Nissan Almera

The centre console of the Nissan Almera is done in a piano black finish. Front and rear power windows are standard across the range and so is the 4-speaker music system that supports AUX and USB inputs. There are multiple cubby holes around the cabin and while we believe beige colour would have amplified the amount of space this 5-seater has, it is sadly not offered. Nissan also doesn’t offer rear AC vents on the Almera, something which is available in the models sold outside Malaysia. This is a big miss in our books since the back seat comfort of the Almera rivals that of cars above its segment. The automatic climate control offered in the VL AT trim cools the cabin real quick. We liked the high-quality cabin of the Nissan Almera. Everything out there seems well put together and durable too. The boot space is good enough for three airport suitcases. Its volume is 490-litre and the rear seats don't fold. On the top-spec VL AT, Nissan offers keyless entry, push-button start and steering mounted audio controls.

The new Nissan Almera is still based on the versatile V platform. The Nissan Almera is 4,432mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,500mm tall. The ground clearance is 160mm. Salient design elements that are different from the outgoing model include the new chrome grille, LED DRLs, the new alloys and the slightly altered tail section. Speaking of alloys, Nissan retains the 185 section 15-inch wheels with all the trims except for the Nismo. For this performance-oriented trim, Nissan has given glossy 16-inch alloys with slightly fatter section rubber. In fact for the Nismo trim, one can opt for a dual tone colour, louder exhaust, fancy body kit and more.

The Nissan Almera rides on independent McPherson struts front and back. The suspension set up is on the softer side and this shows the way the Almera glides over bumps. The cabin is relatively noise-free, however, at high speeds the engine as well as road noise does tend to seep in. While the ride quality of the car is commendable, the handling is a bit on the relaxed side. That the car has been set up for comfort is quite evident in the way it turns around corners. The steering is light but doesn’t way up significantly when the speeds rise. Ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear constitute the brakes. They have ample bite and are progressive in nature.

Nissan offers a lone 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with the Almera. This naturally aspirated motor makes 102 PS of power and 139 Nm of torque. It can be optioned with either a 5-speed manual or a conventional 4-speed automatic. Nissan claims a fuel efficiency of 14.9 kmpl from this engine and they aren’t far off the mark. In our combined economy tests, the Nissan Almera returned close to 14 kmpl. The gearshifts on the manual trim feel a tad rubbery in execution while the clutch itself is light in operation. The automatic transmission in the meanwhile feels old school and along with the not so rev-happy nature of the petrol motor, makes for a relaxed commuter. In our top speed runs, the Nissan Almera maxed out at 168 kmph.

Nissan’s globally acclaimed V platform forms the basis of the Almera. This configuration has proven its mettle before with good crash safety ratings. The new Nissan Almera gets a four-star rating. That being said, Nissan offers only a driver airbag in the E trims while the VL gets a passenger airbag too. ABS along with EBD is standard across the range. Child ISOFIX mounting points too are standard. This along with child lock constitute the safety features of the new Nissan Almera.