2020 Nissan Almera makes ASEAN debut, launched in Thailand: 1.0L turbo CVT, AEB, BSM, AVM, from RM69k

2020 Nissan Almera makes ASEAN debut, launched in Thailand: 1.0L turbo CVT, AEB, BSM, AVM, from RM69k

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.

2020 Nissan Almera makes ASEAN debut, launched in Thailand: 1.0L turbo CVT, AEB, BSM, AVM, from RM69k

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.

2020 Nissan Almera makes ASEAN debut, launched in Thailand: 1.0L turbo CVT, AEB, BSM, AVM, from RM69k

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.

Click to enlarge

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?


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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

  • (Like) 2020 Nissan Almera 1.0L Dohc Turbo.
    (Dislike) 2020 Honda City 1.0L Vtec Turbo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 91 Thumb down 48
    • Popia basah on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      Habisla game over Proton Persona! This new gen Almera design is very sleek and fitted with advance technologies and turbo engine

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 11
      • Celup King on Nov 16, 2019 at 5:37 pm

        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.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
      • Edwin L on Nov 16, 2019 at 10:51 pm

        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.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Haidi on Nov 15, 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Comparing this Almera with the leaked photo of the 2020 City, by design, personally I will choose the Almera. Like the it!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1
    • Datuk on Nov 15, 2019 at 5:22 pm

      Like: 2020 Nissan Almera 1.0L turbo.
      Dislike: 2020 Proton X50 1.5L turbo.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 18
      • Datuk john 2019 on Nov 16, 2019 at 7:20 pm

        What kind of game over comparison is this Mario?? Compare Almera with it’s rivals like City, Vios, etc.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
    • 4bini on Nov 15, 2019 at 7:56 pm

      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

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 12
    • Pak Toh on Nov 15, 2019 at 8:12 pm

      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

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • Good work Nissan on Nov 16, 2019 at 12:11 am

      More votes to Nissan. Lesser votes to Honda. Needed to understand why Honda Service Quality is going down

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1
    • 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

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Siam kap on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:18 pm

    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.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 44
    • Mason on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      RM69k in thailand. reach here cheaper 20% …

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
    • Haidi on Nov 15, 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Well I think the interior looks a lot nicer this time.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • 4bini on Nov 15, 2019 at 8:00 pm

      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

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 9
    • Calvin on Nov 16, 2019 at 12:52 pm

      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.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 6
  • anotherBoring on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:18 pm

    must better looking compare to VIOS
    nice design

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 58 Thumb down 45
    • Exterior looks better, but interior just screams: CHEAP.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 36
      • Sick & Tired on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        Boring CVT, persona 4AT slicker & more fun:

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
      • seancorr (Member) on Nov 15, 2019 at 1:45 pm

        Doesn’t really matter much because the Vios interior is even cheaper.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
        • 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.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • Andra on Nov 15, 2019 at 5:01 pm

        So does Vios. Cheap plastic and cheap chrome everywhere, fake plastic stitching on every single corner of the cabin.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 9
      • 4bini on Nov 15, 2019 at 8:03 pm

        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?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 8
        • 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?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
          • 5bini on Jan 15, 2020 at 1:03 pm

            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.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • New vios paling hodoh..can ask all the owner..all regret buying due to hype only…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 13
  • Dugong has evolved into a shark… kudos

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 3
    • 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.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 11
  • 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

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 1
    • Darren on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:46 pm

      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.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • Vader on Nov 15, 2019 at 1:10 pm

      same 1.0T powertrain, ppl will buy P2 Rocky Suv.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • ccy7218 on Nov 15, 2019 at 11:12 pm

      Come to tc, the product becomes inferior with lots of inferior parts…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • 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.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Dong gor on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:32 pm

    Price it like today’s Almera and Nissan you will be selling these like hot cakes. Don’t overlook your reliability though!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • CarChart delusion due to tiananmen revolution failure on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:35 pm

    below 2400 rpm you only get no more than 70 Nm of torque…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • simon on Nov 15, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    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.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • U can forget about the new Almera bcos Tan Chong Malaysia will give a “kosong” car with old tech.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • seancorr (Member) on Nov 15, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    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.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Tony Chopper on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:04 pm

    Finally, Nissan makes better design for family car… not like previous Dugong

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Lanhb on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Play safe, get left behind…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Almera is global car, city & vios is for asean region

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • tatu880 on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    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.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • 1st of all … Thailand’s environment future is bright!.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Ahmadjr on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:30 pm

    Ah chong will never bring these specs to malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Imran Naim on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    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.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Haidi on Nov 15, 2019 at 3:08 pm

    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.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • PakToh on Nov 17, 2019 at 8:16 am

      Same output, but almera is 100kg more heavy than daihatsu rocky toyota race

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • v-tec fan on Nov 15, 2019 at 3:14 pm

    nice…. now waiting for Toyota turn. the more competition the better for consumer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Peter on Nov 15, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    Base on previous pattern, Nissan brought up your hope, Tan Chong let you down.
    I’m an Almera 2013 owner.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Celup King on Nov 15, 2019 at 4:19 pm

    Look at the acres of gap between the wheel arches. Can’t they give bigger tyres to fill in the huge gaps? Nissan why?!?!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • 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

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Chris on Nov 15, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    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!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • azhar on Nov 15, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    1.0 turbo is good…no more 1.5 NA laaa tan chong !!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Finally no more uncle/untie design car.. Now more sporty and will attract younger buyer..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Mason on Nov 15, 2019 at 8:21 pm

    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!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • 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

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Paejan on Nov 16, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Wonder when Nissan to bring ‘car’ into Malaysia.. I only saw xtrail.. Serena box and gtr…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • PetrolHead on Nov 16, 2019 at 11:11 am

    I hope they retain the MT version. A close ratio 6-speed MT with a turbo 1.0 litre engine should be fun!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
  • Add A Comment on Nov 18, 2019 at 9:46 am

    even Almera gets Apple CarPlay.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • masih guna HANDBRAKE??? kemonnn laa nissan….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Skyvestator on Jan 23, 2020 at 9:43 am

    Hope there is a 1.0L turbo manual version. Would like to have that on my track days. Please God!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • GLOWNER on Jun 11, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    Looks nice…but hope not to downgrade it’s accessories when entering Malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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