Nissan Almera - Pros and cons

Nissan has been operating in the Philippines for many years now. The Japanese company knows the local market inside out, and thus, has designed its offerings as per the growing demands. The Nissan Almera is a result of such a requirement.

This subcompact sedan comes at a starting price of Php 657,000 which goes all the way up to Php 933,000 and is spread across five trims. Here are the pros and cons of the Nissan Almera.

Nissan Almera Pros

Remarkable engines

Nissan Almera is available in two engine options. The first one is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine that has been tuned to produce a max power of 80 PS and generates 106 Nm of peak torque. Being the less powerful of the two, this engine is more economical than the bigger one, especially in the city.

The other and bigger engine that comes with the Almera is a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder unit that churns out 99 PS of max power and 135 Nm of peak torque. The more power comes in handy on open highways where you need to cruise at higher speeds.

Transmission options

While the 1.2-litre engine is available only with the 5-speed manual transmission, isn’t really a deal breaker. But you do get an option of going with the 4-speed automatic unit with the 1.5-litre engine. Both the transmissions are very well calibrated as per their engines. Hence, the result is a smooth power delivery and a good fuel efficiency.

Spacious interior

One of the biggest USP of Nissan Almera is its spacious cabin. The long wheelbase of the car has allowed Nissan to be very generous when it comes to the interior space. There is a good amount of head and leg room for all the occupants, and fitting five adults would not be an issue. Also, the use of beige color scheme makes the car feel much roomier than it actually is.

The boot space in the Almera is commendable as well. With a capacity of 442 litres, it can easily accommodate the luggage of your entire family for that weekend road trip.

Comfort and ride quality

Apart from being spacious, the interior of the Almera also provides a good amount of comfort. The seats are nicely contoured and provide great support. Nissan boasts off the powerful air conditioning system of the Almera, which can keep the cabin temperature well within the set digits, irrespective of the weather conditions outside. To keep the rear passengers at the highest comfort level, there’s an air-con vent present for them as well.

Since the Almera is mostly going to be used as a family car, therefore, it has been given a softer suspension setup. This allows it to offer a very plush ride but compromises handling when being driven very enthusiastically, which it shouldn't be in the first place. The Almera soaks up bumps and potholes very gracefully. Also, the NVH levels inside the cabin have been very well kept under control to provide a hassle-free journey.

Nissan Almera Cons

Outdated interior

Even though the interior of the Almera is very practical, one cannot deny the fact that it feels outdated. It lacks modern features like a touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, sunroof, better air-con controls, etc. The design of the steering wheel is very basic and doesn’t excite you for being in the driver’s seat. A new set of upholstery would work wonders.

Limited safety features

Nissan Almera comes with standard safety features like dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, and Brake Assist. It is a bit disappointing to see that even the top-end model is deprived of more airbags. If not much, Nissan could have at least provided 6-7 airbags in the higher trim. Another feature that we would like to see here is Vehicle Stability Control.

Unexciting exterior

The latest model of the Nissan Almera has been given a few upgrades to the exterior. It includes the new boomerang-shaped headlights and taillights, a hint of chrome at the front grille, a small spoiler at the rear, etc. But even with these additions, the car doesn’t seem to excite everyone. Yes, it does get things done and is inclined more towards the practical side of life, but still, Nissan should give the Almera a modern appearance.

The Nissan Almera is a very basic family car and with the standard features. So if you plan to buy a simple car for your family, but practical enough, the Almera is the one to go with.