Whenever a new model arrives, it’s important to compare it to its predecessor. That’s the best way to see the improvements in the new one, which should reflect the technological advancements within succeeding generations of vehicles.
Case in point: the Nissan Almera. The subcompact sedan is now on its fourth generation that recently arrived this year. Visually, the changes are obvious but the improvements are actually much more than skin-deep – all of them you can read about below.
Exterior
From a typical curvy three-box car, the Nissan Almera has evolved into a sleek sedan with sharp lines, low and wide proportions, and an almost fastback silhouette. The blacked-out accent on the C-pillar is a nice touch, adding an illusion of a floating roof. The full LED lights follow the edgier theme, reflecting the lighting signature found on the bigger Terra SUV.
The new model also carries the updated version of the automaker’s V-motion grille, which is bigger, more angular, and more imposing than the old one. It also comes with an elaborate design for the inner radiator grille, something better seen up close.
The old and new N-Sport variants have the same sporty execution, adorned with parts like a lip-type rear spoiler, side skirts, and a front bumper with a dynamic design. The new Almera is also equipped with a premium-looking, machine-cut 16-inch alloy wheels with two-tone black paint finish.
The difference is night and day, evidently, which make the new Almera more attractive than before and could match its rivals within its class – if not better.
Interior
Inside, the updates are even more obvious. Gone is the curvy design with a light-colored theme. The new Almera keeps it conservative with a dark cabin with a simple yet contemporary layout. The vertical center stack is now populated by a huge infotainment screen; below it are the HVAC controls in a minimal, horizontal layout with easy-to-use knobs and buttons.
The Terra-derived steering wheel in the new Almera gets a flat-bottom shape, veering away from the bulky-looking tiller of the old model. The door cards and other elements of the cabin have more details than before, with contrast stitching found on the top-spec trims.
At the rear, the new Almera gets a foldable armrest at the center, as well as headrests for the passengers. While the trunk space of the 2022 Almera is marginally smaller than before (474L vs 490L), the all-new model has the advantage of folding rear backrests that expand the usable space for storage of longer cargo.
Tech & Safety
As expected from an all-new model, the feature set of the all-new Almera is way, way better than the outgoing model. The outgoing model only has rear parking sensors above the standard safety features such as ISOFIX child-seat tethers, airbags, ABS, and seat belts.
In comparison, the new one comes with the Nissan Intelligent Mobility driver assist safety suite that includes the Intelligent Around View monitor which provides a 360o bird’s eye view of your vehicle along with Moving Object Detection, which makes the sedan a cinch to park and maneuver in tight streets.
Other features include Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, and Hill-Start Assist – all for a more confident drive with peace of mind. The top-spec model comes with six airbags, while all trims come standard with Vehicle Dynamic Control.
At the front, drivers are spoilt with a great-looking 7-inch instrument display, with digital gauges to solidify the appeal. The 8-inch infotainment system at the center of the dashboard also comes with Apple CarPlay for enhanced and seamless smartphone connectivity.
Engine
The biggest update in the 2022 Nissan Almera is found under the hood. The outgoing model comes with a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine that produces up to 99hp and 134Nm of torque.
In comparison, the entire Almera range is powered by a new turbocharged 1.0-liter inline-3 gasoline power plant. It produces the same 99hp but torque is increased to 152Nm, with both figures readily available early in the rev range. In practical situations, these meant better acceleration and a more engaging drive.
That said, the new Almera felt more alive while on the road. Whether as a daily driver in the city or a travel buddy on a long road trip to Baguio, the power from the Almera’s engine is more than enough to do the job. The “shifts” are smoother, as well, since it now uses Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. This transmission provides up to 10 percent better fuel economy than a conventional CVT, enabling the subcompact sedan to achieve 23.3 km/l fuel economy.
Pricing
With all these updates on the Almera, Nissan Philippines employs relatively competitive pricing considering the features the car comes with. The base-level Almera EL Turbo MT has a sticker price of P728,000, while the mid variants VE Turbo MT and VE Turbo CVT sell for P938,000 and P998,000, respectively. The top-spec N-Sport Turbo CVT has a price tag of P1,098,000.
You can also enjoy worry-free ownership as the 2022 Nissan Almera comes with a 5-year or 150,000 km warranty, whichever comes first.
To know more about the all-new Nissan Almera, visit https://www.nissan.ph/vehicles/new/almera.html.