This is big news. The new 2020 Nissan Almera has been launched in Thailand, and is making its ASEAN debut with a 1.0 litre downsized turbo engine. That’s not all, because Nissan has also included active safety and driver assist tech such as autonomous emergency braking, blind spot assist, RCTA and an around view monitor on its entry level sedan. Not something you’d expect from the brand, but here you go.
Replacing the 1.2L (the Almera is an eco car in Thailand, hence the 1.2L cap) engine with 79 hp/106 Nm is a 1.0 litre three-cylinder DOHC turbo engine with 100 hp and 152 Nm of torque, the latter available from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm. The HRA0 engine has its compression controlled by a DC motor and features mirror bore coating tech that helps with durability and heat dissipation. It’s mated to an Xtronic CVT gearbox with D-Step Logic mode and power goes to the front wheels.
Nissan’s decision to go the downsized turbo route isn’t so much to be a tech pioneer, but for the Almera to comply with Thailand’s Phase 2 eco car rules, which require cars to have at least 23.3 km/l fuel economy, 100 g/km of CO2 emissions max, and Euro 5 compatibility (Phase 1 eco car: 20 km/l, 120 g/km, Euro 4). The upcoming next-gen Honda City will also have 1.0L turbo power.
Given that there’s no such requirement for the rest of ASEAN, and Malaysia, it remains to be seen if we will get this higher tech engine or the tried and tested naturally aspirated 1.5 litre HR four-pot, the 1.6 litre version of which also powers the Versa (same car, different name) in North America.
Speaking of the Versa, this B-segment sedan was first revealed in April in the US. It’s an all-new car, riding on the Common Modular Family (CMF-B) platform shared with the new March and Renault Clio.
The new Almera is significantly more dynamic looking than the car it replaces. Nissan’s signature V-Motion front end is flanked by strong LED signatures, which are repeated at the back. Moving to the sides, the new Almera may wear sharper styling than its bulbous predecessor, but the shape is still of a very spacious compact sedan. The design highlight on the profile is the visual connection between the side daylight opening with the rear screen, bisecting the C pillars in the process.
The sedan is 4,495 mm long and 1,740 mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm. For a benchmark, the current Honda City – a very spacious car – is 4,442 mm long, 1,694 mm wide and has a 2,600 mm wheelbase. The Almera is guaranteed to be spacious, continuing the trend.
The interior has seen big change too; there’s a new “Gliding Wing” dashboard lifted from the Kicks crossover. The interior is modern in design and appointments – there’s a slick-looking part-digital meter panel (seven-inch digital tacho and multi-info display, analogue speedo), an eight-inch touchscreen head unit with Apple CarPlay and synthetic leather front-facing dash panel with contrasting colour and stitching, Mazda 2-style.
In Thailand, the new Almera comes in five trim levels – S, E, EL, V and VL – priced from 499,000 to 639,000 baht (RM68,603 to RM87,851). The equipment spread is relatively generous. The super basic S – which by the way doesn’t come with a radio or even caps for the steel wheels – is equipped with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and dual airbags.
Two steps up is the 559,000 baht (RM76,842) EL, which introduces alloy wheels, steering buttons, in-glass antenna and keyless entry/push start. More important is Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Emergency Braking (AEB). Next up is the V, which further adds on LED headlamps and DRLs, side mirror turn signals, auto air con, the part-digital meter panel and Intelligent Around View Monitor (360-degree bird’s eye view) with Moving Object Detection.
The range-leading Almera VL tops it up with LED fog lamps and side plus curtain airbags (total six, rest of the range gets just two, which is strange given the relatively generous specs elsewhere), blind spot warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). It’s available in six colours and there are some cosmetic and utility options – see the brochure scans above.
There you go, an all-new Almera that looks much better, comes with a modern powertrain and even good safety tech – will we get all of these here? What’s certain is that it’s already been spotted in Malaysia and will be coming in the near future. What do you think of Nissan’s long-awaited B-segment challenger next to the Honda City (soon to be replaced) and Toyota Vios?
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
(Like) 2020 Nissan Almera 1.0L Dohc Turbo.
(Dislike) 2020 Honda City 1.0L Vtec Turbo
Habisla game over Proton Persona! This new gen Almera design is very sleek and fitted with advance technologies and turbo engine
Hahaha! Yeah Kunta, we believe in you.
Like when you told us New Serena is game changer but it was game over.
Like when you told us X Trail facelift is game changer but it was game over by X70.
Like when you told us new LEAF is game changer but it game over before it arrives.
Now you say new Almera will be game changer too? How many game overs before Nissan HQ loses patience with your incompetence?
Dropping from 3rd to distant 4th, very soon your ETCM will be game over like what happen in Vietnam.
When you lose 25% of y-o-y sales, your sorry excuse for being here is just sad for you and your company. Haven’t you figured out that you don’t earn more by selling your shit here? Go out and sell your cars, no point hawking your shit here.
Comparing this Almera with the leaked photo of the 2020 City, by design, personally I will choose the Almera. Like the it!
Like: 2020 Nissan Almera 1.0L turbo.
Dislike: 2020 Proton X50 1.5L turbo.
What kind of game over comparison is this Mario?? Compare Almera with it’s rivals like City, Vios, etc.
History has been made. Thank you ETCM. This kind of pricing shows you care for us. The other car companies are all GLC owned and they need to put prices so high in order to feed their overbloated GLC staff.
Thank you ETCM. We know you care for us
Honda City Malaysia Mahaluu..
Honda City E Spec RM80k OTR
only 4 Airbags, no BSM, Tire only 175/R15, tail lamp not LED,
even Myvi LagiBest 6AB RM50k use 185/R15,
Saga Mini Sedan RM35k use 185/R14,
Axia Style RM38k use 175/R15
More votes to Nissan. Lesser votes to Honda. Needed to understand why Honda Service Quality is going down
Malaysian vehicle sales data in October 2019 by brand:-
1. Perodua 20000 units
2. Proton 9500 units
3. Honda 7400 units
4. Toyota 6300 units
5. Nissan 2100 units
Nissan under ETCM will game over veli soon.
Almera carries over the cheap interior design of older generation. Real pity because the exterior looked so much better. Interior-wise, current City still looked the best and the new City will be launched a few more days later.
RM69k in thailand. reach here cheaper 20% …
Well I think the interior looks a lot nicer this time.
With this kind of pricing, I think Persona, Iriz and Exora sure kaput in sales. Who wants to buy a Campro inefficent engine when I get can one of the world’s top selling cars for nearly same price?
And we all know Nissan always give fat discounts unlike Proton
I think can even get RM50k sometimes for Almera
Tan Chong staffers so free to come here and downvote the harsh reality. Why don’t they spend that time to learn up on selling cars? Like seriously.
must better looking compare to VIOS
nice design
Exterior looks better, but interior just screams: CHEAP.
Boring CVT, persona 4AT slicker & more fun:
Doesn’t really matter much because the Vios interior is even cheaper.
Of course you don’t compare to the worst of the lot. But saying that, these Japanese brands really takes us for fools to continue buying their cars.
So does Vios. Cheap plastic and cheap chrome everywhere, fake plastic stitching on every single corner of the cabin.
yes john, we believe you again. Top seller in Thailand and all over the world….who do I believe? you or hundreds of thousands of people who are happy owners?
Interesting… why should we listen to you when you can’t even address the name right? And do you even have FACTS to back up your claim? Top seller in Thailand is Toyota and the world is VW. What exactly is backing your unfounded statement here?
Hello sir it is me, his brother. He has been under a lot of stress recently, as he is facing massive charges of fraud from his loan taken for his powerbank import resell franchise. The bank is foreclosing his house and his wife has moved back to her parents, taking the kids with her. Messing about on car forums is the only time I have seen him happy and not resorting to the bottle. I sincerely apologise, and hope that we can move forward from this, just like his wife who will move forward with the divorce and custody claims.
New vios paling hodoh..can ask all the owner..all regret buying due to hype only…
Dugong has evolved into a shark… kudos
they work hard. So, they do well. We must learn how to work hard. This is why we need many Mainland people into Malaysia, especially to run our GLCs and to run our Putrajaya.
a great effort from nissan. Nissan Malaysia Must introduce that powertrain if they are serious about getting a slice of that lucrative b segment market
Cmon. Don’t expect our ETCM unkers to know what’s best to capture the market. Our unkers prefer to sleep and minum teh 8X while their greenhorn juniors continue to whack other brands because they are clueless on how to sell. You can only hope for the best but fully expect disappointment coming from ETCM top to bottom ranks.
same 1.0T powertrain, ppl will buy P2 Rocky Suv.
Come to tc, the product becomes inferior with lots of inferior parts…
Oh please. You just know cheapo Tan Chong is gonna stick in the ancient 4 cylinder, with the cheap transmission. The entry level will be lucky if it gets the VSC (I’m exaggerating since it should be built in but I wouldn’t put it past them), forget about the advanced safety suite. No confirmation we’ll get that even for the top spec. But definitely expect a price hike.
Price it like today’s Almera and Nissan you will be selling these like hot cakes. Don’t overlook your reliability though!
below 2400 rpm you only get no more than 70 Nm of torque…
heard we getting same spec as thailand with turbo engine???
not sure how many people here will know how to use it properly.
see turbo think is race car then drive here and there like samseng.
U can forget about the new Almera bcos Tan Chong Malaysia will give a “kosong” car with old tech.
Vios gg.com already and the City might get punched in the face if it doesn’t have the same amount of kit and low price as the Almera. Stay tuned.
Finally, Nissan makes better design for family car… not like previous Dugong
Play safe, get left behind…
Almera is global car, city & vios is for asean region
Nissan Malaysia should bring over the new 1.0 turbo engine and pair it with 6-speed manual. It’ll be very delicious. No CVT please.
1st of all … Thailand’s environment future is bright!.
Ah chong will never bring these specs to malaysia
Puberty hits the Almera like a truck. Nissan’s ‘Signature’ cheap interior also has step up a little bit. If this guy goes for around RM65k-RM75k in Msia, it will sell like hotcakes & pisang goreng panas.
1.0L turbocharged engine sounds interesting, I believe not only to me. But the turbo will only kicks in at 2400rpm is like… no no.
Same output, but almera is 100kg more heavy than daihatsu rocky toyota race
nice…. now waiting for Toyota turn. the more competition the better for consumer.
Base on previous pattern, Nissan brought up your hope, Tan Chong let you down.
I’m an Almera 2013 owner.
Look at the acres of gap between the wheel arches. Can’t they give bigger tyres to fill in the huge gaps? Nissan why?!?!
Good upgrade in terms of looks. After all people want a bit of sexiness beside the practicality. But why did it take so long to do this? The next upgrade better be faster. Anyway this is going to be a stiffer rival to Vios and City. Well done Nissan
Since Thai Car price usually is higher than MY price, If TC can sell this car from 65K to 80K…
this car will bring an end to the Fugly Vios!
1.0 turbo is good…no more 1.5 NA laaa tan chong !!!
Finally no more uncle/untie design car.. Now more sporty and will attract younger buyer..
We have to admit that Nissan did a very good job in this new generation Almera. Such a big improvement compare to current old style almera design. Well done!
Missing feature compared to Versa(us)
– Lane Departure Warning
– High Beam Assist
– Intelligent Cruise Control(adaptive)
I assume Malaysia spec won’t be much different than thai
Wonder when Nissan to bring ‘car’ into Malaysia.. I only saw xtrail.. Serena box and gtr…
I hope they retain the MT version. A close ratio 6-speed MT with a turbo 1.0 litre engine should be fun!
even Almera gets Apple CarPlay.
masih guna HANDBRAKE??? kemonnn laa nissan….
Hope there is a 1.0L turbo manual version. Would like to have that on my track days. Please God!!!
Looks nice…but hope not to downgrade it’s accessories when entering Malaysia.