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Mild Hatching - SEAT Leon vs Nissan Pulsar
8 Jun 2017
Very often, when we own a car here, it would mean that we buy what is within our means. The common sedan econobox would likely be top on our list.
But what if, we are not too keen on buying a sedan, and would pursue the slippery slope of looking chic, having excellent fuel economy, without being SUV pretentious… and the list goes on…
Perhaps the humble hatch might be an excellent solution.
The SEAT Leon and Nissan Pulsar are peas…. In the same pod… but they couldn’t be so different. One carries German roots with Spanish flair (more like built in Spain), the other a Japanese hatch also Spanish-built.
The Pulsar is Nissan’s answer to what a compact hatch for the European market should be… Small-in-footprint, easy to drive and chic. SEAT, on the other hand built a car which is, small in footprint, easy to drive and chic….
Externally, the Nissan has built a car with very beautiful and flowy styling. From the signature “V” shaped grille, to the crisply styled bonnet and side profile. On the lower section of the doors, additional sculpting, with a bulge, adding to the visual girth of the compact hatch. The SEAT also features similarly crisp lines, but styling-wise, the Spanish car is more muted on the sheet metal. But both cars sport very tastefully designed headlamps.
Visually though, the Leon does look a little less sporty, thanks to the smaller 16” rims, and chubby tyres, which in a practical sense, do offer more comfort. The Pulsar on the other hand does have 17” units, which fit better in the car’s wheel arches.
Where practicality is concerned, the Pulsar does sit on a slightly longer wheelbase, thus offering just that little more overall leg space, which shows in the rear. But while it may be better in doing this, the quality of the materials used in the interior does pale quite a bit, as compared to the SEAT’s. While the Leon’s plastic dash has been kept simple, albeit a little on the boring side, one cannot deny the superior fit and finish. The Pulsar’s dash is littered with glossy bits of trim, which may look decent at first glance, but park beside a Leon, and somehow it may come across as cheap. Furthermore, the steering wheel design for the Pulsar does look rather awkward, and is not as good to hold, as compared to the Leon’s.
As for cargo room, both cars have very similar boot space, with the Pulsar’s decent 385 litres, just edging the Leon by 5 litres. Furthermore when both cars have their 60:40 rear folding seats dropped, there is the issue of a kerb made by them, which could get in the way, when loading larger items into the rear.
But the near-dead ringer of what both cars can do ends here. How they drive is really a different story. While both cars are equipped with turbocharged 1.2 litre units, which drive the front wheels, Nissan had opted for power transference to come from a (7-speed) CVT, wait… it is a CVT, hence the 7 ‘ratios’ are rather virtual; while the Volkswagen-engineered SEAT has stuck with a 7-speed DSG, very nice indeed. The advantage leans to the SEAT, with a 0-100km/h acceleration at 9.9 seconds, it isn’t very quick, but certainly quicker than the Pulsar’s 10.5 seconds.
Additionally, the Volkswagen MQB platform shows its advantage when the SEAT is driven harder. There is substantially less chassis flex, which is rather evident in the Pulsar when pitching it around a tight bend. Additionally, the Pulsar’s steering does feel a little more artificial as compared to the SEAT. And yes, that SEAT steering is so much better to hold.
Yes yes… we know that most of us will not do such a thing, as our car all over. But as a daily driver, both cars may deliver, but somehow, the Pulsar, although priding itself in that little more room and sporty styling, does offer a rather uninspiring drive.
We would feel, beyond doubt that the SEAT would be a much better car to live with in this case. And out of both cars which are Spanish-built, the Leon is a clear winner…. Then again, there is that thing about a 1.2 litre Volkswagen Golf…
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SwiftQuote helped me get the highest possible price for my car, when many dealers around were low-balling me. Very impressed with their response time and how fast I managed to sell my car. The dealer that bought my car was also very genuine and it was a fuss free process, 10/10 would recommend.
Santhosh Haridass - 5 hours ago
Very efficient , i sold my car in 3 days after register with SwiftQuote. would recomend to all buyer to use it.
Lim Leong Boon - 5 hours ago
Quick and hassle free. Got a good price for my car
Kok Wen Yen - 1 week ago
Fast to get a quote and so easy to complete the transaction with the dealer. Thumb up! Thank u.
Ricky - 1 week ago
A happy customer ! Swiftquote provides fast and courteous service. I sold to the 3rd prospective buyer within a week. I appreciate the speed and how swiftquote keeps me updated as things move.
Nitin Pande - 1 week ago
Friendly customer service (Ms Renai), fair pricing, easy liaise, easy transaction and easy transfer.
Abdul Rahman Bin Kamis - 2 weeks ago
My experience with SwiftQuote for selling my car was one the best. I got a very good quote, reliable and good purchaser and the was mediated such that gave me peace of mind.
Muhammad Raza Zaidi - 2 weeks ago
Efficient process and platform. Very active and engaging Client Success Manager. Happy and pleasant experience. Thank you.
Ms Yap - 2 weeks ago
Prompt service and experienced agent. Will recommend my friends and relatives .
Suruji Rawi - 2 weeks ago
Very prompt quote received over the weekend and great support from Angie to liaise and follow up with the car dealer leading up to handover/sale of car. The car dealer is patient to explain the required procedures and followed thru by the book. Overall very satisfied with the experience.
Koh Li Sian - 3 weeks ago
Engine |
|
| Engine Capacity | 1197cc |
| Engine Type | Inline 4 |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 |
| Bore x Stroke | (71 x 75.6)mm |
| Power | 109bhp |
| Torque | 175Nm |
| Power to Weight | 81.6 bhp per ton |
Performance |
|
| Acceleration | 9.9s (0-100 km/h) |
| Top Speed | 194 km/h |
| Fuel Consumption (combined) | 20.4 km/L |
Misc Technical Data |
|
| Transmission | 7 -speed DSG |
| Drive Type | FF |
| Steering | Electric |
Measurements |
|
| Body Type | 5 Door Hatch |
| Dimension (L x W x H) |
(4263 x 1816 x 1459) mm |
| Wheelbase | 2636 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1335 kg |
| Boot Capacity | 380 L |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L |
Brakes |
|
Engine |
|
| Engine Capacity | 1197cc Turbocharged |
| Engine Type | Inline 4 |
| Compression Ratio | 10.1:1 |
| Bore x Stroke | (72.2 x 73.1)mm |
| Power | 113bhp @ 5200rpm |
| Torque | 165Nm @ 1750rpm |
| Power to Weight | 89.3 bhp per ton |
Performance |
|
| Fuel Consumption (combined) | 19.6 km/L |
Misc Technical Data |
|
| Drive Type | FF |
| Steering | Electric |
Measurements |
|
| Body Type | 5 Door Hatch |
| Dimension (L x W x H) |
(4387 x 1768 x 1515) mm |
| Wheelbase | 2700 mm |
| Turning Circle | 10.9 metres |
| Kerb Weight | 1265 kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 46 L |
Brakes |
|
| Brakes (Front) | Discs |
| Brakes (Rear) | Discs |