking. While the manual is still our transmission of choice the addition of steering column mounted paddle shifts to the CVT makes it almost as much satisfying, although it does add $2500 to the price.Suspension is firmer than in the other variants without compromising ride comfort while handling and cornering on the wet roads that we encountered were safe with only slight body roll.There’s excellent interior space in all Pulsar models with well-sized seats and although the SSS does get some extra bolstering it’s not the hip-hugging compression of many similar cars. Pulsar also ticks another of our boxes in that there’s excellent visibility with a large front and rear windscreens and a low beltline.Affordability is the name of the game in the new Nissan Australia lineup and the Pulsar SSS provides plenty of driving excitement at a modest outlay.

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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.

New Nissan Pulsar hatch has joined its sedan sibling that arrived here in February, finally putting an end to the era of the capable but sadly misunderstood Nissan Tiida.We’ve told the story on numerous occasions of the big sales slump that followed on from the decision by Nissan Australia’s corporate masters in Japan to replace the Pulsar nameplate with the new global Tiida badge. Suffice to say that in the four months that the new Pulsar sedan has been on sale it has already sold nearly twice as many units as the Tiida sedan and hatch combined did in the 2012 calendar year.Some of this can be explained by the fact that it’s a new model but there’s no question that many Australian buyers have been sweating on the return of the Pulsar badge, and especially with the five-door hatchback body.In our previous review of the Pulsar sedan we commented on the surprising amount of interior space and this is carried across to the hatch with enough rear leg space and headroom to comfortably sit a pair of six-foot passengers.Even more keenly anticipated, according to the company’s own research, is the SSS variant which hasn’t been available since 2000. The new Pulsar SSS that only comes in hatch format, is powered by a modern 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with direct injection combined with a single scroll turbocharger and an intercooler. These combine to provide 140kW of power with peak torque of 240Nm at 2000 rpm. SSS also gets sports tuned suspension and steering.There are three other variants in the Pulsar hatch range. The entry level Pulsar ST and the ST-L share the same 96kW/174Nm 1.8-litre petrol engine as the sedan while the ST-S also gets the turbo. All Pulsar hatches come with the choice of six-speed manual or CVT automatic with the two turbocharged models also getting a manual mode in the CVT.In such a competitive market segment pricing is paramount and Nissan has screwed down the price of its entry level manual ST to $18,990, a thousand less than the equivalent sedan.Equipment levels are modest in the ST and although it does include Bluetooth telephone you need to get up to the flagship SSS if you want audio streaming. Indeed even a USB socket is missing from the ST which relies on its CD slot or Auxiliary input for entertainment.Safety equipment is good with all models having six airbags, ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution; stability and traction control; and cruise control.The $22,490 ST-L adds front foglights; rear spoiler; USB socket; 4.3-inch colour display; and a rear seat centre armrest. The ST-S Turbo ($24,990) gets 17-inch alloy wheels compared to 16-inch in the ST and ST-L. The extra $4000-odd for the SSS buys a modest body kit; xenon headlights; 5.8-inch touch screen; satellite navigation; Bluetooth audio streaming; reversing camera; leather-accented seat trim; and push-button engine start.CVT adds $2250 to the price of the ST and ST-L and $2500 to that of the ST-S and SSS. All the above prices are recommended retail and do not include on-road costs which Nissan Australia estimates at between $2900 and $3100 depending upon the model.We were able to sample each of the new Pulsar hatch models during the launch test drive. The 1.8 pulled smoothly from as low as 1500 rpm and strongly from 2500 revs. Handling is competent enough, without having any pretensions to sportiness.Nissan was one of the early adopters of CVT transmissions and the Pulsar hatch has what Nissan calls Smooth Start Assist control which reduces the sounds which has turned off some drivers. As it’s a CVT acceleration is super smooth and the strong torque of the engine lets the transmission hold onto high ratios when climbing all but the steepest of hills.Ride comfort is reasonable with moderate tyre noise on all but coarse-chip surfaces, with the Pulsar being particularly smooth and quiet on good quality motorways. Expectations were high for the new Pulsar SSS and it didn’t disappoint. This is an excellent engine highlighted by a lovely sporting note and with plenty of punch even at low revs. Turbo lag is imperceptible. The manual gearbox is light and smooth while the paddle shifts add variety to the CVT’s operation.Suspension is firmer than in the other variants without compromising ride comfort while handling and cornering on the wet roads that we encountered were safe with only slight body roll.For years Nissan fans have been clamouring for the return of the Pulsar and in particular the SSS so we’d be very surprised if dealers aren’t in for a hectic time. If the impressive early sales of the sedan are anything to go by then the new Pulsar hatch may even challenge the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 in the sales race.

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

A feeling of warmth pervades the very middle of the small car class. Barely discernible at the year's outset, the sensation spreads slowly but surely.We speak of the warm hatch - a sub-species to be found pretty much at the mid-point between the $19K economy five-door and the $40K hottie, a la Volkswagen's Golf GTI. As yet there's not a lot of competition in this league - the three you see under “rivals” are almost the field - but the return of a badge to which boy racers once aspired is a sure sign that the game's afoot in the middle ground.The SSS is, for those of a certain age, synonymous with a hatch less ordinary. Discontinued in 2001, it was the model that informed then big-car-loving ‘Strayans that a small car could come with a satisfying serving of performance and a soupcon of fun without being a Subaru Impreza.It's to the middle way that the revived SSS returns, with a slightly lesser ST-S variant to keep the price nicer.Nissan's new hatch range starts from a cheeky $18,990 for the ST manual, a symbolic but meaningless $500 under the far better equipped entry Cruze.ST-S is a new model name, one that includes all the bits found in the mid-grade ST-L but with the turbo engine of the SSS. At $24,490, this is in almost every respect a direct rival for the Cruze SRi, with the expected step above entry kit including front fog lights, rear spoiler, small colour display plus 17-inch alloys and auto adds $2500.From $29,240, the SSS cops intelligent xenon lights, front spoiler and skirts, bigger screen with satnav, rear-view camera with distance guidelines, leather trim and keyless entry and go. This is a shade north of the SRi-V version of the Cruze but the latter lacks satnav, so the triple-S makes the running in this still new terrain.Direct fuel injected four-cylinder turbo petrol engines are de rigueur in European cars, driven by the push to lower emissions. It's been long acknowledged in that part of the planet that a 1.6 or even 1.4 turbo engine can out pull a much bigger and heavier naturally aspirated engine while returning far superior economy.It's a rule that applies beyond affordable small cars. The entire engine line-up of BMW consists of direct injected turbo engines. Take the humble Falcon (please - someone take it): the four-cylinder direct injection Ecoboost loses nothing in performance to the ancient straight six while sipping and emitting far less. Yet among Japan’s makers, Nissan is almost alone in grasping let alone implementing this.This example of the species puts out a nice 140kW/240Nm, placing it firmly in the thick of the warm hatch milieu. Naturally a six-speed manual is the standard transmission but the Pulsar's auto option - uniquely in this sub-segment - is a continuously variable jobbie with manual presets.The Pulsar sedan, released earlier this year, is among the better selling small cars. You could be forgiven for being unaware of this, so utterly anonymous is its design. Possibly there have been cars of less inspiring appearance but the Nissan four-door is nigh on invisible.The hatchback, of which two milder versions are released this week in addition to the turbo twins, is going to be easier to find in a crowded carpark.It's very much of the moment stylised lights, sharp creases and high sill line, which does little for the little ones who want to see out of the back.That incremental price increase between grades - some $5000 between ST-S and SSS - is fair enough given the step up in quality. Still, this is no Audi, nor even a Golf - though at the moment that could be a good thing.But seriously, folks, you might get leather and bigger satnav screen in the SSS but you're not unaware that this is (like the Cruze SRi-V) a mildly embellished econo-car. Yet there's plenty of air in there. As it stands a smidge taller than most small cars, grown-ups won't hate being in the back.Pulsar's sedan was smashed into the wall by ANCAP earlier this year, earning the maximum five-star rating. The local crash test authority made particular mention of advanced seat belt reminders fitted to the front seats.“In the frontal offset crash test,” it found, “driver chest protection was acceptable and upper leg protection was marginal. Passenger chest and leg protection was acceptable. In the side impact crash test, driver chest protection was acceptable. Head protection in the side pole test was good.”So there you are.The legend grown in the telling? Or was it not much of a yarn in the first place? Who can remember? And who, today, cares?Suffice that on the road, the story of the resurrected SSS has been adapted for our times, a narrative of urban utility and family friendliness enlivened by a spicy B-road subplot.You can't say this otherwise worthy but unremarkable Thai-built small car has been transformed per se but it's certainly been enhanced. A modicum of suspension and damper tautening, and no more than that, abets a talented little engine that delivers torque almost immediately north of idle and keeps it coming hot and strong.This engine works in the city, where the need to work the manual shifter is largely removed, as well as on amusing stretches of road, where it nevertheless revs cleanly to 6000rpm without protest.It would have been informative to sample the CVT/turbo combo (none was available so we'll bring that to you soon) but for once it's not merely an auto hack's indulgence to extol a manual. Yes, fewer of you want to swap cogs for yourself, but if ever you've derived satisfaction from this simple but fulfilling act here's a manual well worth trying. A silken shift marries happily with this clutch's progressive take-up.Again though, this is about a nice warm feeling rather than stove hotness, and the SSS's notable body roll and comparative softness serve to arrest back-road banditry. These characteristics would be grievous faults in a GTI or Focus ST yet they serve here to inform the drive and make tolerable the ride.An unusually spacious car for its type seems to shrink around you when driven with intent, a neat trick and just the double act required.  Lesser in terms of kit and price, the ST-S loses nothing on the road. The Cruzes against which these Pulsars are positioned are that bit more adept and can be optioned with one of best six-speed autos around. The comparison awaits.You need no longer drop $40K for a fun-to-drive small car. The SSS and sibling confirm the arrival of the warm hatch, the car that comes in a family-sized serving with individual satisfaction.