If you are in the market for a new car it is easy to see how cumbersome the car selection process can be, as there are plenty of models to choose from. The same can be said about compact cars, there are plenty of models to choose from making it so difficult to decide which one to go for. In this article, we will compare two subcompacts, Nissan Pulsar vs Ford Focus by taking a look at their interior, exterior, engine, and practicality, hoping to make it easy for you to choose between the two. Please follow through.
Nissan Pulsar vs Ford Focus Side-By-Side Comparison
(*Prices are reflective of average BE FORWARD pricing as of May 2021)
Nissan Pulsar Ford Focus
Generations 7 (N10/11, N12, N13, N14, N15, C12, C13) 4 (MK1, MK2, MK3 (C346), MK4 (C519))
Production Year 1978 - 2005; 2013 - Present 1998 - Present
Performance 162 HP - 280 HP 160 HP - 240 HP
Fuel Consumption 11.5 KM/L - 13 KM/L 14 KM/L - 15 KM/L
Drivetrain FWD/AWD FWD/AWD
Key Features Alloy Wheels, ABS, Airbag, A/C, Power Window, Power
Steering, Central Locking, CD PlayerDVD, Airbag, Alloy Wheels, ABS, Power Window, CD
player, Keyless Entry, Central Locking, Leather Seats,
Back Camera
Seating Capacity 5 passengers 5 passengers
BE FORWARD price US$ 21,060 - US$ 30,680 US$ 5300 - US$ 16,290
Exterior/Interior Comparison
Nissan Pulsar
BROWSE LOW COST NISSAN PULSAR MODELS
Interior
The Pulsar has been around for quite a while, and it has evolved in many ways. The latest (2013 and above) Pulsar is a practical hatchback that is airy, spacious, and great for families.
The Pulsar is a 5-seat 3/4-door car with plenty of shoulder room, headroom, and legroom for both front and rear occupants. The absence of a transmission tunnel made it possible that even the passenger sitting in the middle of the rear seat gets enough room for their feet.
The Pulsar’s standard audio system features a CD player with four speakers, a five-inch TFT touch screen, which also doubles as a sat-nav display.
Other standard features include USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity.
The three-spoke steering wheel with a rake & reach adjustment also features cruise control and audio control buttons. The binnacle includes a TFT display placed between the speedometer and the revolution counter.
Standard storage includes a glove box, door pockets with bottle holders, a dip bin, and front-seat jacket pockets. The Pulsar has a 385-liter boot, extendable to 1395-liters by folding flat the rear seats.
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Exterior
The Pulsar has nice exterior looks, with a V-shaped grille, contoured bonnet, and LED headlights that make the car look awesome.
At the rear, it’s fitted with a roof spoiler, boomerang tail-lights, and a contoured surface on the car’s flanks. The Pulsar comes fitted with 16-inch, 17-inch steel wheels, or the larger 18-inch alloys.
Safety
The Pulsar received a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests in 2014. It offers a high level of protection to all occupants of all shapes and sizes.
The Pulsar’s standard and optional active safety features include ABS, ISOFIX latches, a reversing camera, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and Nissan’s 360-degree surround-view camera set-up.
Ford Focus
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Interior
The Focus is a true family all-rounder that blends style, practicality, and drivability. The interior dashboard is simple and relatively uncluttered by switches.
The Focus MK3 was short of interior space but the MK4 came with an extended wheelbase gaining five extra centimeters. This extension provided that extra cabin space which made the Focus convenient for five medium-built or four six-footers to sit comfortably, even on long trips. The mid-rear seat enjoys better legroom as the transmission tunnel is not that big.
At the front, there’s enough head, leg, and shoulder room, with simple finishing touches that improve the overall interior feel.
Right at the top of the center console, you find a 4.2-inch (8.0-inch touch screen on newer models) display. Its location is suitable as it does not divert the driver’s eyes too far from the road ahead. The screen displays key car information or switches channels on the radio.
There is plenty of interior storage, with the presence of a glove box, door pockets, and front-seat jacket pockets. The Focus has 314-liters of boot space with rear seats up, which extends to 1101-liters.
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Exterior
The Focus exterior looks premium with its slender front lights, and chrome-slatted grille. At the rear, the Focus features small taillights.
A standard Focus comes fitted with 15-inch steel wheels and halogen headlamps, while the high-end trim comes fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlamps.
Safety
Safety-wise, the Focus is reliable; it earned a five-star NCAP Overall safety score and Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS.
Standard safety features of the Focus include ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist, electronic stability control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver tiredness monitor, rearview camera, tire pressure monitor, and lane-departure warning as standard.
Engine and Fuel Efficiency Comparison
Nissan Pulsar
The Pulsar has utilized several engines since its inception. Today we will focus on one of those engines, the SR20 engine.
The Nissan SR20 is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder DOHC petrol engine manufactured by Nissan Motors from 1989 to 2007.
The SR20 is available as a naturally aspirated and turbocharged engine.
- The SR20DE is a naturally aspirated engine that produces 162 HP with average fuel consumption of 13 KM/L
- The SR20DET is a turbocharged engine that produces 280 HP with average fuel consumption of 11.5 KM/L.
These engines were mated with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.
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Ford Focus
The Ford Focus has been around for a while and has utilized several engines in that time. In this review, we will take a look at two engines.
- The 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine produces 160 HP with average fuel consumption of 15 KM/L. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
- The high-performance Ford Focus ST is fitted with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 240 HP with average fuel consumption of 14 KM/L. The Focus ST can get to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The engine is mated with a 4-speed or a 6-speed manual transmission.
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The Verdict
The Pulsar and the Focus are pretty similar cars with only the small details separating them. They both fall under the small family car segment and are available as 5-door hatchbacks (sedan also on previous releases) body style.
One of the most important things to consider when deciding on any two or more vehicles, safety should be your priority, both passive and active. From this article, we all agree that these two cars have very good safety ratings. The only difference that can be seen is that Ford is a bit quicker, other than that you can pick any of these two and they will both be a good purchase.
I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.
