Buy or Hold: Should you wait for the 2020 Nissan Almera or buy Toyota Vios

When it comes to the subcompact sedan category, two of the most popular name plates ruling the Malaysian market are the Nissan Almera and Toyota Vios. Not only are they long-standing, but they are also among the best-looking ones. However, the problem comes when one needs to choose between the two and at the time when one out of them is up for a makeover. 

Nissan Malaysia recently announced the 2020 Almera's arrival in the country and unwrapped its full specifications. However, an official launch date is still under the hat; it is expected to go on sale next month. 

If we talk about the Toyota Vios, its ongoing iteration touched the Malaysian shores last year with revamped styling and a couple of new features that made it a modern sedan. If you are confused between waiting for the 2020 Nissan Almera or buying the available Toyota Vios, look at the following comparison before making the decision.

Dimensions

Specifications	Toyota Vios	2020 Nissan Almera
Length	4,425 mm	4,495 mm
Width	1,730 mm	1,740 mm
Height	1,475 mm	1,460 mm
Wheelbase	2550 mm	2,620 mm
Boot space	506 litres	482 litres

In terms of width and height, the two sedans almost measure the same, but when it comes to length, the upcoming Nissan Almera will need more space in your garage as it is a little longer. Almera also has a longer wheelbase, resulting in more cabin space at the back. But in case of trunk capacity, Vios outshines with a difference of 24 litres, favorable for traveling with bigger suitcases.

Engine 

Specifications	Toyota Vios	2020 Nissan Almera
Engine type	1.5 litre 2NR-FE Dual VVT-i DOHC four-cylinder	HR10 DET 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder
Displacement	1,496-cc	999-cc
Power	107 PS at 6,000 rpm	100 PS at 5,000 rpm
Torque	140 Nm at 4,200 rpm	152 Nm from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm
Transmission	Continuously variable transmission with seven-speed mode	Xtronic CVT (with D-Step Logic and Sport mode)

The fourth-gen Nissan Almera will be officially known as the Almera Turbo in the country. It will be available in three variants - base VL grade, a mid-spec VLP, and the top-spec VLT. All the variants will feature a 1.0-litre downsized turbo engine that replaced 1.5-litre unit. A DC motor controls the new engine's compression, and it features mirror bore coating tech, which helps in durability and heat dissipation.

Toyota Vios also comes in three variants J, E, and G; the same 1.5-litre mill powers all. Comparing the two sedans' engine specs, Vios has a slightly higher output (7 PS) and less torque (12 Nm) from the bigger engine. So, we can say that the 2020 Almera has the upper hand in this comparison.

Exterior highlights

Toyota Vios boasts a radical front end design with a slim upper grille and sharper headlights coupled with a massive lower grille. The base variant J comes with automatic halogen reflector headlights, LED daytime running lights, and rear fog lights. The higher-spec E gets front fog lights and LED rear combination tail lights, while the top-spec G features halogen projector headlights. The lower trims ride on 15-inch alloy wheels, while Vios G comes with 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels. Other key highlights include electric door mirror adjustment, door visors, and auto-folding door mirrors with integrated indicators.

The new Almera flaunts a more dynamic-look than the car it is going to replace. On the front, the brand's signature V-Motion front end is edged by strong LED signatures, and on the sides, it wears sharper styling as compared to its bulbous predecessor. In terms of equipment, the low spec trims come with halogen headlamps with auto on/off and halogen daytime running lights and fog lights. The top-spec VLT features LED headlamps, DRLs, and fogs. However, the sedan comes with LED taillights and LED rear fog lamps as standard. The VLT gets 15-inch alloy wheels, and the lower ones are fitted with machined dual-tone 16-inch wheels. An in-glass radio antenna and body-coloured rear diffuser are also there.

If we compare the exterior highlights of the two sedans, the Nissan Almera wins this round.

Also read: 2020 Nissan Almera looks striking in Ter Studio body kit

Interior

Specifications	Toyota Vios	2020 Nissan Almera
Infotainment system	Six-speaker 2-DIN DVD-AVX infotainment system with 6.8-inch touchscreen, smartphone mirroring and HDMI input	Six-speaker Nissan Connect Infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen display and Apple CarPlay support
Instrument cluster	Optitron instrument cluster with 4.2-inch multi-information display (MID)	Full-colour 7-inch digital display on the instrument panel
Air-conditioning	Single-zone automatic climate control	Auto air-conditioning
Upholstery	Perforated Combination Leather	Leather upholstery with grey accents
Steering wheel	Urethane steering wheel with phone and MID controls	Urethane steering wheel with audio controls  Tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment
Push-button start	Yes	No
Cruise control	No	Yes

In the above table, we have mentioned the interior features of top-spec variants of the two sedans. And it reveals that the upcoming Almera is more advanced in this area. However, Vios does not lag much. When it comes to comfort, both models promise an uncompromised experience to the occupants.

Safety 

On the safety side, the ongoing Toyota Vios specs sheet includes seven airbags, rear ISOFIX child seat anchors, ABS with EBD and brake assist, stability control, traction control, hill start assist, and four rear parking sensors. The higher variants also get blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, and a front digital video recorder with lane departure warning and collision warning.

The safety suite of upcoming Almera also bundles a number of bits, including dual airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and traction control, hill start assist, rear ISOFIX child seat anchors. If we talk about the higher variants, there are six airbags, a rear-view camera, a 360-degree view camera, a blind spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Thus, there is no doubt regarding the safety concern for these sedans.

Price

Toyota Vios price in Malaysia starts at RM 76,101, and the cost of the upcoming Almera is still under the cover, though the ballpark figure is RM 8x,xxx.

Verdict

Toyota Vios and Nissan Almera are equally able sedans, which are perfect in their own way. With legendary Toyota reliability and service, Vios have always been a ruling model in the segment, but the upcoming Almera gets some premium features and a new turbo engine that make it worth the wait. Although, these will come along at a higher price. If the added bits are what you need, you can wait for the 2020 Almera; if not, ongoing Vios is there for you.

Also read: Nissan Almera Black Edition - What's different?