Nissan Pulsar B17 (Sedan) ST-L (2013-2017)

A family car – I had my Pulsar for 7 years now , done 120,000 kms. It's a family car for getting to work & around the city however no wow factor in handling. I have driven Melb - Sdy and to other regional trips in this car without issues. I note the reported issues with CVT on this forum so I rang my Nissan dealer to check on the warranty cover in case the… Read more

CVT fails. They said if the CVT fails -- its not a warranty issue; as this engine part is considered as subject to wear and tear ! So do not hold high hopes for them to come to the rescue on the CVT issue. So on that note I make sure I have the transmission fluid replaced every 70000 km. So far the CVT has held up -- touch wood.

Absolute piece of junk - Nissan Pulsar – Got transmission failure just under 70,000km when the vehicle has up to date service records. I got told by friends that Nissan X-trail has the same issue as well. My friend got his x-trail’s transmission replaced twice within a year and is very frustrated. Don’t go with any of Nissan’s car. Make a wise decision. Don’t buy these crapy cars in a rush, you will for sure regret after.  Show details

the best ever bought – to work and holidays. use it every day. bought one new in 2014 and another new one feb. 2017 extremely spacious and easy to drive. have done the services and has never caused any problems. hope the new pulsar will come soon Show details

Good honest car!!! – Purchased 2012 build Pulsar ST-L sedan, 6 speed manual, with 175000 klm on the clock in late January 2020. Purpose of car is for learner driver education (driving instructor vehicle) Bought via private sale with fair/good service history. As expected, body/paint, engine/transmission, interior all fair to good condition for age and kilometres… Read more

travelled. Everything works with no signs of misuse or abuse.

This vehicle is an everyday drive, with learner drivers operating with ease. Nothing unusual or complex to operate. First service since buying, mid May 2020 with registration inspection revealing rear shocks to be replaced (no big deal, as they were the factory originals)

Only issue experienced is hydraulic clutch mechanism. When in gear (1st or reverse) and clutch is depressed, after a short time the clutch starts to engage and the car moves (either forward or back, depending on which gear you're in) This may be caused by the wear to the clutch slave cylinder or a worn seal in the clutch master cylinder.

Don't let the above put you off considering purchasing a Nissan Pulsar 6 speed manual. I put this down to normal wear and tear with consideration to age and kilometres travelled. As always, have any second hand vehicle checked out by a qualified mechanic for your own peace of mind.

Would I purchase another Nissan Pulsar? ABSOLUTELY!!!! They are a very good car.

Anyone who resides on the Central Coast of NSW wanting to learn to drive with instruction from an accredited driving instructor, call Murray Besley on Mob. 0401 003 581. Manual vehicle supplied or bring your own manual or automatic car.

Beware CVT Transmission – Car is mostly driven on a freeway, family car & meticulous service history. At 160000kms the CVT transmission went on the vehicle. It has got a lot more kms than most who have CVT issues but 160000 for the trans needing to be replaced is not acceptable. Nissan haven't wanted to know about the issue, i will never purchase another Nissan again, or any vehicle that has a CVT trasmission. Show details

It's very good except power – I had driven Pulsar ST 2013 CVT when I traveled in Queesland 2015. I think the car out look is great and the interior space is really big such as head&leg rooms, rear seat has rear air condition vent(sedan model only), these make me shock, it could be the biggest interior space in same class on the maket. However, interior is nothing special… Read more

except room, it's basic as if other comments said. As for the transmission, I think that it was something wrong because the engine always ran high-rpm noisily around 6000rpm but the car was running slowly, especially on downing hill. The acceleration was slow, lack of power. When I started on hill, it was worse.

After 3 years, I have bought the same model but it's manual. Acceleration and power are a bit better than CVT and runs economy fuel. It has been my daily drive.

If you are looking for a economy car which has a big interior space, Pulsar B17 is an ideal car. If you prefer to have a nice driving experience, definitely it isn't your cup of tea.

Pros

5-Star safety rate

Interior space is really big in same class

of cars

Cons

Lack of power

Plastic & basic interior

The Nissan Pulsar STL 2013 is a crap! DON'T BUY! – The transmission of the car broke just only after 3 years of use with only 37,000 kms. I would never buy another NISSAN car again! And what is very disappointing is the warranty is only for 3 years! In addition, I was promised a 2014 car but then, car given was later found out to be manufactured 2013. Marketing can be quite dodgy and lacking in transparency!  Show details

Just ok – Maybe I'm never a fan of nissan, but put my personal bias behind. The car was ok to drive, not particularly feature packed, and till today nissan has no plans to integrate apple carplay into their entire line of sedan and suv which is a big bummer. Driving wise, just ok, not as good as toyota though.  Show details

Great reliable car – Nice size good looking car. Reliable and uncomplicated I love the way it drives, doesn't have a huge amount of grunt, you arent going to break any land speed records in this car and it's probably more suited to a slow and steady driver than a speed freak. All in all I love the convenience and reliability of the pulsar and the price was fantastic compared to other small cars on the market at the moment.  Show details

Nissan Pulsar 2016 – I really enjoy the fuel economy, I used to waste so much petrol with my old car, about $50 every 3 weeks for petrol, but now I'm paying 50 for a 2 months. I enjoy the reverse camera and its very roomy, however the back seats don't fold down. Also the bluetooth connectivity works well.  Show details

could be better, could be worse – the car is fairly good to drive, i originally bought it for work as the size of the care was what i needed, but has since changed jobs and am not enjoying driving it as much. amazing after sale service though so i'm happy enough and i would buy another nissan again.  Show details

Excellent Car – I really enjoy driving this car, handles well, smooth just a nice drive. Roomy and comfortable with a nice big boot. The whole family loves this car. No dramas so far and good service when it is due for its registered servicing needs. Its a brand I'll be sticking with  Show details

Very Reliable Car – I had bought this car in Dec 2016. I love this car, very comfortable, reliable, fuel economical. Boot is really big. I didn't gave 5 stars because the rear seats are not a split seats. Nissan that needs to work on that. I also owned a big brother Pathfinder as well......  Show details

Best value for money. Unstoppable – I have been driving this car for the last 4 years and I have travelled more than 110,000. This car has not missed a beat. I haven't even been sticking to the servicing schedule and travelled on dirt and gravel roads on a regular basis. The only things i replaced since purchasing are oils, filters, tyres, wiper blades and that's it! Not even battery or break pads.... Awesome spacious, practical and economical vehicle.  Show details

had for hire only – A little big car, with excellent fuel economy. In the old term over 42 miles per imperial gallon (about 6.4 LP100K). The interior room is great, with a decent size boot. I hired this, as I had to get a wheel chair in. The chair fitted, while folded, but without having to take any bits off and still had room for luggage (bonus). I owned… Read more

Nissans from 1982 until 2007 and the only thing that would stop me buying this car, is simply that the 1.8 engine is not the best match for the car size (it did struggle under load). And, its $5-8K plus extra for the t 140KW 1.6 SSS. Now, if they could put the 1.6 in the other models, they would have a greater car

outdated navigation system in brand new car – Bought Nissan Pulsar in Feb 2016, Nissan Australia confirms that it had the latest but later informs that it has the latest map at the time when it was built, how can 2013 map be latest in 2015 built car? The navigation does not even take me to my own house built in 2014. There are hundreds who have the same problem. Can we form a group and take it up with ACCC?  Show details

Overall a very good car – I purchased this new in 2013. I have now done 42200 k's. Overall I have had only 1 major issue with this car. But first about the positive things: Very economical. I was surprised that for a larger, heavy car, with a 1.8l motor how good the fuel consumption is. The best we have had so far is 5.5l per 100k's. The worst is 7.6l per 100k's. It is a… Read more ·  1

beautiful car to drive. Very quite, at times thought motor wasn't running, returned on ignition. It handles very well, the 6 speed manual transition takes a bit to get used to.

The interior is nice and spacious, with fantastic leg room. Easy to read dash. Comfortable and supportive seats. Love the huge boot.

The negative things:

The motor I feel is a little under powered for the size of car. Definitely not a race car, but sensible. The head lights are a bit weak, I put a light bar on which has made the world of difference. There is no rear fold split seats in back of car, but a stupid little opening to the boot. I also hate the hand brake being on the passenger side. The manual gearbox is a bit unevenly spaced, get lost sometimes trying to find the right gear, and I have driven manuals before (Mazda) with not so much trouble.

The fuel gauge is set to empty at 43litres, (53litre fuel tank) so you always have 10litres remaining after gauge says you need to fill up. A bit of over kill. Yes have a reserve, may be 5litres, but on 10litres I can get up to 150-180 k's extra. I hate how the gauge says you have 60k's remaining then a second later says you have zilch.

The tyres are the Bridgestone eco. Not a bad tyre. Thought they were good until I put on the Yokohoma eco tyres. I found they are more superior than the Bridgestone. I get better steering control, more direct, noticed increase in fuel economy. I have a major rear tyre wear problem with this car (hence the new tyres). The rear tyres wear unevenly. This car has a fixed rear axle, so there can be no cambor adjustments, etc. Whilst they are in specs, the uneven tyre wear cannot be explained by Nissan.They say there is nothing wrong with them it is just normal wear. It showed up at 15000k's and by 40000k's the whole side was worn. My research showed that this is a problem in the American Nissan models.

My Verdict: Overall a very reliable, economical and sound car for small family or a couple.

April 15th 2017 Update: Update

I have now done 55000 km and still happy with my Nissan. Outside the tyre issue I have had no problems with it. The new tyres have done 14000km so I won't yet know whether the same issue will reoccur. I recently used United fuel and found that It gave me more power. Soon will be out of warranty so be interesting in what happens.

A Very Good Car with some Minor Issues – Purchased this new in 2013, as an ST-L CVT and have done 47000 k"s. The Good. My Pulsar has been genuinely flawless, has been perfectly reliable Transmission is smooth, kids love it due to the rear leg room, the boot is huge and fuel economy has been pretty good. Overall an excellent, comfortable reliable family car. The Bad. The paint finish on… Read more

mine ( metallic red), is average. It scratches quite easily and appears to be quite thin, though from what I can gather it's quite common with most vehicles made in Thailand. I find the steering is ok, but requires a little bit of attention and feels like its wondering a little when driving at 100 kmh +, apart from that its fine. Have only had the servicing done once thru Nissan, the rest has been thru Automasters. The Verdict. If your after a car to be a boy racer at the lights, forget it. The performance isn't bad, but its not going to win at the lights. If your after a car that has lots of room, has a nice smooth transmission, is very reliable and doesn't kill your wallet at the pump, it might just be the right one.

Sat Nav issues – We upgraded from the basic model to Mid range only because of the satellite navigation, but the maps are 2012 maps. We reported this issue during the delivery and was advised that the maps would be updated at the first service. But this did not happen. Have since spoken to the dealer and nissan directly but in vain. I am pretty sure i am not the… Read more

only one stung by this issue. If you are buying nissan and upgrading for inbuilt satellite navigation think again.

Not love at first sight, but it's grown on me – Ok I love the thing. Now you have to understand my previous car was a Holden Cruze so it's unusual to be in a car that feels solid, sound and does not break down. The model I purchased was a ST-L, it's well equipped very very economical, it's. Just done 10,000 km and it's consuming 7.3l per 100km in the city. It has enough power, and the car is… Read more ·  1

quite large for a small car. Build quality is exceptional and overall value for money is a key factor. Down sides to this car is the size of the petrol tank it could be larger. And on the sedan the rear seats don't fold down, so my bike has to be completely pulled apart when I'm transporting it. The service at the dealership is exceptional (main north Nissan) they are fast, bend over backwards, and you get more than just a filter and an oil change, and all this while you wait. I experienced the same well priced when I once took my Renault there.

Great car – This review is based on a 2013 Nissan Pulsar ST-L Sedan in manual guise. I have owned this car from new and have traveled approximately 2500Km. Initial impressions were very good. I wasn't even in the market for a Pulsar but it was worth a look because there are sales in many cases and the dealer sounded like they were willing to do a good… Read more

deal. It's main rivals are the Corolla and Mazda 3 (at least to me) and it fairs very well against them. The Mazda 3 is basically a runout model (2nd Gen) so I was hesitant to plonk $20,000 down on a car that was changing shape in a few months. The Corolla, whilst a solid offering, lacked the refinement and presence of the Pulsar (at least in my opinion).

edit (10/03/14) - The new Mazda 3 (3rd Gen) has just come out, but I missed the boat. The new Corolla Sedan is another contender.

Overall, the fit, finish and refinement are the standout features. The car feels very solid and put together well. Getting into this after driving the new Corolla was a revelation. Truly in a different class.

The ST-L model has upgraded cloth trim (which is very nice) and an upgraded stereo system. Fog lights and rear wing are the only other differentiating features. If I hadn't gotten such a good deal on the ST-L I probably would have been more than happy with the ST model. The car is quiet and considering it's target market feels a lot more upmarket than it's price and name suggest.

The engine felt weak in the first 1000Km but it has since loosened up. You have to work it a little bit as peak torque figures are at 4800 rpm. It really starts to get going at about 3800 but you get a nice growl from 4800 all the way to red line. Considering the market, the engine is more than adequate even if it is slightly down on its competitors engines.

By far, the most impressive feature of the car is the size of the rear. It feels as big as a big sedan (think Commodore, and Falcon) in the back, comfortably seating adults and kids alike. The rear seat has all your amenities such as cup holders and A/C vents. The boot is monumentally big, bigger than a Falcon is the way it was described to me by the Nissan dealer.

The sound system is nice with USB connectivity, auxillary port and Bluetooth Phone connectivity (more on that later).

Petrol has been very good. I average about 8L/100Km (almost exactly what the sticker says) in average driving but it ranges anywhere between 6 to 12L/100Km.

My first gripe is with the cruise control. There is no way to discern whether you have the Cruise control set. There is a "cruise" light on the dash, but setting it doesn't illuminate it. You basically have to feel for it by the seat of your pants. How hard would it have been to have a "set" light?

My next issue, and by far my biggest annoyance is the manual gearbox. It feels really notchy. My 1992 Pulsar, by memory, felt even better than this. It's borderline terrible and had I known how bad, would've opted for the CVT. I recommend taking it for a test drive and see if you can live with it. It hasn't gotten better since new. I will get them to check it at 10K to see if they can do anything about it.

My next issue has to do with the Bluetooth. Sound quality is OK (that's what I've been told anyway, apparently I sound like a chipmunk in a noisy tunnel) and functionality is limited. You cant download your phonebook entries into the system so you cant see who's calling without looking at your phone. You can manually transfer entries but on my Android phone is never worked. Bluetooth streaming also isn't available on ST and ST-L systems. That means you can't play music on your phone and stream them to your system via Bluetooth.

The tyres seem to squeal a lot. They are Ecopia tyres in 195 width. The competitors all have 205 width tryes on the same size wheels. I am sure this has to do with economy but it seems like skimp.

edit (10/03/14) - tyres don't squeal any more (3500Km), it seems like they just needed some bedding in.

Handling such as this is simply unacceptable when you have competition like Mazda3 (the benchmark). It feels boaty and can induce lift off oversteer if pushed slightly. Basically, you need to drive this like a sensible adult who doesn't expect any fun out of their car. Which I suppose it OK considering its target market and price.

For some odd reason, the rear seats don't fold down to create a larger boot space. You get a silly ski hatch in the middle which has saved me on one trip to Bunnings but it really can't compare with a full folding system. It's available on the B17 Sentra in the USA, but we don't get it here.

For some odd reason, the trip computer shows the petrol consumption as KM/L rather than L/100KM. This means you're endlessly inversing the numbers to get the numbers that are often used as standard (eg 12.5Km/L translates to 8L/100Km, ie a higher number is better on the screen).

One other minor gripe is the size of the fuel tank. At the point where the petrol light comes on, the tank fits 36L. I haven't consulted the manual but I am assuming it's a 40L tank which gives you 400Km on a tank. All of my previous Pulsar's had larger tanks than this and closer to 60L would have been much better.

edit (10/03/14) - the manual mentions 55L so I will be raising this concern at the 10K service.

Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase.

I'll continue to update this review if/when there is anything to add/remove. Comfort, refinement, frugal petrol consumption, features Notchy manual, handling, BT streaming, phonebook download, fuel tank size