In a class that has been dominated in recent years by the likes of the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf, the Pulsar marks the Japanese manufacturer's return to the C-segment since they did away with the Almera several years ago.There's a lot going for it too, as it uses the same engines and on-board technology that have made the Qashqai the runaway success that it has been in the crossover market.It's main plus points are its vast interior space – class-leading no less, the refinement that you would expect from a Nissan and numerous driver aids that are grouped under the 'Nissan Safety Shield'. These include Forward Emergency Braking, Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Warning.The Pulsar also comes with the easy-to-use second generation Nissan Connect system which comes with a range of features including full smartphone integration, Google Send-to-Car and access to a variety of useful and informative apps.The Pulsar is available with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol or a 1.5-litre turbodiesel dCi engine and four trim levels – Visia, Acenta, n-tec and top-spec Tekna.I drove the petrol version of the n-tec model and found it to be a refreshing change from some of the cars I've driven in this category recently.It looks great and certainly has a presence. Building on the success of the Qashqai, the sleek and streamlined Pulsar is instantly recognisable as a Nissan thanks to the V-shaped grille' and contoured bonnet, and the addition of distinctive LED headlamps, 17-inch Diamond cut alloy wheels and a spoiler give it a bit of a sportier edge.And the first thing that will hit you about the interior is how spacious it is. Thanks to the longest wheelbase in the class and the way the car is cleverly packaged, the Pulsar offers more rear legroom and shoulder room than many of its rivals and indeed D-segment vehicles. Boot space is impressive too.There's plenty of standard kit too, including Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, reversing camera and a USB connection. There's also climate and cruise control, plus keyless entry and the five-inch high definition colour TFT display screen located between the speedometer and rev counter has been borrowed from the Qashqai.The drive itself is best described as refined and remarkably quiet. It's not the most exciting car to drive, but visibility is good and the steering, gearbox and clutch, are light to operate, resulting in a car that is easy to park.The 1.2-litre engine certainly punches above its weight, and on the country lanes that I take on my daily commute to and from work I found the Pulsar to have strong grip and impressive steering. Changing gear was also precise and easy and I was impressed with the visibility and airy feel to the car.The engine has an output of 115PS and emits emits 117g/km. It's economical too and I comfortably managed to achieve around 45mpg without changing my driving style in any way.Prices for the Pulsar start from £15,995 on-the-road. The model I drove came in at just short of £19,000.