AFTER a ten-year absence, during which time it focused heavily on compact crossovers, Nissan is back in the family hatchback market.

The five-door Pulsar offers class-leading rear legroom and boot capacity and a choice of three excellent engines - 1.2 DIG-T 115PS and 1.2 DIG-T 190PS petrol units or 1.5 dCi 110PS diesel - together with some engaging technical touches that might just swing the deal.

There's no doubt that a lot of thought has gone into providing practical solutions such as built-in luggage dividers and additional hidden rear boot space to ensure the safety and security of loads.

With a potential to increase the 385 litres of boot space to 1,395 litres if the rear seats are folded flat, this is a car designed to handle much of what is now demanded of a family car.

Yet its dimensions make it easy to park and a doddle to drive along busy city streets.

I am always wary of diesel engines in small cars. Quite often I am left feeling it's a marriage made somewhere other than in heaven.

But having tested the diesel offering for a week I have to say that it's lack of gruff engine noise combined with hushed cruising make it a genuine alternative to the petrol units.

Factor in the official combined mpg figure of 78.5mpg (I achieved a figure of no more than 66mpg) and it starts to make a lot of sense, not only to company car drivers but also the private buyer.

There's very little excitement to be had, but that's not the Pulsar's role in life. If your priorities are economy and space, with a few comforts thrown in, then the Pulsar will fit the bill.

The Pulsar provides a ride that’s not too firm and combines this with a decent level of refinement and ease of handling.

A sprint time of 0 to 62mph in 11.5 seconds might be described as disappointing, but only to those who really should be behind the wheel of something quite different.

The diesel offering hangs on to the power and becomes such a quiet companion at cruising speeds that you soon warm to its character.

Nissan is keen to promote the Pulsar as a value-for-money proposition. Standard equipment levels are generous, while the cost options include kit you would normally only find on more expensive models. Collision and blind spot warning systems, reversing camera, Internet-enabled infotainment systems and powerful LED headlights are among the highlights. And as for the asking price, the Pulsar is keenly positioned below the likes of the more driver-focused VW Golf and Ford Focus.

Looks-wise it trades heavily on Nissan's range of SUVs, while the car’s basic underpinnings and power train technology are proven items.

The Pulsar offers traditional C-segment buyers an alternative to the Qashqai crossover, and will open the brand to a new and wider audience.

It is available in four familiar grades – Visia, Acenta, n-tec and Tekna – giving buyers the ability to easily choose a model that best suits their lifestyle and their budget. Xtronic automatic transmission is available across the range.

The entry level Visia, priced from £15,995, is well equipped and features an array of standard equipment typically only found on higher specification rivals, including a five-inch colour screen, steering wheel mounted controls, Bluetooth and air conditioning.

Those choosing the Acenta model, priced from £17,645, benefit from added extras like forward emergency braking, automatic lights and wipers and Nissan’s i-Key system.

Meanwhile, the n-tec, which starts at £18,995, adds large 17-inch alloys, privacy glass and Nissan’s signature LED lights. It also offers two much sought- after features – a helpful colour reversing camera and NissanConnect 2, a state-of-the-art infotainment system offering full smartphone integration, Google Send-to-Car and access to a wide variety of useful and informative apps. The screen may be small compared with those of some rivals, but it responds well to touch and its interface is easy to get to grips with.

Finally, the range-topping Tekna, priced from £20,345, adds further Nissan Safety Shield technologies including forward emergency braking, moving object detection, lane departure warning and blind spot warning.

l For more details or a test drive visit Alexanders Nissan York, Great North Way, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6RB. Phone 0844 846 7445 or

go to the website, alexanders-nissan.co.uk