Turbocharged 2022 Nissan Almera launched in PH, starts at Php 728K (w/ specs)

Fresh from the launch of the 2022 Nissan Terra last month, Nissan Philippines is at it again with the launch of the next generation Almera B-segment sedan for the 2022 model year and this time, it comes with turbo power on all variants.

It may be late but this is definitely big for Nissan in the Philippines. The 2022 Nissan Almera which is finally available in the country, more than two years since it was first unveiled as the Versa in the United States in April 2019, and as the Almera in Thailand in November 2019, replaces the outgoing model which has been available locally since 2013, making it one of the oldest models in the segment despite continuously receiving updates throughout its lifespan.

On the outside, the 2022 Nissan Almera is a huge departure from the model it replaces. As expected, it now wears Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille in front, flanked by a new set of headlights. Gone is the happy face look of the outgoing model and in its place, a more aggressive face. The same goes for the side and rear which now look more aggressive.

Standard on the base Almera EL Turbo M/T are multi-reflector halogen headlights, LED taillights, chrome V-Motion front grille, and 15” steel wheels with hubcaps. Moving up to the VE Turbo M/T will give you LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, power-folding side mirrors with turn indicators, and 15” alloy wheels. Going for the VE Turbo CVT gets you the same equipment as the M/T. Finally, going for the top-spec VL Turbo N-Sport CVT will give you N-Sport design bumpers, dark chrome finish on the front grille, N-Sport design 16” two-tone alloy wheels, and a silver finish on the side mirrors.

Inside, the 2022 Nissan Almera remains simple but is heavily upgraded as well. Starting from the base model, standard features are fabric seats, a standard audio system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and automatic climate control. Going for the VE Turbo M/T and CVT variants add gray trim on the black fabric seats, a 7” TFT digital display on the instrument cluster, Ivory soft-touch trim with stitching on the dashboard, push button start, an 8” NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 6-speaker audio system. Lastly, going for the top-spec VL Turbo N-Sport CVT gives you a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black leather seats with contrast stitching, and black soft-touch dashboard trim.

Under the hood is perhaps the most interesting change with the all-new Almera. It now gets a turbocharged engine on all variants, the only one currently available in the segment locally. It’s a 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder petrol engine that produces 99 horsepower (100 PS) and 132 Nm of torque. As expected, it is paired to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT or a 5-speed manual transmission depending on the variant. CVT variants also come equipped with an Idling Stop System.

In terms of safety, the 2022 Almera gets Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility suite of driver-assist features. This means that it’s equipped with an Intelligent Around-view Monitor with Moving Object Detection (IAVM w/ MOD), Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW), and Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB) which are standard starting from the VE Turbo M/T. Going for the VL N-Sport Turbo CVT adds Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). These features (except IAVM) are not yet available in any of Almera’s competitors.

It also gets the usual set of active safety features such as dual front airbags, anti-lock braking system, vehicle dynamic control, hill start assist, and ISOFIX tether anchors standard on all variants. The VL Turbo N-Sport CVT adds side and side curtain airbags.

Unsurprisingly, the 2022 Nissan Almera sees a rather large price increase as compared to the outgoing model thanks to its new features. Check out the full list of variants and their corresponding prices below:

• 1.0 EL Turbo M/T – Php 728,000
• 1.0 VE Turbo M/T – Php 938,000
• 1.0 VE Turbo CVT – Php 998,000
• 1.0 VL Turbo N-Sport CVT – Php 1,098,000

Those who purchase VL Turbo N-Sport and VE Turbo variants will also be able to take advantage of Nissan’s 5-year/150,000-kilometer warranty just like on the refreshed Nissan Navara and Terra which were also introduced this year. Available colors for the all-new Nissan Almera are Cayenne Red, Premium Corona Orange, Galaxy Black, Gun Metallic, Brilliant Silver, and Pearl White.

The all-new Nissan Almera is now available in all Nissan dealerships nationwide. What do you think especially with its segment-first features and radical departure from the previous generation?