Nissan Almera
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| Nissan Almera | |
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| Manufacturer: | Nissan |
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| Production: | 1995—2006 [1] |
| Predecessor: | Nissan Sunny |
| Successor: | Unconfirmed |
| Related: | Nissan Pulsar Nissan Sentra Nissan Bluebird |
| Similar: | Ford Focus Honda Civic Hyundai Elantra Mazda 3 Toyota Corolla Volkswagen Golf. |
The Nissan Almera was a small family car built by Nissan from 1995 to 2006. The Almera name was essentially the European export-market name for the Nissan Pulsar / Nissan Sentra / Nissan Bluebird.
The Nissan Almera was designed to offer best-in-class equipment and technology and was always considered a very road capable car offering sharp, precise handling, minimal bodyroll and decent tyre grip, especially in the GTi and post 2003 versions.
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[edit] Nissan Almera Mk I N15 (1995–2000)
The first Nissan Almera rolled off the production line late in 1995, as replacement for the Nissan Sunny, a nameplate which had been in use for nearly 30 years. It was mostly identical to the N15 Nissan Pulsar sold in Japan, except with different trim and petrol engine range.
Power came from 1.4 GA14DE and 1.6 GA16DE petrol and 2.0 CD20 diesel engines initially in 1995, but a year into production a 2.0 SR20DE engined GTi was added to the range. The GTi had uprated suspension, front and rear strut braces and a quicker steering rack. The Nissan Almera was ungainly in appearance but beneath its bland exterior lay an excellent chassis which gave perhaps the best ride and handling of any small medium car on sale in Europe.
Almost all Almeras sold in the UK were hatchbacks with three or five doors - this was quite different to some other regions such as Ireland, where the saloon version was substantially more commonplace. Specification was good, with all models getting power steering, driver airbag and stereo as standard. Most of the range had antilock brakes, air-conditioning, electric windows and CD player as at least an option. Just the 'E' specification missed out on air con, CD and all-round electric windows. As with all Nissans, build quality and reliability were first rate, except perhaps, the timing chain inside the engine. This was a known problem, but was costly to put right. Today you can expect to pay £800 - £1000at a Nissan dealer. Phase 2 GTi's with low mileage were rather more sought after, and one can expect to pay up to £2500 for a good example.
The top-of the range models on the N15 chassis were:
Phase 1 (1995-1998)
- 1.4 Si
- 1.6 SRi
- 2.0 GTi (1996 onwards, sold in bodykit and non-bodykit form)
The above all included high-spec bumpers with foglights, alloy wheels from 1996 onwards (Different size and design between Si/SRi 14" and GTi 15"), and rear roof lip spoilers (GTi models sported an integrated brakelight).
Phase 2 (1998-2000)
- 1.4 Si
- 1.6 SRi
- 2.0 GTi
For the phase 2, the front bumpers were re-designed, front splitters were added on the Si/SRi, and the GTi had all-round bodykit standard, including front/rear splitters and sideskirts, and now all of the lip spoilers had integrated brakelights.
Si and SRi models were sold in 3 and 5 Door versions, whereas the GTi was 3 Door only, differing from the Almera's main competitior, the VW Golf, which was sold in both versions.
[edit] Nissan Almera Mk II N16 (2000–2006)
Launched early in 2000, the second generation Nissan Almera looked better than its predecessor with classic, smooth, curved lines. Some still thought it was bland in comparison with its rivals although the Almera was selling strong worldwide.
The N16 Almera was based on Nissan's global MS-Platform which was Nissan's first new platform to be developed after the partnership with Renault. The MS Platform was also the base for the new Primera and Almera Tino.
[edit] Critics
The N16 Almera offered great improvements over the previous generation Almera in terms of handling, tyre-grip and drive dynamics. The N16 Almera felt much more sure-footed on the road and was exceptionally nimble for a plain family car. Even today the Almera was considered to be one of the best handling small family cars on the market while still maintaining its predecessor hallmarks for rock solid build quality and cast iron reliability.
While the previous generation Almera was considered spacious of its class, the N16 Almera was lacking in rear passenger legroom due to a shorter then category average 2.53 meter wheelbase.
[edit] Versions
The second generation Almera could be had as a three- or five-door hatchback or a four-door sedan, with 1.5 and 1.8 Nissan QG engine series petrol engines as well as a 2.2 direct injection turbodiesel (YD22DDT) or common-rail turbodiesel (YD22DDTi).
Almeras can be also equipped with 1.5 common-rail turbodiesel from the Renault Megane II - Nissan had recently ventured with Renault and the Almera's diesel engine was the first instance of Nissans and Renaults sharing mechanicals.
[edit] 2003 facelift
In 2003 the Almera had undergone another update which included a face-lift, re tuned suspension, new engines and an updated interior.
First, the Almera's Macpherson strut front suspension and award winning multi-link rear suspension (Nissan's name for its double lateral link twist beam suspension) have been re tuned. This results in a quieter ride and a reduction in the amount of rear bump-through experienced when heavily laden, improving high-speed stability, driving dynamics and making the car more controllable after an emergency maneuver. The new suspension tuning also proved to produce almost zero body roll on tight turns. Overall, Nissan says, the Almera had slighter firmer damper settings and marginally stiffer spring ratings; though there had been no loss of ride comfort or increase in noise levels in normal motoring. The suspension revisions have been executed in such a way as to only come into play at the upper edge of the dynamic envelope.
The facelift also included new chrome, projector-style headlights that were set in a titanium-coloured surround with separate lights for main and low beams set behind an enlarged translucent cover. The front bumper now had an integrated engine air intake that runs almost the full width of the car while a honeycomb mesh grille adds visual benefits to the frontal image. Some models also get small circular fog lights.
The interior of the face-lifted Almera had also been redesigned with better quality materials and a large color or monochrome center screen which controls all of the car's functions (climate control, CD player and trip computer). Higher trim levels also include Nissan's Bird-eye GPS system.
The face-lifted Almera was built in Sunderland, UK, and exported to parts of the Asia-Pacific where they were sold as the Nissan Pulsar. In 2006 the second generation Almera reached its sixth year of production but was still selling strong world wide.
[edit] End of production and replacement
The Almera disappeared from Nissan's catalogue by summer 2006, after Nissan have changed its strategy. Traditional small family cars and large family cars like the Almera and Primera will be replaced by a mini MPV (the Note), a compact SUV (the Qashqai) and a crossover SUV between the Qashqai and the Murano. This had created a very big gap in Nissan's range, since it had nothing to more offer to those wishing to buy a direct replacement for the Almera.
It was however possible that the Tiida will be adapted to European tastes and released in late 2007 or early 2008. This decision was mainly related to the success of the Note and Qashqai.
[edit] Nissan Almera Classic (Russia and the Americas)
The Renault Samsung SM3 was sold in Russia and some countries of North, Central and South America as Nissan Almera Classic.
The car was a B15 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy-derived model built in South Korea by Renault Samsung Motors. It had four versions and two engines available: the 1.5 litre QG15DE and the 1.6 litre with CVTC system QG16DE petrol; both from Nissan.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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