Nissan Almera manual or automatic: Which one to buy?

Subcompact sedans make an ideal choice for modern-day buyers essentially due to two reasons. First, they are easy-to-manoeuvre with decent interior space and second, they are cheap and fuel-efficient. Nissan Almera is one such car from the portfolio of the Japanese automaker that’s affordable, loaded with features, and easy to maintain.

Although, a complete package to get your hands on, buying the Almera brings in a dilemma to choose between the variants, particularly on the transmission front. There are three variants on offer. The engine on the base 1.5L E Almera is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission while on the other two, the mill is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

So, if you are looking to buy the Nissan Almera but confused about choosing the right transmission, then it’s time to put an end to your worries. We’ll take you through the details, as a consumer, need to know before buying a manual or automatic Almera.

Before talking about the transmission, let’s take into consideration some other important factors that play a vital role in making a choice between manual or automatic. These are-

Price - Taking the Almera case, there is a difference of around RM 5,000 between the manual variant and the next-higher auto version. Though, this difference in pricing is subject to change depending on the region you buy the car from. Like in Langkawi region, the difference between the two is RM 3,200 while it’s RM 5,000 in Sarawak. So, check with the dealer in your vicinity for the exact price difference before taking a final call.

Efficiency - The claimed fuel efficiency for automatic Almera is 14.9 kmpl. However, in some cases, drivers have reported returning a staggering figure of 24 kmpl and 18.5 kmpl. While in others, the figure went as low as 13 kmpl. There is not much of a difference between the average fuel consumption on manual and automatic Almera - a few ticks here and there, which is acceptable considering varied driving styles and manoeuvring patterns.

Long-term cost - The cost of maintaining an automatic variant is slightly higher than the manual. Though the margin is not very high until you get the auto gearbox damaged and it requires repairing or a replacement. The repairing cost of an automatic gearbox is higher than that of a manual transmission. So, it may hit your finances in the long-term.

Manual or automatic?

Getting to the core, which one should you select when buying the Nissan Almera? We’ll take the automatic variant any day. The reasons for it are as follows-

• Despite a slight bump in the price, the automatic transmission offers the luxury of carefree manoeuvring on the traffic-ridden streets.
• You can sit back and enjoy the drive without worrying too much about controlling and managing the gearbox.
• The transmission feedback is sublime and behaves in the desired fashion every single time, no matter if you are crawling through the city traffic or cruising on a plane highway.
• The accelerator pedal and revs are matched perfectly to provide a smooth drive.
• Regardless of the experience, a driver holds, the automatic Almera welcomes you behind that extremely comfortable and light steering wheel.

On the other side -

On the other hand, if you are a true motorist then Almera manual is something you’d love driving. Not just because you have complete control over the car but you could feel the throttle by pushing at that pedal.

It is believed that manual transmissions return better fuel efficiency than the automatic gearboxes. This is when you are an experienced driver and know the gear ratios well. You know exactly when to shift up and down. But if you are not someone with adequate knowledge or skills, then your car might end up consuming more fuel than what an automatic gearbox would consume.

It’s your call

At the end of the day, it is you who holds the authority to decide. Because you know your driving habits and daily run better. Consider the points mentioned above alongside your requirements and you’d be in a better frame of mind to make a decision.

Nissan Almera pricing

In the Peninsular region, the Nissan Almera price are as follows-

• Almera 1.5L E M/T: RM 64,639.05
• Almera 1.5L E A/T: RM 69,800.00
• Almera 1.5L VL A/T: RM 79,800.00

For more information, visit

https://www.zigwheels.my/new-cars/nissan/almera

A quick Almera’s overview

The subcompact sedan is powered by a DOHC 1498 cc petrol engine with CVTC and Drive-by-Wire Technology that puts out 102 PS of max power at 6,000 rpm and 139 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm.

Standard Nissan Almera specs on offer -

The base Almera 1.5L E boasts features like halogen headlamps, LED DRLs, power adjustable side mirrors, fabric seats, 2DIN wide audio system with four speakers, AUX/USB support, manual air conditioning system, and remote control keyless entry system.

Safety wise, it gets a driver only SRS airbag, ABS with EBD, brake assist system, ISOFIX child seat equipment, reverse sensors, engine immobiliser, and anti-theft alarm system.

Nissan Almera color choices you can choose from

There are five options for you to select, including Bronze Gold, Tungsten Silver, Graphite Blue, Diamond Black, and Brilliant White.