Nissan Almera 2016 - Review

Filipinos have a difficult time picking their first car. On one hand, it has to be practical and on the other, it has to be stylish. These two qualities used to be exclusive, until the Nissan Almera came about. Refreshed for this year, the new Almera is the answer to what every Filipino family wished for in their new car.

The Almera is Nissan’s global B-segment car and has become a very popular choice around the world. In fact, it has already sold more than half a million units.

Named after the Spanish word, “Almendra” meaning large diamond, the Almera is a classic sedan imbued with Nissan’s design DNA. The front end now features boomerang-shaped headlights, a larger grille, and a revised bumper. This gives a more angular look to the otherwise rounded design. At the sides, new 12-spoke alloy wheels add sportiness while at the back, a re-designed bumper with integrated diffuser, rear spoiler, and chrome trunk garnish complete the transformation.

Inside, the Almera keeps the two-tone black and beige cabin for 2016. This gives it a homey and welcoming atmosphere. The new high-gloss piano black accents add a classy touch while the new instrument cluster, three spoke steering wheel, and leather seats for the top-of-the-line variant, add even more luxury.

As always, it blurs the lines between a sub-compact and compact sedan with its “one up” space design. It’s class leading in terms of space and can even rival some larger cars in terms of room and comfort. The rear passengers even enjoy the comfort of their own rear air con blower.

Underpinned by Nissan’s new global “V” platform, the Almera has a rigid yet lightweight body. Together with this, the long-travel MacPherson Strut front suspension and dependable Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension ensures the best ride in the segment. Ample control is provided by an electric power steering system.

At the heart of the Almera is a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 99 horsepower and 134 Nm of torque. It’s peppy and zippy around town and thanks to its X-Tronic CVT transmission, it’s also economical as well.

More good news comes from the fact that the 2016 Almera boasts of longer service intervals. Together with lower cost for spare parts, it’s cheaper to run this car by up to 30 percent compared to its competition.