The Nissan Almera is a classic four-door, five-seat saloon with a timeless body design showing clear Nissan DNA (yes elements of the Sylphy and Latio can be seen). The long wheelbase helps to create a spacious cabin while the roomy luggage area is cleverly disguised by the sweep of the roofline and rear window which blends into the trunk lid.
Biggest interior in the class
Four wide-opening doors allow easy access to the interior which is notably larger than class rivals. In fact, the rear compartment knee room is actually more generous than that offered in some premium D segment cars and is easily capable of carrying three adults in comfort. As well as providing more interior space than rivals, at 500 litres Nissan Almera’s boot is among the largest in its class. Will offer city taxi drivers an alternative vehicle of choice.
The luggage area itself is another example of the care that has gone into the car’s design. A wide opening lid reveals a deep and practical load space, free from obstructions – the trunk lid hinges, for example, are hidden while the tool roll and jack are also stored away so as not to interfere with the load space.
A handle mounted on inside the lid means the trunk can be closed without the need to touch the invariably dirty exterior of the car. And under the boot floor, there’s ample space for the full sized spare wheel (which Malaysians must have).
Nissan Almera is 4,656mm from bumper to bumper and has the longest wheelbase in the class, a full 2,700mm.
Proven, robust chassis
Integral to Nissan Almera’s capability to withstand the local conditions is its chassis. Almera’s enhanced chassis features a strong strut-type front suspension allied to a rear beam axle.
A front anti-roll bar improves handling performance while the bar, the rear beam axle and the coil springs have all been stiffened to provide a highly comfortable ride allied to an inherent strength to ensure the car can withstand the conditions.
During test development, engineers from Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) have driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres over varied roads in many countries to fine tune the springs and dampers for ASEAN, China and Russian conditions.
At the same time, noise reduction programmes have resulted in the use of thicker steel for the platform to reduce stone chipping and splash noise, while the upper body structure has been strengthened and stiffened giving both refinement and durability improvements.
The result is a car that provides class-leading comfort and handling.
With a generous ground clearance of 160mm the Nissan Almera is one of the best in class.
Also found under the car is a small but highly effective aero deflector which improves the car’s aerodynamics for better high-speed stability.
Standard equipment includes remote central door locking, fog lamps, a trip computer and height adjustment for the driver’s seat.
There are chromed accents to the air vents while the trim material is patterned. Large door mirrors are finished in body colour and the door handles and trunk finisher are chromed.
What You Get In Your Almera
It will come with air conditioning as standard, along with power windows at the rear, four speakers, a leather wrapped steering wheel and 15-inch alloy wheels. The audio system is a fully integrated double-din AM/FM tuner with single disc CD player. An Aux-in jack socket to connect a MP3 player is also standard.
The audio system includes a single disc CD player, an AM/FM tuner, an Aux-in jack and Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones and audio streaming.
It will have active and passive safety features including anti-lock brakes, plus driver and front passenger airbags as standard.
The colour palette might suggest seven exterior body colours – a solid white and six metallic shades.
The Almera Customer Profile
The typical Nissan Almera buyer will be a family and maybe even taxi drivers. Buyers will aspire to own a car with a foreign badge yet retain a rational outlook on life. Nissan Almera will be his or hers introduction to the Nissan brand and the Nissan ownership experience and will be used for commuting to work during the week and for extended family trips at the weekend.
They will appreciate its premium styling and undeniable roominess at the same time as being reassured by its ability to cope with local conditions.
This new Nissan Almera is an important car for Nissan and ETCM. It brings a new dynamic to the vital mainstream market by offering D-segment spaciousness but at a B-segment price. And by generating jobs at the ETCM Serendah production line and in the supplier chain, Nissan and ETCM is further investing in the country’s future.
