The all-new Nissan Almera: The ultimate sleeper

In an industry where economies of scale is supreme and companies are overrun by corporate bean counters, there never seems to be enough room for fun anymore.

Compromises have to be made in markets in order to provide a product that caters to the needs and wants of as many people s possible but at times, a product seems to squeeze in through the cracks and provide a compelling reason for us to do a double take on, and then some! The Nissan Almera breaks through and deserves the attention.

Turbo power

Powered by a 1-liter turbocharged, 3-cylinder engine that makes 100 horsepower and up to 160 Nm of torque, the Nissan Almera certainly has enough power and gruff to go toe to toe with the competition. Taking it for a spin however will leave you dumbfounded, there certainly must be more than what the numbers suggest!

Available in either a CVT or 5-Speed manual, each of one of those 100 horses must have been sent to the gym because one can certainly feel the pull with max torque coming in as early as 2,400 RPM, off-the line acceleration can be quite surprising. Who says that economy cars can’t be exciting to drive?

Did I mention that it does 23km/l? Don’t take Nissan Philippine’s word for it. I tested it myself and the number is certainly achievable.

Nissan Intelligent Mobility

The importance of advanced safety features apart from the standard airbags is often more overlooked than it should. Thankfully, Nissan Intelligent Mobility is available across the range with the top of the line N-Sport model getting the complete suite.

Depending on the model, features like Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Hill Start Assist are available with standard safety features like Airbags and ABS. This is unprecedented in the sub-compact class and only the Nissan Almera has it.

Easy to own

A hallmark of all sleeper cars is price. With all the aforementioned features, it’s easy to believe that it can be priced out of reach of regular folks like myself. Fortunately, the Nissan Almera starts at Php 728,000 which is perfect for first time car buyers who appreciate performance, fuel economy and safety.

Your first car shouldn’t be an underpowered mess, don’t settle for anything less. Challenge the Standards by clicking here to find out more about the all-new Nissan Almera! 

Photos by Roy Robles