The hot car of the moment is the new Honda City, but in this cycle, the B-segment sedan will be facing a good fight from an unlikely source. Earlier this month, Nissan revealed the 2020 Nissan Almera, which brings with it a new dynamic image and tech that we don’t usually expect from Nissan in our region.
Like the City, the new Almera is powered by a 1.0 litre turbo engine, the downsized and boosted engine to help it comply with Thailand’s Phase 2 eco car regulations, 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).
Replacing the previous 1.2L engine (unlike the City, the Almera has always been an eco car in Thailand) with 79 hp/106 Nm is a 1.0 litre three-cylinder DOHC turbo unit with 100 hp and 152 Nm of torque, the latter available from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm (City’s 1.0T does 122 PS/173 Nm).
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.
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 new 2020 Honda City is 4,553 mm long, 1,748 mm wide and has a 2,589 mm wheelbase. The Almera is then 58 mm shorter overall and 8 mm narrower, but with a 31 mm longer wheelbase. In any case, both are guaranteed to be very spacious inside, 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.
Nissan has surprisingly 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. Safety will then be a USP for the Almera over the City, given that the latter does not come with Honda Sensing even on the highest spec.
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 you see here 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 as usual.
There, an all-new Almera that looks much better, comes with a modern powertrain and even good safety tech – but will we get the full works here? What’s certain is that it’s already been spotted in Malaysia and will be coming in the near future. So, this or the Honda City for you? I’m leaning more on the Nissan for its aesthetics and kit.
GALLERY: 2020 Nissan Almera VL at the Thai Motor Expo
GALLERY: 2020 Nissan Almera official images
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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- All-new Nissan Almera makes Asian debut in Thailand
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I agree with Danny. If ever-blundering ETCM can wake up and get their act together with a proper product planning for once, the new Almera can be a segment leader for once.
Tan Chong? Naw! Those old unkers prefer to sell you ancient cars at high prices and then curse you when you go buy something more valued for money like a Proton. They essentially forgotten how to market & sell their cars so they stuck to talking bad about the competitors.
I think is not only ETCM problems. Nissan’s QC is not good as Honda and Toyota. Even in Thailand, Nissan’s sales volume is far behind from Honda and Toyota
Can’t Nissan get an engine cover at least to mask the messy engine bay?
It’ll cost rm30 at most….
Consider this, maintenance is easier. Some cars have engine covers that make it really hard to access parts of the engine…. probably on purpose so you have no choice but to go back to them
It is not matter of cost since it could be less than RM10 if in mass production. Look at the big hose cross over the engine, it will be hard to put the cover on top of the engine. And 1.0l engine is at least 30%-50% smaller than 1.5l, the size of the cover is too small. Like Ford festa 1.0l the engine bay isn’t cover as well. City 1.0l the cover actually is air filter, not engine cover.
This looks a lot better than the City. Looks like Nissan finally is back in the game. If they can maintain the low price like the previous gen and add more kit to it, we’ll have a winner for the B segment sedan championship.
Yup, a thoroughly modern design inside and out!
From the pics, it gives a perceptibly high quality feel and look. And certainly, the dashboard is nice and pleasant. I can live with this.
Once again, no electronic handbrake???
This could make the entire console appear nice and tidy, especially with a proper arm rest thrown in.
Hopefully no more radiator fan motor failures, ubiquitous on the current version!
Go, go Nissan – keep prices sane, OK!?
This is wayyyy better than the old Almera. If priced right in Malaysia, will be a worthy fighter to the Honda City.
what’s with the engine bay? looked like last minute assembly job/design.
Nice car. Thumb up on look and equipments.
the engine bay too crowded.
Nissan might win this round if the price is right
The engine compartment is very messy
Please bring Nissan March laaaa…can kick Myvi out of water looo
honestly , this look the best out of the segment. and now the mazda 2 decide to go “elegant” time for nissan to shine. sportiest edgiest looking of the bunch. if i in the market i would go for this.
the new almera priced RM68k to RM88k. Its proton x50 territory, below RM60k is the persona
Eagerly waiting for this model!
What move by NISSAN N TC
Anyone still remember daihatsu’s 1.0 turbo efi dohc 12 valve engine first appeared in the charade G100 GTti? Well, that was more than 30 years ago.. so this engine from Nissan does not amuse me at all.
Did they install some wreckage into the engine bay? lol
Nissan….just chuck the 1.2 H5eT from your partner Renault Captur…118hp/190Nm…
That would have been a better car to carry 5 adults.
Car is feather weight as it is….
One shot HKC if accident….infamous 2 airbags.
I can sense some BENG will tune the 100hp/173Nm to 130hp/199Nm….
that rear boot, if only shorter abit would make this car even sportier & nicer proportionately
isnt the rear boot and front hood about the same length? (especially side view)
wow , the engine looks messy with all that hoses
When they stinge on an engine cover..you can image the level of cost cutting this car has gone through
For those who give negative comment on engine bay is messy, how many of us who driving car every day will open the front boot once a month. We open the front boot usually is top up the washer but it usually 2 or 3 months once. So this shouldn’t be bothering to us and others and yet this ease the job for technician who servicing or repair the car.
TC = joke
total bs about ease the job for technician, have to unscrew the parts to reach the point that need to repair. OH NVM, you don’t bother right. “just pay and let them to do the job” mentality
I think is not only ETCM problems. Nissan’s QC is not good as Honda and Toyota. Even in Thailand, Nissan’s sales volume is far behind from Honda and Toyota