Nissan ALMERA 2.2 dCi SXE
If Youre After A Diesel Hatch Thats Got A Mite More Muscle Than Most In The Mainstream, Nissans Almera With 2.2-Litre dCi Power Might Well Fit The Bill. Andy Enright Reports
Market forces are odd things. There are all sorts of arcane reasons why one product captures the imagination of the general public whereas another will fall flat on its face. Whats more, these reasons often have very little to do with merit. Think about it.
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Is the current best selling paperback, CD, microwave oven or garage door really the best? Obviously it would depend who you asked, but more often than not, popularity is as much to do with marketing as merit. First impressions are crucial. The
Nissan Almera didnt do too well when it was first introduced, but the latest versions seek to rectify the issue and none have a better chance than the 2.2-litre dCi hatches.
It sounds cruel to write a cars chances off, but the Almera 2.2 dCi has a really tough task on its hands. Despite the fact that its now a genuinely class competitive product with one of the biggest hitting diesel engines around, there will be a huge majority of potential buyers who just wont countenance an Almera on their shortlists. These buyers have missed out on the fact that the Almera is a vastly different car to its underwhelming predecessors.
They dont know that when the 2.2 dCi models were launched, they were the quickest cars in the entire Nissan line up. Theyre blissfully unaware of the fact that here is a car that generates almost as much torque as a
Ford RS Focus. Available solely in range-topping SXE trim, the Almera 2.
2-litre dCi is priced from £14,500 in three-door guise or £15,250 with five. This is the most expensive Almera available, evidence of the faith Nissan have in this
Renault-sourced diesel. Unlike its less sophisticated 2.2-litre Di sibling, the dCi unit is equipped with common rail technology and the difference can be felt as soon as you fire it up.
Its that little bit more refined than its junior sibling, and the mid-range pulling power is far stronger. Thus equipped, an Almera SXE dCi will accelerate to 60mph in nine seconds flat yet will still return an average fuel consumption figure that knocks on the door of 48mpg.
"Here is a car that generates almost as much torque as a Ford RS Focus"
The dCi engine feels a tad more refined than, say, a 130bhp
Volkswagen TDi engine although it cant quite match the German cars carbon dioxide emissions. Still, 161g/km isnt a bad showing, bracketing the Almera dCi with some of the cleanest performance diesels in its segment. If the concept of a sporting diesel still fills you with trepidation, you need to try a car like the Almera dCi. Youll be an instant convert as soon as you feel the smooth flow of midrange power, or when you take a glance down at the fuel gauge and find its only half depleted when you were expecting to be running on empty.
If you are tempted to try diesel, youll join a rapidly growing band. Unfortunately for Nissan, Ford,
Vauxhall and Volkswagen have snapped many of these diesel converts up. The Almera has been largely overlooked. This is a little unfortunate, especially since Nissan have worked hard to improve the Almera of late.
These labours have included a facelift with restyled headlamps and a curvier front bumper. If you want it in more detail, the upper and lower grilles are now honeycombed and the headlights have clear lenses which house a four-circle lamp system. Moving to the back, the tail lights on the hatchback are also a good deal more interesting than the outgoing car, with overlapping circles much like the larger Primera. The family link with the Almeras bigger brother is a little more tenuous once you move indoors.
It was here that the Primera broke new ground with its N-FORM centre console and though Nissan claim to have adapted the Almera to accommodate the system, much of the visual drama has been removed. Whereas the Primera features a horizontal shelf that juts out from the centre console atop which are the N-FORM controls, the Almera merely installs said controls in the vertical slot where the old knobs and buttons were. Still, it looks a good deal neater and works a treat. The Almera SXE comes with climate control, central locking, electric front windows, twin front and side airbags, illuminated vanity mirrors, a four-speaker RDS CD stereo with remote controls, a pollen filter, front and rear cup holders, a boot-mounted accessory power socket and ABS with brakeforce distribution.
Then theres satellite navigation, electronic stability control, 16-inch alloy wheels and a subtle spoiler kit. If you havent driven a late shape Almera, youll be pleasantly surprised by an interior that has moved up a class, with a quality feel reminiscent of something much more expensive. That probably won't be what you remember however, after the salesperson guides you round the 'super utility' cabin that is filled with clever touches. The shape's practical too, with plenty of headroom and decent space for three across a comfortable back
seat that split-folds to reveal 355 litres of space (25 litres more than a VW Golf). In the front, the seats are fitted with Active Head Restraints that reduce whiplash injury if you're hit from the rear. Which is a possibility, for the braking performance has been much improved thanks to the brake assist system that reduces the pedal effort required to activate ABS by around 30% in an emergency. Taken in isolation, the Nissan Almera SXE dCi is a fine achievement. Its a whole lot of fun and itll be faultlessly reliable and supremely economical.
Practicality isnt a problem, nor is value for money. Where the Almera comes up short is in terms of image. If you had £15,000 to spend on a diesel hatch, would you rather be opening your garage door to an Almera dCi or an
Alfa Romeo 147 JTD? Most will fancy the Alfa but for those who prefer a path less travelled, the Nissan has its merits. One of which is seeing the Alfa turn into a receding dot in your rear view mirror when you press the accelerator.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Nissan Almera 2.2-litre dCi SXE hatchback range
PRICES: £14,500-£15,250 - on the road
CO2 EMISSIONS: 161g/km / C
INSURANCE GROUP: 8
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 124mph / 0-60mph 9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 35.8mpg / (extra-urban); 58.8mpg / (combined) 47.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4120/1690/1395mm [3dr]
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