Spacious compact : 2015 Nissan Almera
The marque that has given the world a 2.9 second 0-100 KPH car has a lot to live up to. And it starts from the grassroots level. Nissan's jolly good Sunny has been the entry level sedan since 1966 and it still holds repute, thanks to Nissan's relentless quest to ensure everyone in the customer list is satisfied. The Almera badge was used in parallel to Sunny in the European and South American markets since 1996. Bangladesh never saw the brand, but this year, Pacific Motors Ltd. decided to enrich their lineup with the all new 2015 Almera. And SHIFT had a go at it.
Are those redesigned 370Z front lamps? They are, really. The 2015 face lifted Almera has 370Z sports car derived front lamps with reduced aggression and boomerang effect follow through. That is a big plus for me, and many others contemplating on the car. Yes, the wide, large gaping grille is almost comical due to the abundant chrome plating on it, but you'd be glad to know this is reminiscent of its bigger stable mates, the Sylphy and Teana. The large yet sober rear lamps are beautifully sculpted in the protruding rear fascia which has an uncanny resemblance with a Bentley's sleek, hunched back. The exterior is otherwise free of drama, with flowy curves by the hind quarters and an arc shaped roof line to match. We got a red pearl metallic Almera to play with, although there are a few more body colour options to opt from. We were secretly wishing for the Black star.
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The interior. Well, it's spacious. Despite the curvy roofline it is so roomy that it will put its competitors such as Toyota Vios and Honda City at shame. The head and leg room in the front and back is unmatched too- the editor and I are well above the average height of Bangladeshi male and we sat comfortably simultaneously in the front and back of the Almera. The fabric upholstered seats are mildly firm giving you a flattering ride, especially if you are seated in the back, as you have the foldaway rear arm rest at your disposal. If you want to drive the car though, things change a little. The ride height is favorable, but the seat adjustment consoles are not. If you have the seat belt on and want to change the setting of your back rest, you are in for a scuffle. The front also lacks an arm rest for the left arm to relax. However, to compensate, there's plenty of nicely designed stow-away compartments near the glove compartment, door and center console. There are no ash trays, so no smoking inside the car. Nissan wants the Almera buyers never to get dehydrated- there's drink holders everywhere.
How's the driving feel? The first thing to notice in the dash is the polished piano black finished center console, with the auto climate controls integrated into a large circle. Oddly interesting, as the only other car I can think of having a large center circular console is the Koenigsegg Agera. The multi-information display keeps your driving information in-check with real time information feed. Be it the outside temperature or your fuel consumption patterns, you are constantly informed. Steering mounted audio controls make your life more ergonomic. The basic, large RPM and speed dials glow up in white and red the moment you push start the motor to life.
Pacific Motors Ltd. has just one variant of the Almera for you- 1.5L petrol motor with a 4 speed automatic that throws out 99PS and 134 Nm of torque at 6,000 and 4,000 RPMs respectively. When you step into the soft pedal, the power comes in nonchalantly and you feel the thump of the motor only at higher up the rev. Yet, because of the relative high mid range torque, the engine has no problem throwing the car into motion from naught, even with a full blast of the air con on at the scorching heat of Dhaka noon. And that is precisely what is needed for a city tourer- low RPM punch to zip around.
With a bare Dhaka during the eid holidays, we threw the car around for some high speed action and it coped fantastically. The 4 speed auto tranny helped pick speed up without any drama during acceleration, but it seemed a bit too responsive at times, as the box would shift down during the slightest of decelerations. Occasionally you would want the higher gear to hold at higher speeds even if you drop down a notch of speed, but the Alemra's computers decide otherwise. A combination of front ventilated discs and MacPherson strut with rear drums and torsion beam suspension allows a smooth braking and comfortable ride experience. On the other hand, because of the overall tall nature of the vehicle, a little body roll is expected at sharp turns or swerves. Nissan wanted Almera to be city friendly and endowed it with a great turning circle- at 5.2 metres of minimum turning radius, maneuvering in the tightest of spaces is made effortless with a power assisted squishy adjustable steering.
Is it a safe ride? If you are curious to know of any extra feature besides SRS airbags and ABS (these two come standard in all cars anyways), then yes, there's electronic brake force distribution (EBD) which optimizes rear brake according to the load the car is carrying. The new chassis has a zone body construction system that enhances the cabin strength dedicated to passenger protection. For Dhaka though, none of that matters more than the ride height- Almera has a great ground clearance of 165mm that will battle almost any speed bumps in the country. Say no to scrapings.
All throughout these years, Sunnys have been around us to enlighten the otherwise drab road sceneries with the relatively sleek and bold designs. Eventually Nissan opted for the bloated appearance with the last gen. Now with the latest iteration of the Almera, Nissan went for the inevitable corporate appeal with a befitting name: surely the Almera is a moving. From doing groceries to fetching kids from school or sitting back through an official tour, it will not disappoint you in any way. Yes the car lacks a touch screen display and rear camera options, but with a combination of its voluptuous cabin & boot volume, relative economy and comfortable city driving appeal, it's difficult to argue against its value proposition.
SPECS
2015 Nissan Almera
Engine: 1.5litre 4 cylinder gasoline engine (97HP @6000RPM and 99 lb-ft of torque @4000 rpm).
Transmission: 4-speed automatic transmission.
Brakes: Ventilated front, rear drum, ABS, EBD.
Suspension: MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear.
Features and options: CD, USB, auto climate control air conditioning, push start ignition, intelligent key, 15" alloy wheels.
Price: 25,90,000 taka.
For details, contact Pacific Motors Limited.
VERDICT
We would have picked a Nismo edition with added cosmetic enhancements and a meager firm suspension over the standard Almera. It's a shame this will not be there for a pick in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, we leave it to your imagination to do the rest with your Almera.
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