Only one year has passed since Nissan->ke62 revived its Datsun->ke4307 brand by introducing the GO hatchback, and the Japanese manufacturer has just confirmed its return to the compact->ke140 car segment (C-segment in Europe) with a brand-new vehicle.

Dubbed Pulsar, a name previously used for a line of compact cars sold in Asia and Australia since 1978 (not to be confused with the Pulsar NX sports car marketed in the U.S. between 1983 and 1990), the new vehicle is a five-door hatchback->ke304 aimed at models such as the Volkswagen Golf->ke164 and the Ford Focus->ke440.

Nissan->ke62's recipe for the Pulsar is pretty much simple and includes an instantly recognizable design with styling cues borrowed from the Qashqai->ke1889, small, turbocharged engine that deliver decent power and return attractive fuel economy, and a price tag that's likely to put the hatchback below most of its competitors.

A big bet for the Japanese automaker in Europe, the Pulsar is basically insignificant to the U.S. market, with Nissan having no plans to ship it across the ocean. This might very well change depending on vehicle's success in Europe, but we're at least a couple of years away from a pertinent verdict. Either way, the Pulsar is a hatchback worth looking at, and that's what we're about to do after the jump.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Nissan Pulsar.

2015 Nissan Pulsar

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Nissan Pulsar
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 115
  • Transmission: 6-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Despite being a brand-new car, the Pulsar doesn't stray too much from the company's current design language. Up front it has the trademark V-motion grille seen on models such as the Rogue->ke2176 or the Qashqai->ke1889. The creased hood and the boomerang-shaped LED units incorporated into the headlamps are the other details that make the Pulsar instantly recognizable as a modern Nissan.

Viewed from the side, the hatchback is quite muscular, with bold lines connecting the front fenders to the rear bumper and taillights. The latter aren't as daring as the units fitted on the 2015 Murano, but the boomerang styling has been embedded in this area as well. Overall, the Pulsar is far from being a beauty contest winner, but Nissan did manage to add the dash of aggressiveness every customer is looking for these days to its new design language.

Boomerang-style headlamps

2015 Nissan Pulsar - Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,700 MM (106.29 Inches)

Length

4,385 MM (172.63 Inches)


Interior

If there's one thing Nissan can brag about when it comes to the Pulsar's interior, it's the wheelbase. The car measures 106.3 inches (2,700 mm) from wheel to wheel and provides 27.2 inches (692 mm) of rear legroom, more than a few larger sedans sold in Europe. Trunk space is also expected to pose a threat to class leaders, but Nissan has yet to reveal the full specs.

While it fares pretty good when it comes to roominess and cargo space, the Pulsar is behind its main rivals in terms of cabin materials and refinement. In short, customers will get a lot of shiny plastic for the buck, with only a few chrome inserts to add a bit of cheer to the center console and the steering wheel. The dashboard, on the other hand, features a sizable, blue piece that runs each side of the console and goes all the way to the door panels.

Technology-wise, customers will be able to make use of plenty of safety features, including Forward Emergency Braking, Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Warning. As far as convenience equipment goes, the Pulsar will arrive in showrooms with the company's second-generation NissanConnect system with smartphone integration and Google Send-to-Car access to an array of apps.

Drivetrain

As with most Nissans available in Europe, the Pulsar will be launched with two small displacement, turbocharged engines. A 1.2-liter gasoline unit that's also available on the Juke->ke3600 and Qashqai will deliver 113 horsepower (115 PS), while a 1.5-liter dCi diesel will crank out 108 horsepower (110 PS) and 192 pound-feet of torque (260 Nm). Both can be paired to either the standard six-speed manual gearbox or the optional XTronic automatic transmission. A third engine, a turbocharged, 1.6-liter four-pot rated at 187 horsepower (190 PS) will join the Pulsar lineup next year, and this version will be aimed at higher-spec versions of the Golf.

2015 Nissan Pulsar - Drivetrain/Specifications

Type

1.2-liter DIG-T

1.5-liter dCi

1.6-liter turbocharged

Output

115 HP

110 HP

190 HP

Torque

TBA

191 LBS-FT

TBA

Transmission

Six-Speed Manual

Six-Speed Manual

Six-Speed Manual


Prices

The Pulsar isn't available in the U.S., but in the U.K. it retails from £15,995 (about $24,550) in base Visia trim. The Acenta model starts from £17,945 ($27,550), while the N-TEC trim fetches at least £19,295 ($29,600). Lastly, the range-topping Tekna version retails from £20,645 ($31,700), but it can cost in excess of £22,645 ($34,770) with the more powerful gasoline engine and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Competitors

Volkswagen Golf

Introduced at the 2013 New York Auto Show, the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor. The hatchback is also more aerodynamic that the outgoing model and returns better fuel economy.

The car's new design blends classic Golf elements and brand-new cues alike and incorporates reworked bumpers, a cleaner front grille and updated lights. Cabin highlights include a modern center console with simplified controls, enhanced legroom and shoulder room and more upscale details on all trims.

Engine-wise, the Volkswagen Golf is retailed with a choice of two powerplant in the United States. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, while a 2.0-liter four-pot diesel generates 150 horsepower and 236 pound-feet. Both units can be mated to either a manual or an automatic transmission.

Pricing begins at $17,995, but a range-topping diesel Golf can fetch more than $29,000.

Ford Focus

The Ford Focus received an extensive updated for the 2015 model year, being fitted with the company's trademark front grille and all-around details previously seen on the smaller Fiesta. The interior has been updated as well and now sports a more refined look and a brand-new SYNC AppLink.

Also new is the 1.0-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost, a tiny engine that develops 100 horsepower and returns an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway. The fuel-sipper will only be available connected to a six-speed manual transmission. The new unit joins the already familiar 2.0-liter four-pot rated at 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque through either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

Pricing for the 2015 Focus has yet to be revealed, but the sticker shouldn't remain close to where it is with the current vehicle. Expect the hatchback to begin just above the $17,000 mark, with the Electric version to retail for at least $36,000.

Conclusion

It's hard to believe the Nissan Pulsar will have a shot against the much more popular Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, but the Japanese compact is likely to snatch some of the customers that are looking for a more affordable ride without many of the premium amenities that can be found in a German car. Although it's not impressive in terms of styling and power - at least not until the 1.6-liter engine arrives - the Pulsar is exactly what Nissan needed to keep pushing those European sales in the green.