First Look: 2020 Nissan Almera Turbo in Malaysia

As we’ve noted, 2020 is definitely the year of the B-Segment sedan. Though Honda may have fired the first shots with its electrifying new City, the folks over at Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) have issued their response today.

The local Nissan vanguards held a press preview of the all-new 2020 Nissan Almera Turbo range earlier today at its Glenmarie showroom. We’ve taken a close gander at the new Almera ourselves and, suffice to say, there’s plenty in store.

“The only thing carried over from the last Almera is the key fob!” said Christopher Tan, ETCM’s sales and marketing director enthusiastically. From what we garnered, he’s not kidding – this is really a new car from the ground up.

Crucial here is the Almera’s new 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo petrol heart. The headlining figures of 100PS and 152Nm are somewhat respectable, but the 18.4km/litre (5.4 litres/100km) claimed fuel economy figure is what ETCM is most proud about.

Said figure sees ETCM garnering EEV status for the new Almera, to which it will produce locally (CKD) en masse in its main Serendah plant. Besides cylinders, the new Almera comes in three carefully tailored variants as well – more on this in a bit.

Back to the powertrain and, also noteworthy is the “next generation” Nissan X-Tronic CVT box that the Almera’s three-banger comes paired with. Like before, propulsion goes to both front wheels, but the package favours low-to-mid range torque delivery.

Besides that, the chassis has also been redesigned and re-engineered. The biggest step here is the adoption of new polyurethane bump stops to match the new suspension hardware and tuning that, altogether, delivers a dynamic and firmer ride – yep, you can skip that Ultra Racing strut bar option now.

The only thing carried over from the last Almera is the key fob!

Christopher Tan, Sales & Marketing Director – ETCM

Almera 1.0 VLP & VNT dash

7-Inch full colour Instrument display (1.0 VLP and VLT)

8-inch touchscreen with 6 speakers + Apple CarPlay (1.0 VLP and VLT)

i-Key

The news gets better on board too as this Almera somewhat retains its predecessor’s class-leading spaciousness. Apart from the new design’s low roofline taking away some headroom, there really is little to gripe about in this sub-compact, especially if you opt for the mid-spec VLP or range-topping VLT variants.

Key features present in said mid- and high-spec offerings include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that boasts Apple CarPlay connectivity and six speakers, automatic climate control, a 7-inch full-colour instrument display, one-touch signal repeaters, as well as plush leather seats and dash cover amongst many.

In terms of safety, forward-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking are standard across the board – yes, the base VL variant included. However, only the range-topping VLT gets Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, Blind-Spot Warning, as well as Rear Cross-Traffic Alert features.

Said range-topper and the mid-spec VLP share the same six-airbag count as well, with the base VL offering getting just two. Also standard across the board are ABS with EBD and BA, traction and stability control suites, hill-start assist, as well as ISOFIX childseat anchors.

Other key differences lie in the wheels sizes and forward lighting tech. Both the VLP and VLT variants get to roll on two-tone 16-inch alloys, whilst full-LED daytime running lights, headlights and foglamp setup is reserved solely for the latter instead.

1.0 3cyl Turbo

Next-Gen X-Tronic CVT

60:40 Folding Rear Seats

Full-LED DRL + Headlight (1.0 VLT)

Overall, it’s plain to see that this new Almera has taken a tremendous leap forward over its now seeming archaic predecessor in terms of safety and on-board kit. As for the new powertrain’s acceptance amongst local consumers, perhaps time would tell, and likely price will play a role here too.

Speaking of which, prices are tentative for now, but the both the base VL and mid-spec VLP variants will not break the RM90k mark. The range-topping VLT variant, on the other hand, is expected to breach RM90k given its fully loaded spec sheet.

Additionally, besides the five-year unlimited mileage warranty coverage, ETCM will also offer five free service (parts and labour included) alternating with paid ones within said five-year timeframe as well.

Keen to check out the new Almera for yourself? You can do so starting this weekend at all authorised ETCM outlets and dealerships nationwide.