Although the new Nissan Pulsar safety levels haven’t been verified Euro NCAP’s crash-testing experts, the company expects the new hatchback to achieve a full five stars, with similar scores to its Qashqai cousin.

Nissan’s new signature LED day running lights are standard, with full LED headlights available further up the range.

Inside there are six airbags to protect occupants in the roomy cabin, while depending on the trim level chosen, the Pulsar comes with emergency low-speed braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning and object motion detection, in addition to all the electronic stability systems that are part of the Pulsar package.

Two ISOFIX child-seat mounting points are fitted to the rear bench too.

Depending on the version chosen, the Pulsar can also be equipped with a straightforward reversing camera or several cameras giving an aerial view of the car.

With its spacious interior and five-door body, Nissan Pulsar practicality is right up there with the class leaders.

There’s a low loading lip and a wide tailgate opening to enable owners to make the most of the Pulsar’s 385-litre boot space. That’s a little larger than the Golf’s boot (380 litres), but significantly smaller than the 308’s 470-litre space and the Honda Civic’s 477-litre cargo bay.

Fold the seats over and it’s a different story, with the Pulsar’s 1,395-litre maximum volume outstripping all its rivals, although the rear seats aren’t flush with the boot floor, but they do split 60:40 to aid usability.

All that rear seat space is a boon when fitting child seats in there, with lots of room to manoeuvre cumbersome equipment. Two ISOFIX mounting points are also included. Acenta models upwards also benefit from keyless entry and exit, saving you fumbling for keys when your hands might otherwise be full.

Dotted around the cabin are a variety of door pockets, storage areas and little slots for hiding away detritus that tends to build up in car interiors over time.

Seat trims feel hard wearing, as do the interior plastics, with virtually everything finished in dark colours, hiding much of the signs of use that will inevitably accumulate.