Nissan Almera launched in Thailand – it’s the Sunny!

Nissan Almera launched in Thailand – it’s the Sunny!

UPDATE: Nissan Almera to be priced from RM71k?

Nissan has launched its second eco-car in Thailand after the March, which is also the first sedan bodied eco-car in the market. Named Almera, it revives a name used by Nissan in Europe for its family cars. If it looks familiar, the Thai Almera is what we know as the new Sunny, the big B-segment sedan that made its world debut in Guangzhou last year.

Built on the V-platform also used by the March hatchback, the Almera is big bodied for a car aimed at the Vios/City segment, a similar approach chosen for the Latio sedan, although the Almera/Sunny is sleeker in shape (0.29 Cd). It is 4,425 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,500 mm tall, while wheelbase is a class leading 2,600 mm. Nissan says that rear knee room is at D-segment levels, and having sat in it before, I agree. Boot space is a large 490 litres.

Nissan Almera launched in Thailand – it’s the Sunny!

The Almera comes with a rear spoiler (with LED brake light), fog lamps and chrome on the grille and door handles. Available kit includes Fine Vision instruments, MID, steering buttons, climate control and Intelligent Key with push start button.

The Almera, like the March, is powered by the HR12DE 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine. This 12-valve CVTC equipped unit makes 79 PS and 106 Nm at 4,400 rpm, and is mated to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT gearbox or a five-speed manual in basic grades. This efficient and lightweight (Almera weighs between 962 and 1,027 kg) package is boosted by Start-Stop tech to deliver claimed fuel consumption of 20 km/l and low CO2 emissions of 120 g/km.

Nissan Almera launched in Thailand – it’s the Sunny!

Note that this drivetrain is different from the China spec Sunny, which comes with a larger HR15DE engine. A more efficient package is needed to comply with Thai eco-car rules. The Almera also sports a black cabin, instead of beige.

The Almera/Sunny is part of Tan Chong’s future plans, although no one knows what it will be called here. Click here to read our world debut coverage from Guangzhou, and to view a comprehensive hi res gallery.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • The rear part looks very ugly.

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    • OMG…Dugong rear was better than this….

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    • alldisc on Oct 10, 2011 at 9:24 am

      who cares if its ugly, when the car is as big as corolla altis, but weighing less than a vios!!

      and to be powered by only a 3cylinder 1.2 litre engine shows what nissan (and renault) is capable of doing.

      i want this car to come here whether its called Sunny, Sentra, Latio or Pulsar.

      owh, what the hell…

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      • autojohndoe on Oct 10, 2011 at 1:57 pm

        you want it here?

        if it is, will you buy it? literally speaking…

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      • Bring USA Sentra here!!! Mini-Skyline looks!!!

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      • This wouldn’t as big as Altis since this is B segment while Altis is C segment. But I believe the interior space is going to be much larger then Vios and the almost RM100K SE City. This can be considered a good buy in this segment anyway.

        What surprises me is there is a rear seat air-cond vent which hardly found in B and even C Segment car!

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        • alldisc on Oct 11, 2011 at 8:40 am

          this car and current altis both have same wheelbase = 2,600mm. THIS IS A FACT!!

          they should be similar in cabin size, and similar in overall size.

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          • Wheelbase size is the same but overall car dimension in terms of breadth, height and length is smaller. Interior space is definitely different as there are different segment car. Common sense tells us that car manufacturer won’t design different segment car with the same interior space. Market won’t allow to do so. Please check carefully. In terms of engine size capacity, no need no mention but understood.

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      • netster on May 19, 2012 at 6:12 pm

        Coming to Malaysia this Sept — price 75 – 85K estimation (auto) 1.5K can’t wait to check it out.

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    • Actually this picture doesn’t do justice to the car as this car is actually quite elegant in person, way better than Vios and City. Go to any TC showroom when it reaches here and judge for yourself.

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      • reach here???? hmm when is that?…….10 years from now????……..

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    • It’s very subjective to say ugly or nice. But what I’m sure is this model is going to be a long life model and perhaps your children still able to get this model as new car after 15~20 years! Why? Everyone knows Nissan Sunny!

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  • rear part looks very ugly.

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  • carlito on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:37 am

    fugly!

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  • Mienzz on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:54 am

    Not bad for the design and power-to weight ratio of this car is adequate too

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  • gavin on Oct 10, 2011 at 3:29 am

    Nissan is the only car makers now that doesn’t have a ‘family face’ for their cars. Each line looks similar within the line but different from the rest

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    • If look carefully they are having the same DNA. Sentra, Teana and now this Sunny got a similar front look. My point of view.

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  • Factsguy on Oct 10, 2011 at 5:09 am

    souless…did they finish the design of that dashboard back in 1990 already?

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    • kington on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:59 am

      Well, these are budget cars, much like the City and the Vios.

      But you’d be able to see that Honda has put in more effort than Toyota and Nissan.

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    • theanswer on Oct 10, 2011 at 9:23 am

      agree! teana..livina..latio…all souless interior. theu should learn from korean.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Jolly_idiot on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:21 am

    How cheap they can sell here? It should replace the old sentra and latio

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  • Danny Goh on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:34 am

    This car has no identity. Stick a Toyota badge in front and call it the 2012 Vios! And the rear… words fail me at the moment. Suffice to say it’s hideous!!!

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  • taboogen on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:36 am

    is that vios front end… ??

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  • Littlefire on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:41 am

    Well.. For sure NTCM will bring in and rename into Sentra as previous.. Anyway not a good review for a few blogs, due to cheap material use, low power engine and handling is worst (Tune for comfort only) compare to same car category…

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  • policeman on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:48 am

    Yuck to the interior. Like old Daihatsu Boon. Bulat bulat everywhere.

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  • lazyf on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:51 am

    powered by 1.2 litre?

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  • And let me translate the 3rd photo/rear view wordings:
    “…the Almera’s rear design surely mimicks the rear end of a certain rival 1st generation’s shape of steam iron but fortunately an optical illusion spoof is created with the installation of the duck-tail rear spoiler.”

    Tan Chong would never sell this Almera as much as entire total sales of Datsun 120Y lah. Wanna bet?

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  • who is the guy at the very right on the first picture? anybody knows him?

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  • Jimmy on Oct 10, 2011 at 9:13 am

    1.5L lah, 1.2L mana cukup.
    4 airbags in high spec.
    Hope it is as refined as Sylphy.
    Hope it will tapau Vios(cheating-money product).

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  • The interior.. Bulat sini bulat sana lol..

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  • dick10 on Oct 10, 2011 at 10:01 am

    When is this comming to Malaysia? 2 years later? Why is it that Malaysia never gets the new cars early?

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  • umnoracist on Oct 10, 2011 at 10:10 am

    the slow poke Tan Chong will bring it here at 2020!

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  • PakAbu on Oct 10, 2011 at 10:15 am

    “Built on the V-platform also used by the March hatchback, the Almera is big bodied for a car aimed at the Vios/City segment, …”

    Maybe ETCM should try the March. It seems that more Malaysians (especially ladies) prefer hatchbacks instead of sedans. And to dethrone Vios is going to be really really hard.

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  • bronx on Oct 10, 2011 at 10:18 am

    In Canada it’s call a Versa/Latio segment

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  • nahh…….saga BLM is 10x better, premium images and higher quality….

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  • Really can’t make it!

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  • dannyl77 on Oct 10, 2011 at 10:54 am

    TC … Just Bring this in lar… the Sentra / Sunny that we are having is Outdated….

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  • Jerry on Oct 10, 2011 at 10:57 am

    So the new Sunny (or the Almera in Thai market, Versa in North America) is now officially a B-segment car?

    I hope it comes to Malaysia with the Sunny label.

    The myriad of names for what’s essentially one car, it’s just confusing. And tell me about the Datsun badge!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Nissan on Oct 10, 2011 at 11:10 am

    No power at all. but 20km/L is a selling point.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • sonata on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:12 pm

      Yup, 20km per litre, plz plz bring this car

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      • Yes! Hopefully TC can bring it here soon!

        For those anti T or H fans, no point to say Vios or City ugly, not good…….! They have been leading the sales here for years and all they had gained a lot from these two models already. What I can say is TC launch this model too late and lost the market. Remember, Vios and City new model is coming also.

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  • lazyf on Oct 10, 2011 at 11:19 am

    front end profile is looks like Vios Dugong facelift but this one is much better n more refinement than Vios…

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  • 4G63T DSM on Oct 10, 2011 at 11:49 am

    Will someone please enlighten Nissan that the dashboard only works for a cute and cuddly hatchback. Not a sedan.

    Don’t know why, all Sentra’s had interiors a little bit wonky. Wondering why they can’t inject some Infiniti interior DNA in it. They could if they wanted, the 2nd generation Altima was too plastic but they improved the look a lot in the model upgrade a few years later.

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  • Andrew on Oct 10, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    w00t? Toyota vios!

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  • Expatriate VN on Oct 10, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    “The Almera/Sunny is part of Tan Chong’s future plans, although no one knows what it will be called here.”

    – What will be called here? Most likely Sentra or Sentra Neo, or ……………………….

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  • Wisdom on Oct 10, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    No need to bring in this. Better focus on your current line up which is dipping in sales & quality dipping to local car level.

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  • ong chin aun on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    1.2 Liter 3-cylinders to power such a quite big shape car ? turbo or direct injection ?
    come with auto transmission/manual., no wonder city heavy traffic jam plus unskilled drivers.

    First and foremost, it should be option of 1.5 liter if not 1.6 Liter engines. Secondly,. the price must be affodable in the range 60-70k.

    The car is nice and update design. However, there is still rooms for improvement . If such as the rear lights re-shspe with LED. Light.
    Hope the car come to Malaysia end of this year or lastest early 2012.

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  • xshiro on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    1.2L ,3 cylinder..hopefully it wont feel like my viva

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  • Pricelift on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    Actually Nissan cars are mostly underpowered but they are really comfortable to drive in… Latio is a drinker (to my shock)… But why you care about exterior whereby most of the time you are in the car.. hence the interior is impt… Hope they come with rear headrest, centre armrest (front and rear), cupholders, electric folding mirrors and etc.. that is more impt…take that spoiler away and install an integrated brake lights like Waja… It will be so much betta!

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    • Totally agree with you! Nissan always come with products with low FC, superb comfort interior moderate exterior design but with underpowered engine. It’s all consumer’s choice anyway.

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  • albag on Oct 10, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    i believe many low/middle income uncle & aunties would love to have this in their garage…

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  • LOL LOL on Oct 10, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    The good news is our beloved Tan Chong Motor will bring this Sunny/Almera at year 2020! woohoo! :D

    ** above statement is sarcastic comment.

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  • Zaifman on Oct 10, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    Nah, more like 2030.

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  • kamaji on Oct 10, 2011 at 5:41 pm

    This car sure handle like a sampan above 110km/h on the highway.

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  • Horrible! 1.2 Liter without Turbo for this heavy car! exterior is still ok but inside is the most ugly interior i’ve ever seen in my life! even the new Myvi interior look way better than this!

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  • Norwegian on Oct 10, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Sure, this is a smart choice for couples or families which are in need of a small car, but with some extra luggage capacity no and then.

    I agree that the engine sounds a bit tiny for a B-segment sedan, especially if you are going to use the extra space the sedan offers over the small Micra hatchback, but there is help.

    Nissan has also developed a compressor version of the very same engine named DIG-S.

    In the (european) Micras case this doesn’t only boost the engines power from 59kW/80hp and 110Nm of torque to 72kW/98hp and 142Nm (and thereby reducedes the accelration time from 13.7s to 11.3s with manual, from 14.5s to 11.9s with CVT) – it also recudes the emissions from 115g/km to 95g/km manual and from 125g/km to 115g/km with CVT.

    The DIG-S is on par with the Yaris sedan/Vios 1.5 powerwise – this would be the next and wise step from Nissan in my humble oppinion.

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  • cecibo on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    why all nissan’s ugly nahhh… only chinese will love it

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  • The Enthusiast on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Between this and a Sylphy, I’d choose Sylphy. It is a funny looking car.

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  • Coz only Chinese can afford Japan or European cars!

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  • Cheah Tat Cheong on Oct 11, 2011 at 11:19 am

    A car like the Almera serves more fundamental needs, it has good fuel economy, spacious for families, easy to maintain, comfortable, etc. If priced right, it should sell. The important thing is consumers benefit from having a wider choice. No doubt some will like Honda, some Kia, some Toyota, but the healthy competition benefits all of us. On the other hand, blind devotion to certain brands, biased/uneducated views will only make you a stupid shopper.

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  • kelvin on Oct 11, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    From the third picture, the boot seems to be longer than the front.

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  • nighttrain on Oct 11, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    how can they produce such exciting sports cars but boring sedans…

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  • carlover87 on Nov 17, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    hi all.. just for your info, this car will be officially launched somewhere in July next year. 33% localized parts and 4 variants to be exact. this is (un)official

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  • John Swith on Nov 17, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    ALMERA 1.2L CVT 8 Speed front fog lamp ; 1,852L/100km in city,1799L/100km on highway
    ALMERA 1.2L CVT 8 Speed non fog lamp ; 1,052L/100km in city,1009L/100km on highway

    ALMERA 1.2L manul 5 Speed non fog lamp ; 952L/100km in city,940L/100km on highway

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  • The front is okay. The rear looks like a turd.

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