Nissan almera test drive black. Nissan Almera: almost Logan, but better

The idea of ​​​​creating a brand and releasing a car is a time period during which the car market continues to exist and changes with the release of new products from competitors, and the shorter it is, the more excitement it produces. If Nissan Almera had been assembled by 2008, then its entry into the market would have been marked by an incomparably greater profit for the manufacturer. If from 2008 the Nissan-Renaul alliance gained access to production, then from 2010 the production of Almera in Togliatti and Solaris in St. Petersburg would take place simultaneously, and one can still argue which of the brands would be the winner. Consider a test drive of the Nissan Almera Classic, what is the Nissan Almera worth in the present tense, without exaggeration and the subjunctive mood.

When such a unique case falls out as a test drive of the Nissan Almera, a model that has been on the market for several years, why not mention its history. In 2005, sales of a car called the Nissan Bluebird Sylphy began in Japan, and since 2006 the Chinese began to produce it under the name Sylphy; 2011 is the year the car arrived at the Volga plant.

Launching the assembly of the Nissan Almera for Russia was not easy, given how the model was adjusted to the vicissitudes of Russian production. The start of sales, scheduled for the second half of 2012, was postponed to January 2013, and then again and again ... As a result of the tests passed, stable deliveries to dealers improved only by the fall of 2013.

As soon as Almera confidently climbed to its well-deserved place in the sales ranking, complaints began to come in about overheating of the DP2 automatic transmission and a discrepancy in the length of the brake hoses. The manufacturer was forced to work on a design error by lengthening the hoses. But the issue of the functionality of the rear shock absorbers due to the excessive rebound travel and limited mileage of silent blocks was not resolved.

Frankly, all sorts of dubious complaints did not improve the rating, but the lost reputation is a serious factor. But no matter what they say, in 2014 Almera enters the top ten popular cars, remaining in eighth place on the honorary list and with 46,225 cars that went into the possession of happy owners. Almera was able to bypass Renault Sandero, Skoda Octavia and other brands, and no more than a thousand units separate it from the celebrity title in the regions of Lada Priora.

In 2015, the crisis of the car's potential is not enough to stay on the saved positions. Almera drops to 15th place. Perhaps, if we consider a test drive of the Nissan Almera Classic, we will be able to understand what does not fit into the logic of historical transformations and why it happened.

Impression starts with appearance. Of course, if the design of the model was in development for over a decade, one should not expect supernatural effects. On the contrary, an excess of brightness, audacity, extravagance could even harm a model oriented towards massiveness. In this regard, the appearance of the Nissan Almera is beyond reproach. Harmony, solidity, solidity - this is exactly how the buyer imagined it, demanding on the exterior and not devoid of practicality.

Chrome-plated surfaces of the radiator, door handles, bumpers to match the body, stylish side mirrors, light alloy wheels - add respectability to the model. I must say, these wheels are included in the Comfort + and Tekna kits, but black mirrors and door handles can only be found in the initial version of Welcome.

Almera is sold only as a sedan, and in Russia sedans are more honorable than hatchbacks. Regarding such nuances as puffiness of the rear view, there are no complaints. Designers agree that the Nissan Almera finds preference not among young people, but among people of mature age, for whom status is more important than brightness. But even more important will be how a potential buyer evaluates the inside.

Luckily for me, the test drive of the Nissan Almera was remembered for the outstanding freedom of the rear seats. Inside, the Nissan Almera is remarkably comfortable. Almera is officially in the B+ segment, but its “gallery” is more voluminous than many E-segment sedans! A driver with a height of 180 cm or more feels free. You can ride with your legs crossed. Sitting in the back seat, you will find that the knees are separated by 15 cm from the front seats.

The owner of the car will be amazed that the puffy stern is not a design error at all, it is compensation for the trunk volume of 500 liters. The figure is impressive, although not the highest. Quite a decent, voluminous class trunk. The trunk of the Priora is 430 liters, the latest version of the LadaVesta is 480 liters, the leading sales Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris have trunks up to 500 liters, Datsun On-Do - 530 liters, Lada Granta - 520 liters, Renault Logan - 510 liters, five-seater Lada Largus - 560 liters.

A person weighing under a hundred kilograms can comfortably fit in the trunk without moving the rear seat. The Almera trunk is universal for transportation: be it bags of vegetables, disassembled furniture, a pram, skis, a frame for outbuildings, and other types of cargo. It is this trunk that is indispensable for transporting people (after all, there are plenty of extra cases, like filming a movie with a story about the export of secret cargo).

The inside of the trunk lid is equipped with a miniature handle that is comfortable to grip. Therefore, if you have to close the trunk, your hands will remain clean. It would seem that for a trifle - but still nice ... But the user will like the uneasy voluminous trunk, and not the comfortable use of the lock - but the fact that you can open it with a key and with the help of a lever located on the floor. And here Almera has no equal. But this is where the positive characteristics of the interior of the Nissan Almera end.

Definitions that would best fit the interior of the Nissan Almera - restraint, inexpressiveness, gloom, despondency. Such associations are caused by fabric finishing. The plastic of the panels is hard, unsightly, a test drive of the Nissan Almera provides an excellent opportunity to compare it to the touch with the high-quality and expensive plastic of VAZ cars (eights, nines, ten)!

The rest of the details are also not particularly encouraging. Instruments leave much to be desired. Orange backlight, no doubt, someone to taste. Radio tape recorder - two-din, no display, CD player and AUX input; impressions against the background of the Comfort + version that only Tekna can distinguish itself with a Nissan Connect media center with navigation. The steering wheel is a fork into three branches, harsh, one cannot say that it is “grasping”. No control options on the steering wheel, even a hint of them, albeit on the top version. Steering wheel heating is mandatory in Russia, including economy class cars, but in our case, a test drive of the Nissan Almera Classic refutes all illusions about this. Power windows on the front doors should be automatic, but only work with the push of a button.

The front seats are heated, among other things. At first it seemed that there was no heating, and it was indicated to raise the image of the model. After a while, it became clear: the switches were built into the bases of the seats - located between the seat cushion and the door in a narrow gap. You have to pay for all this comfort 573 thousand, sometimes more ... But it is advisable to discuss the cost closer to the end of testing, we'll talk about it later. If you characterize Almera from the inside, then associations with a fairly spacious, but rustic furnished apartment in a new panel building come to mind.

Let's discuss what the car is like while driving. Suddenly, these advantages of her will be above all expectations, compensating for the shortcomings. How the driver feels behind the wheel, a test drive of the Nissan Almera, the video will provide an opportunity to capture all the accompanying nuances of his mood. I sit down for comfortable pedal control - my hands turned out to be above the optimal position. I let go of the steering wheel - it turns out an overlay with devices. I raise the seat - the instruments appeared in my field of vision, but my head was squeezed into the ceiling. In other words, I was looking for a comfortable position for a long time.

To insert the ignition key into the lock, you need a certain skill, since the driver does not see it. Seats are not the best profile. The fact that the back does not rest is clear without comment, but when an unpleasant tension appeared, the sensation became distinct after a couple of hours. Judging by my own feelings, I concluded that the seat backs need support at lumbar level.

Visibility is relatively acceptable. Only the rear seat headrests completely cover the view in the interior mirror. Well, at least the side mirrors are not too miniature.

The pedals - like the keys or buttons of a spaceship - are very light, absolutely weightless. The K4M valve cannot impress, of course, with explosive acceleration, but the thrust is quite good. Gears are switched without emphasized accuracy, but there is no floating uncertainty, as is the case with all-wheel drive VAZ models produced before the time of Renault-Nissan. The lever travel is large, the wrist throw will not save, and there is no armrest, so the right arm hangs down.

But the pendant! The best thing that a test drive of the Nissan Almera Classic can distinguish is that it is more perfect than the suspension of the first Logan, namely Renault Logan should be considered the “pioneer” of broken roads! With excellent energy intensity, the car turned out to be higher than its French ancestor in terms of smoothness. And the passage of speed bumps with dynamic unloading performed by Almera is more impressive than poetry!

As for everything else, the positive is perceived as the absence of the negative. The car is easily controlled, it is not lost in the process of driving, albeit at permissible speeds. Adequately responds to steering, passes trajectories with accuracy, but does not reach emotional satisfaction. And why would a car need a “drive” if the father of the family, wise over the years, is driving it? His style of movement is moving in segments, and thinking about how, leaving point A, not to pass by point B ...

What should be recommended to the future owner of Almera is to immediately provide additional soundproofing. When driving at 20 km / h, noise is already heard, and at 60 km / h, a depressing sound comes from the wheel arches. Moreover, the strengthening of the background music does not really help ...

So the test drive of the Nissan Almera Classic has been completed, what conclusions will follow from it? Before us is a solid spacious sedan of the famous Japanese brand, something between speed and slowness, a large trunk, a simple interior, mediocre sound insulation, adapted to domestic roads, Russian assembly, reasonable cost. All indicators for maintaining the level of sales at a critical moment. In contrast to the above, in 2015 sales decreased by 44%, which is 20 thousand cars. Hyundai Solaris models were sold 1% less over the same period. What is special about Almera?

One of the opinions is the lack of options. Engine, two boxes, two whole, five tenths of a complete set. Why two and a half - the differences between Comfort, Comfort AC and Comfort + are barely perceptible, and Tekna's top version has not progressed too far. If we consider the basic package Welcome for 499 thousand rubles, it is difficult to imagine it in reality. Indeed, not every salon provides it.

It turns out that competitors are able to offer an analogue at a price that is more affordable, some are an even more perfect analogue for the same money, which is most important - a set of advantages far from the standard, including a flawless engine. More recently, everything looked exactly like this, as if Almere had no competitors. Some models are tighter, they have exquisite pendants, others are more expensive, so the Russian car market is able to accept all offers.

Auto journalists constantly checked the information, wondering if the estimated capacity of 65 thousand cars per year is enough, or is it necessary to grow them up to 90? At the moment, analyzing the 2016 Nissan Almera test drive, video, I am not sure if the demand for the model will be maintained, justifying production in the future.

This data should live with the fact that the country is not overpopulated with men in their forties getting into a state of ecstasy from a calm, solid and practical family car at an affordable cost. Perhaps such men, no less than journalists, appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of popular brands, and have the right to choose based on ideas of perfection, and they would rather feel more comfortable inside the salon. It is not known whether the decision will mature in the company to make a radical redecoration of this car of Japanese-French origin, a native of Asian countries, completed on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Nissan Almera is right for you if:

• your country has ideal roads or newly repaired roads or plans for repairs in the near future;
• if you constantly have to give basketball players a lift or you yourself are a tall person;
• you want to look with your car like a landscape against the backdrop of the boss's car.

You will be against buying a Nissan Almera if:

• you have an individual intolerance to plastic odors;
• Do you love the work of Andy Warhol?
• you sleep and see how to set new records of the Nurburgring Nordschleife with this car.

Today in our review of Nissan Almera 2017 in a new body. Let's see how it will show itself in comparison with its predecessors.

Nissan Almera has been with us since 2013 and, in fact, is the largest car in class B. From nose to tail, it is almost 4.7 m. This is truly a record figure. Even cars gravitating towards class D, for example, like the Skoda Octavia, this figure is about the same. That is, we are waiting for unprecedented comfort, at least along the length of the car.

Let's check these assumptions right away. We open the door, landing in the back seat is easy, the door is long. Indeed, the placement, as if not even in a class D car, but, most likely, even E. Even the rear passenger with high growth will be comfortable to ride, since he will not touch the front back with his knees, which in this case is really a big plus. If two such people are planted one after the other, then it will be convenient for both. In this case, the dimensions of the car are fully justified.

In terms of width, the indicators are not so outstanding. The reason for this is the use of the B0 “trolley”, which underlies the Renault Logan, Sandero and, of course, limits the width. A little less than 1.7 m, so the figure is not a record.

Trunk

The continuation of the length is the trunk. Here everything is still on the level. The only thing is that you have to open it either with a key or a lever in the cabin. Unfortunately, this cannot be done from the keychain. Trunk volume 500 l. On the sides there are convenient niches for anti-freeze, for example, and under the floor there is a full-size spare wheel, however, 15 diameters.

Pleased with the neat execution of the upholstery - everything is covered, there is no bare metal, and the tongue of the lid closes. Obviously, that huge, tidy trunk and plenty of rear space make it ideal for carrying passengers.

Specifications

Under the hood, the only possible engine is known by the Renault-Nissan number - 102 horsepower, 16 valves, 4 cylinders and, of course, gasoline. Both manual and automatic are possible. The same set of units can be found both on Logan and Sandero, as well as on other models of the concern. It weighs about 1200 kg, on the verge of moving confidently and driving slowly.

The engine features a familiar throttle drive.

Here, a direct connection between the gas pedal and the throttle, which provides a reliable response, of course, is less economical and environmentally friendly, but a well-deserved unit. A typical way to fill a washer tank.

There was no place for daytime running lights in these huge headlights. It's disappointing, because those Nissan grooves could have accommodated them. The rest of the exterior repeats the Renault Logan. The same independent suspension, discs in front, drums in the back.

Steering wheel and dashboard

The interior, unlike the size, does not represent any revelations. We see, by and large, Renault Logan, the dashboard from it, the layout of the front panel from it too, the lower climate control unit, which you have to reach for, again, like on Logan.

Starting from the steering wheel and ending with the switch, a specific duct located on the switch gives out the progenitor in terms of the main materials and means used in the 2017 Nissan Almera - this is Renault Logan, aka Sandero, depending on the type of body. In this case, we really got an elongated body, but the cabin clearly shows that it was Renault Logan that initiated the creation, that is, this long-wheelbase version was created from it.

The main difference between the new Nissan Almera in a positive way from the same Logan is the mirrors, which are magnificent here due to their large size. Despite the absence of any electronic assistance to control the dead zones, everything is great in the car. The review is excellent, and even despite the fact that there are lovers to look into the central mirror. The mirrors on the sides fully indicate that you can throw out the central one at all, with such “burdocks” in the city and when parking, you feel perfect. This is a big plus! For these mirrors, the car is even worth falling in love with.

The review involves a car with the richest equipment, but besides bluetooth, there is nothing of the newfangled chips here: no light sensor, no rain, no traction control.

By and large, the car is devoid of those innovations that already exist even on the same, for example, Lada Vesta.

Anyone who wants to open a window will make sure that there are no power windows. In fact, they are located elsewhere on the center console, the left and right buttons.

Recon device with an undeveloped on-board computer, which does not even have an ambient temperature sensor, but everything is well readable. The multimedia system is top-end, in addition to CD, there is Bluetooth, so there will be no difficulties with modern music. As for the sound, it is average. If you are a music lover, you will have to replace.

Under the multimedia complex, which is convenient to manage, is located:

• power window control units
• alarm system
• glass heating
• interior locks

The climate control unit is located very inconveniently, since the gearshift control lever completely blocks it and you have to twist your hand to get there. There is a convenient shelf for the phone. True, you will have to beat it with soft material so that it does not rattle there.

In the Nissan Almera 2017, the pedals are widely spaced, there will be no difficulty in pressing them. Recall that this is the most expensive Tekna equipment, where there is no armrest, you will have to buy it separately. The parking brake lever is conventional, but right there on the center console there is an electric control of large mirrors. It seems strange that the controls from the usual door cards are assigned to a variety of places. Fantastic ergonomics.

Landing in front

The seats are soft and after a while because of this you start to get tired all the same. Minimum adjustments, only inclination of the backrest and longitudinal.

This car is clearly not for long trips.

Of course, the seat is not ideal. But you need to keep in mind that the car, although large, is affordable. Do not expect expensive materials in it.

Otherwise, you can get behind the wheel quite comfortably. The steering wheel is adjustable only in height and horizontally, there is no adjustment for reach, however, you can take a position.

Rear landing

The new Almera is primarily a car for rear passengers. It's even some limousine in class B. There are no problems with height, although the body is streamlined. No problems with knees. Those who will ride the Almere in the back seat will feel the softness of the sofa and will easily spend the necessary time for the trip here.

With this long wheelbase, there are no levels of comfort for rear passengers, even power windows, as they say, “on the oars”. There is no central armrest, which suggests that the car is for transportation, but without even the usual comfort. The back is comfortable and you can sit without hesitation, no matter how tall the passenger is. The width does not offer much space, but the two are comfortable.

Go

We take the usual gear lever with large moves and backlash and start a test drive. The new Almera does not have expensive electronic systems. An active driver will like it, as you can easily move along snow bumps, ruts, but you need to be ready for correction, the car will not do anything for you, except for ABC. The long base allows it to be very stable, so it will be easy to level on difficult surfaces.

Even when accelerating, the increased weight absolutely does not beg for opportunity.

Short main pair, because of this, a close gear. You can immediately turn on the 5th from 40 km / h at idle, despite this engine, which is riding 6500 before estrus, it still moves confidently. There will be some difficulties on the highway, because so many km per hour is 3000 rpm. The rest of the ride is easy, with a soft seat smoothing out bumps instead of suspension. As you know, the suspension of the Renault-Nissan concern is harsh for budget cars. For those who like to drive fast, the Almera is probably not suitable. The only reason is the engine.

First of all, the new Almera is a city car. There are no daytime running lights, I want to blame her for this, just because the design is not the most modern, the car has long been known. On the 3rd in the city, the driver will feel great. Even on the track, you can go to the 5th, because the 4th will give an even greater tide, then the engine will end.

Given the short main pair, I'm not surprised why they made it.

The 16-valve on the bottom doesn't have enough traction, so to make it easier to move off, it was properly shortened. Just for urban use, so that in traffic jams a person does not feel disadvantaged. This is solved by an automatic transmission, it is offered, but there will be losses both in dynamics and in other parameters.

The brakes repeat the same B0 platform, there is no need to wait for a revelation, but braking, as always, is reliable.

If you check the steering wheel when cornering, it is rather tight, which is typical for Renault-Nissan in the budget price category, but at the same time it obeys perfectly.

Conclusion

What is Nissan Almera? First of all, this car is already built on a well-known platform, but adapted for the transport of goods and luggage. The undisputed leader in size in the class externally. Thanks to the appearance, chrome parts, it seems that it is really a class above. The space behind is unprecedented, but there is austerity. The interior is simple, there are no electronic systems and comfort systems, there is heated seats, which is good for our climate.

An ideal choice for those who want to carry their passengers in comfort and be chosen to travel again.

For example, for corporate parks, for companies that are engaged in the transportation of passengers. Such an Almera arrives, all beautiful and shiny, and the person is glad that he was given due attention. The rest who love family will also do. The ground clearance is large, the suspension is laborious, these advantages are known from Logan, in a new spacious body. Look at the price - in front of you is a balanced offer.

Video

You can watch the full video review and test drive Nissan Almera 2017 below

When you get to test not the latest novelty, but a model that has been on the market for several years, one way or another you have to tell the story. It all started in 2005, when sales of a car called the Nissan Bluebird Sylphy started in Japan. In 2006, under the name Sylphy, they began to assemble it in China, and in 2011 they decided to put it on the main conveyor of the Volga Automobile Plant.

The launch of the Nissan Almera Russia assembly turned out to be a very difficult undertaking. And the adaptation of the model to Russian realities was rather painful, and the start of sales, scheduled for autumn 2012, was postponed several times - first to January 2013, then to March, then to April ... As a result, mass and rhythmic deliveries to dealers began only closer to autumn.

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Respectability is added by chrome trim radiator and door handles, and body-colored bumpers and side mirrors, and alloy wheels. By the way, such wheels are included in the Comfort + and Tekna packages, but black mirrors and door handles are available only in the initial version of Welcome.

Again, Almera is sold only as a sedan, and in our country sedans are considered more prestigious than hatchbacks. Well, the fact that in some angles, especially from behind, the car looks a little puffy, so it does not matter. After all, the company does not hide that it is not designed for young people, who are given everything bright and catchy, and not for the fair sex, but for family people in adulthood - it is important for them that the car looks solid and status. But even more important is what the potential owner will find inside.

Equalization to seniors

And he will find, first of all, a really outstanding space in the rear seats. Officially, Almera belongs to the B + segment, but there are more “gallery” places in it than in many E-segment sedans! With my height of 182 cm, I didn’t just easily sit down “by myself” - if I wanted, I could throw my legs over, because it turned out that 15 centimeters separate my knees from the back of the front seats.

And the generalized father of the family will undoubtedly like the fact that the already noted puffiness of the stern is not a design miscalculation, but the price paid for a trunk with a volume of 500 liters. Agree, a solid figure, though not the largest in the class, but very decent. For comparison, Priora has a trunk volume of 430 liters, the latest Lada Vesta has 480 liters, sales leaders Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris also have 500 liters of trunks, Renault Logan - 510 liters, Lada Granta - 520 liters, Datsun On-Do -530 liters, Lada Largus station wagon in a five-seater configuration - 560 liters. At the same time, with my centner of live weight, I fit in the trunk without any problems and I didn’t even have to fold the back of the rear seat. In general, in the old dashing times, someone would probably have decided that in the trunk of an Almera it is very convenient to take out business partners for a sincere conversation in the nearest woods, but now this option is unlikely. Rather, this volume will be used to transport a couple of sacks of potatoes or a baby stroller, and the folded backs allow you to solve the problem of transporting a table with unscrewed legs, skis or a frame for a greenhouse.

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There is a chain handle on the inside of the lid, so you don't have to get your hands dirty when closing the trunk. A trifle, but nice ... But not just a large trunk is important, and not even the fact that it opens both “with a key” and a lever located on the floor ... It is important to combine it with space on the second row. And here Almera is out of competition! Alas, this is where all the positives in describing the internal space of the Nissan Almera ended for me ...

Apartment with finishing from the developer

The key word in the interior is the word "dull" and its synonyms. Dull fabric trim. Boring, hard and soapy to the touch plastic panels. By God, the VAZ eights, nines and dozens of plastic were more expensive and of better quality!

Everything else also evokes melancholy ... Inexpressive devices with orange backlighting. A two-din radio without a display, with a CD player and an AUX input (I had a Comfort + version on the test, and only Tekna can boast of a Nissan Connect media center with navigation). A dull three-spoke steering wheel, hard and not too grippy. There are no controls on it and it is not expected, even on the top version. About the steering wheel heating (and I am sure that this option in Russia should be mandatory even for budget cars), I am completely silent. The power windows of the front doors are non-automatic, that is, the glass moves while you press the button.

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There is, however, heated front seats. True, at first I decided that it did not exist, and in the specification its presence was prescribed for a red word. And only after some time it turned out that the switches are located on the seat bases in a narrow gap between the seat cushion and the door. All this pleasure costs 573,000 rubles, but some dealers may ask for more ... But we will return to the burning issue of price. In the meantime, let's note that Almera, if we turn to my favorite architectural associations, is a rather spacious, but very simply furnished apartment in a new panel building.

Ode to the pendant

Well, now it’s worth talking about what the car is like on the go. Maybe here its advantages more than cover all the shortcomings? I take a seat behind the wheel and the first thing I find out is that the ergonomics of the driver's seat is also far from ideal. I sat down so that it was convenient to work with the pedals - my hands turned out to be pulled up too high. He lowered the steering wheel - he blocked the instruments. He lifted up the seat - the instruments became visible, but his head was buried in the ceiling. In a word, I found a comfortable position for myself with great difficulty ...

Sticking the key into the ignition switch also needs to be adapted, since it is not visible from the driver's seat. Seats - with not the most successful profile. The fact that my back does not like it, it became clear immediately, and that it strongly dislikes, after two hours. Having understood my own feelings, I came to the conclusion that the seat backs at least lack lumbar support. Visibility - within acceptable limits. True, the rear seat headrests tightly block the view into the salon mirror. Luckily, the side mirrors are a reasonable size. The key is to start, first gear, let's go ... I would like to note right away that the pedals are very light, almost weightless, but quite informative. The 100-horsepower sixteen-valve K4M, of course, cannot hit with hurricane accelerations, but it pulls quite confidently. Gear shifting - without exquisite clarity, but such a "jelly" as on all-wheel drive VAZ models of the era "before Renault-Nissan" is also not observed. Yes, the lever moves are quite large, you can’t get by with wrist throws, and there is no box-armrest, so there is nothing to rest your right hand on. But the suspension ... It's definitely better than the first Logan, and it was Renault Logan that became the standard for adapting to bad roads! Having retained excellent energy intensity, the car noticeably surpassed the French progenitor in terms of smoothness. And how Almera passes speed bumps with dynamic unloading - this is not even a poem, this is an oratorio!

The rest of the positive aspects are the absence of negative ones. The car is obedient, does not float on the road (at least at the speeds allowed in the traffic rules). Reactions to steering actions are quite predictable, Almera's trajectories are accurate, but there is no need to talk about some kind of drive or emotional response. However, why drive and emotions for a car designed for the venerable father of the family? Its task is to confidently move from point A to point B ... But what I would definitely recommend to any Almera buyer is to immediately take care of additional soundproofing. The noise starts already at twenty kilometers per hour, and at sixty, the “oooo” rushing from the wheel arches begins to seriously put pressure on the ears, so much so that even the practiced technique “we make the music louder” does not help much.

Give the right to choose

Well, we can sum up... So what do we have? And we have a solid-looking, spacious sedan of a respected Japanese brand, with a large trunk, not too fast, but not too slow either, with a simple interior and not very good sound insulation, perfectly adapted to our roads, assembled in our country and sold for sane money.

It would seem that such a combination guarantees that in a crisis the car will still retain its customers and sales levels. But no, in 2015 Almera sales fell by 44% or almost 20 thousand cars, despite the fact that the same Hyundai Solaris was sold only 1% less than in 2014! So what is the main problem with Almera? In my opinion, there are not enough options available. One engine, two boxes and two and a half configurations. Two and a half - because Comfort, Comfort AC and Comfort + differ very little, and the top version of Tekna (603,000 rubles for "mechanics", 643,000 rubles for "automatic") has not gone too far from them. As for the basic Welcome package for 499,000 rubles, it may seem that it exists purely virtual. In any case, in reality, it is far from being available in all salons. So it turns out that some competitors can offer a more attractive price for the same set of vital goods, others can offer more of these same goods for almost the same money, and most importantly, a significantly larger set of these same goods, including more powerful engines. But three years ago it seemed that Almera had no competitors, since some models are much tighter and have much more delicate pendants, while others are much more expensive, that the Russian market is able to swallow everything that will be offered to it.

Many were waiting for the new Nissan Almera 2017 to go on sale, the photo, the price of the configuration and the cost of additional options indicate that the car will become the most attractive offer in its class. To begin with, we note the moment that 5 trim levels and 8 equipment levels will be available on the territory of Russia. At the same time, the price for a sedan starts at 581,000 rubles - this is less than the amount required for the Lada X-Ray and many other models of the domestic auto industry. Why the car has such a low cost, does it have good engines and gearboxes, will it last for a long time - common questions. Note that an expensive version of this car will cost 700,000 rubles. Therefore, let's take a closer look at the Nissan Almera 2017, which should become the most affordable budget car of the Japanese automaker.

Exterior Nissan Almera 2017

First, let's talk about the external design of the car, since this indicator is often criticized by domestic models that come out today. Nissan Almera 2017 has an exterior that indicates that the model belongs to the budget class. Features are:

• The optics are large, made in a rounded shape, which are complemented by a notch at the bottom. In general, we can say that there is a certain similarity with the optics that are installed on some AvtoVAZ vehicles. There are also fog lights, which are made classically: round, recessed into the bumper.
• The radiator grille is made in the form of 3 gills, which are chrome-plated and made a little rounded. In the center is the Nissan badge, which is also made in chrome.
• The front bumper is not massive, it has an air intake and a small black plastic protection at the bottom.

• The hood is made in such a way that the optics seem to rise above the overall silhouette.
• The side is made simply, the line of the beginning of the wheel arches is low, there is also a plastic protection hidden inside.
• The roof is made in the form of a semicircle, while the bevel at the back is more gentle.
• The back of the Nissan Almera 2017 (restyling) is made in a simple style, the lights are slanted, the bumper does not stand out, there is a chrome-plated handle with the name of the manufacturer on the trunk lid.

These points determine that the new Nissan, in its design, has not gone very far from new generations of domestically produced cars. The model looks very simple and cheap, the shape is a little embarrassing, as well as the R13 rims, which today already look ridiculous.

The interior corresponds to the minimum amount requested for the initial equipment. An important point is that Japanese designers and engineers strove to maintain a minimalist style, that is, they did not make many edges and notches, which, in the absence of normal equipment, look somehow strange. It is this moment that can be called the main distinguishing feature of the salon of the Japanese state employee and the domestic auto industry. Reviews of the Nissan Almera 2017 indicate that the car has a relatively low build quality. This was reflected in how the panels fit together in the cabin. The interior features are:

• In the initial configuration, the steering unit does not have various keys that can be found on many state employees, including AvtoVAZ. At the same time, the steering wheel is made in an unusual style, which is rarely found in cars supplied to the European market: all its parts are located in the same plane, visually it seems to be a disk consisting of several elements.
• The dashboard is simply terribly simple: two round scales for indicating revolutions and gained speed, which has several symbols that light up in certain cases, an analog small display for displaying basic information, below there is a block of symbols that were used even more than 10 years ago on German cars.

• The center console also does not have a large number of decorative elements. Air ducts are located in the center, in expensive trim levels a regular system with a small color display for displaying maps and other information. Below are the large control keys for the main functions, then the already familiar regulating parameters of the air entering the cabin, round blocks.
• Between the seats there is a separate cup holder for two cups and a gear lever. The plastic used is very low quality, reminiscent of products that can be purchased on the Chinese counterfeit market.
• Nothing new in the back row: a sofa for three passengers with three headrests. At the same time, there is no folding armrest in order to separate the seats.
• The luggage compartment is also devoid of various shelves and compartments. The only thing that will make you happy is that the spare tire is hidden in the trunk under the floor. At the same time, a full-fledged wheel, and not a tablet, fit into the created compartment.

Nissan Almera 2017 in a new body, equipment and prices, photos, reviews of which can be found on this page, has worse interior equipment than some models of domestic origin from this price category. Of course, it is still difficult to judge the quality of the assembly, but this moment is important, since AvtoVAZ always does not show its best side in terms of the reliability of the cars created, but the Japanese automaker has proven itself well.

Options and prices

Having dealt with the design of the car, you should pay attention to its prices and the corresponding equipment:

1. Welcome is the most affordable version of the car, which will cost 626,000 rubles. For this money, you can install a 102 horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine on a car, as well as mechanics with 5 gearshifts. Torque is transmitted as standard to the front axle, the consumption in mixed mode is 626,000 rubles. We note right away that the same engine and manual gearbox are installed on all trim levels, but there may also be a 4-speed robot.
2. Comfort - this offer comes at a price of 652 to 737 thousand rubles. At the same time, the most expensive offer comes with an automatic transmission.
3. Comfort Plus comes with mechanics at a price of 707,000 rubles, with an automatic for 762,000 rubles.
4. Tekna also comes with two types of transmission, the price varies from 742 to 797 thousand rubles.

The car in question can have quite a lot of options, so consider what you can get already in the basic configuration. For a minimal amount, the Japanese automaker offers a car with frontal airbags in front, ABS, a brake force distribution control system, a three-point type seat belt for all seats and an immobilizer. Already in the next version, heated seats, an on-board computer, an audio package and several other options are installed.

Competitors

For such a low price for the initial configuration, it is difficult to find a car from a foreign automaker. Competitors are:

At the same time, the cheapest offer in this case already costs 600,000 rubles, and 650,000 rubles will have to be paid for a car of German origin.

Summing up

When looking at the cost of the car, it immediately seems that this offer is one of the best in the budget class. Nissan Almera 2017 test drive video immediately arouses suspicion, since the car has poor handling and generally cannot show the dynamics inherent in modern generations of even many state employees. The advantages can be called:

• Low cost even in comparison with cars of Russian origin.
• The ability to include a large number of various options that will make the car more comfortable.
• Spacious salon.

• The presence of only one engine in the line.
• The presence of old transmissions, both mechanical and automatic, which are technically outdated.
• The initial equipment, which attracts with its price, comes in very poor equipment.
• If you bring the car into the form that is suitable for everyday performance, you will have to pay more than 650,000 rubles.

That is why you should consider the possibility of waiting with the purchase and saving up a little for one of the competitors. If the price is important, then there is practically no cheaper offer.

It is enough to take a quick look into the native Russian transport thicket to understand that today budget sedans are among the leaders in sales among new cars. From this spring, “in their regiment”, at least one “fighter” will become more: on the podium among all sorts of Polo, Rio, Aveo, Solarisand other Logans, a new star will appear - Nissan Almera.

True, the new model will have nothing in common with its predecessors. Almera Classic, which was sold under the Samsung brand in the Korean homeland, belongs to the “C” class. The last copies of the obsolete model rolled off the assembly line in November last year, and dealers will be selling off the rest for several more months ...

But the new Almera is positioned differently: despite the fact that it is 146 mm longer and 82 mm higher than the "precursor", Nissan recorded it in the "B +" segment. That is, the sedan turned out to be larger in size, much cooler in terms of volume and spaciousness, but it went down in the ranking table. Marketing rules the world! Mda-ah-ah-ah...

Almera was designed in the British engineering center of a Japanese company in close cooperation with Renault engineers. Alliance Child! Where today without mergers? It was developed specifically for the Russian market, and will be produced here. Where exactly? Yes, yes, in a place where "hands do not grow from there" - in Togliatti, in the same place as the soplatform Lada Largus.

Ergonomics and interior of the Nissan Almera is the flesh of the Renault Logan. All the "sick" places are exactly the same as the "Frenchman". Vertical driver's seat is not conducive to long journeys to the "long distance", unpretentious seats are not so hot as they are kept in corners, thanks even though the steering column is adjustable in height!

The old familiar B0 platform is taken as the basis, on which Renault / Dacia Logan, Sandero, Duster and the already mentioned Largus are built. Meat, bones - the main elements of the power structure, engine, transmission, suspension, electrical and electronics - everything is borrowed from the French. And in appearance you can’t tell about such close family ties! A long base, a sloping roof, an elongated silhouette with a trunk that protrudes far back ... Doesn't it remind you of anything? Certainly! Teana. Kinship is guessed in the details. Headlights with protrusions characteristic of the latest Nissans, radiator grill, window geometry, reliefs. There would be more wheels - from fifty meters from the flagship sedan, the novelty would simply not be distinguished! Especially in a dark suit.

However, big wheels, expensive "casting" and a low profile are useless here. Nissan, with its Almera, aims mainly at the regional buyer - according to the forecasts of the Russian representative office of the company, about 70% of all sales will fall on the regions. And we know what kind of roads we have. The main thing here is not to throw dust in the eyes, but to survive on potholes. The priority is simplicity, unpretentiousness, normal clearance, spaciousness and affordable maintenance.

How does Almera behave on the road? On smooth asphalt, which on the roads near Yaroslavl and Uglich with a gulkin nose, the sedan does not shine with aristocratic manners. Steering responses are calm, and now they are further blunted by the non-studded Nokian Hakapeliitta R winter studs fitted to the test cars. But the steering gear is wonderfully informative, the calibrations of the hydraulic booster are magnificent - you literally feel the microrelief and frictional properties of the surfaces on which you move, literally with your fingertips! I recognize Logan!

The design of the undercarriage, as they say, "is nowhere simpler." The front is a regular MacPherson strut, the rear is a semi-independent beam. And what else do you need to move along rollicking lanes? Manner and multilinks on broken asphalt patches are excesses from the world of dudes and aesthetes. But the simple "bones" of Almeria are the most "that".

The soft omnivorous suspension, which has huge moves, is ready to leave unnoticed, it seems, irregularities of any size. Patches, dips, threatening potholes with sharp edges ... At first, when forcing all these asphalt beauty, you want to jump in the driver's seat and pull out the steering wheel with roots to hell along with the column, rack and rods (cyclists will understand like no one else, they have this “jerk on themselves” worked out from an early age, it works when they approach a large pit, stone or curb threatening to fall) ... But Almer That is, at least henna, it rushes not to choke, and the vibroacoustics here are a level better than in the same Renault Logan and Sandero. Having got used a little to energy intensity, you start to force obstacles at once. And it's very relaxing. And how does she keep the course! It seems that nothing can knock Almera off the trajectory. By the way, I liked the version with a manual transmission on the go more, it has a slightly stiffer suspension, which copes much better with longitudinal buildup and rolls, all this only has a positive effect on handling!

Run, push! Jumps of this kind can only be recorded by witnesses of the fall. Those who are inside do not feel either the moment of separation or the moment of landing. Thanks to the verified kinematics of the long-stroke and energy-intensive suspension, Almera rushes like clockwork both on straight lines and in turns on roads of any quality

Overhangs, of course, cannot be called short, and bumpers completely painted in body color make you twitch about their integrity and safety, but 160 mm of ground clearance in any situation contributes to confident forcing of snowdrifts and off-road. And without the 1.5 mm steel crankcase, installed in the "base", in the Yaroslavl ice ruts, I would feel like a hockey goalie without a "shell".

The renoshny 1.6-liter 102-horsepower sixteen-valve engine managed to establish itself as very reliable and unpretentious. The thrust is even throughout the entire rev range, a bit noisy, however, but here it's more about soundproofing ...

The volume of the washer reservoir is five liters. Unlike the same Logan, where the tank is a little more than three liters, in slushy weather it will be necessary to add a “washer” less frequently. But pouring "anti-freeze" is inconvenient, the narrow neck is located at the engine shield at a considerable distance from the starboard side of the car. As long as you can reach it and deal with the obstinate self-closing lid (you always need to hold it), you can stain your clothes. Pay attention to the sound insulation on the inside of the hood, this is not typical for such a budget car

What is the expense? An automatic transmission and winter tires in cold weather make it necessary to spend 11.5-11.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the urban cycle. Too much by today's standards. Outside the city in the "economy mode" I got about eight, and even then, when the speed was in the range of 90-110 km / h. It’s good that the engine is omnivorous, you can save money by switching Almera to a diet using “92nd” gasoline ... However, with a manual gearbox, the consumption is somewhat lower.

• Signal button, as in Renault, at the end of the light control lever. When, finally, this decision will sink into oblivion? When a driver changes from one car to another, any “non-standard”, especially one that concerns safety, can play a cruel joke at the most inopportune moment, while other road users automatically become hostages of the situation. Why doesn’t it occur to anyone between times to swap the gas and brake pedals or organize a mirror shift scheme?
• The airflow controls located on the center console are out of hand. One must think that electric windows in a car for such a price should be perceived as a high boon. However, their location on the center console is unusual and inconvenient for the average driver. For savings on wiring, we pay with our safety. It will not be possible to promptly lower misted or frosted glass in front of a busy intersection. The axis of the mirror adjustment knob intersects with the axis of the "handbrake" - inconvenient.
• The efficiency of the heater is reduced by non-optimal distribution of air flows. In extreme cold, even if you let the maximum of hot air down, your feet still get cold. With the blowing of the side windows - a complete order (you can direct a jet at them), but the wind deflector of the “windshield” is not “wide” enough

The ancient simple torque converter "automatic" AL4 (it, like the engine, comes from Spain) has a "winter" mode and even allows you to shift gears manually with a selector. Valuable because this feature allows you to prepare for overtaking and forcibly drop a couple of gears down. By the way, in the upper stages, being in manual mode, the box will switch on its own as soon as the engine reaches the cutoff. And this is right - to hang on the "limiter" on the "oncoming lane" when overtaking a truck is a pleasure below average.

Engineers say that the calibration of the Almera power unit has received its ... Maybe this applies to production cars? On our samples from the pre-production batch, the electronics, as well as on Logans, get confused in gears from time to time. You stomp at 50 km / h on the accelerator, the “automatic” thinks for a while, pokes the “third”, then again loses consciousness and only after a nod from the plug, recovering consciousness, throws up the second ... Hooray! Now you can accelerate! But, damn it, I don’t need it anymore, the train has left ...

• The driver's seat has a height adjustment in the middle and higher trim levels, the backrest adjustment nuts are facing the central tunnel - a convenient and practical solution! Seat heating is effective, although it does not have intensity adjustment, and its buttons are hidden in the “blind” zone, they are located on the base of the seats on the door side.
• The base of the Nissan Almera is 70 mm longer than that of the Renault Logan. Behind the seat is a wagon and a small cart. People of average height on the back sofa can already sit with their legs crossed. The author of the article, who is 190 centimeters tall, after he sat down “by himself”, had a couple of tens of centimeters between his knees and the back of the front seat!

For retired driving, such an algorithm can and will do ... But for me it’s better with “mechanics”. By the way, it allows you to accelerate up to 100 km / h as much as 1.8 seconds faster! Spurt from zero to the coveted "hundreds" of the version with a manual takes 10.9 seconds! The "short" main pair and close row contribute to a very dynamic movement in space. So something, but when starting from a traffic light and in the stream, you definitely won’t be the last one! True, you will have to wield the gear lever (the drive of which did not differ in clarity on pre-production samples) quite often.

However, this does not prevent the Nissan Almera from acting as a good family car for bad roads. Its main trumps are a comfortable chassis, informative steering, excellent weight distribution that provides neutral steering, which allows you to feel safe during extreme maneuvers, considerable ground clearance and spaciousness. But the weather is somewhat spoiled by the ergonomics of the driver's seat, which does not allow you to comfortably spend long hours behind the wheel during long trips, "miscalculations" and inconvenience in controlling the "climate", airflow, power windows, electric mirrors, heated seats. Yes, and the power unit, although time-tested, is archaic and voracious.

The new Almera will be presented in three trim levels. The simplest Welcome with a manual transmission costs 429,000 rubles. Comfort, which already has fog lights, heated seats, height adjustment of the driver's seat, a rear central head restraint, body-colored mirrors with electric and heated mirrors, will cost 453,000 rubles. For the "automatic" and air conditioning, you will have to pay another 51,000 "wooden". But the top version of Tekna with power windows and a multimedia system will cost 535,000 rubles with a manual transmission and 565,000 rubles for the version with an “automatic”.

A 105-horsepower Volkswagen Polo Sedan in the basic version of Trendline 1.6 MT5 will cost 449,900 rubles, the version with automatic transmission already costs 576,800. Kia Rio with a 107-horsepower 1.4 engine from 479,900 rubles, and for the version with an “automatic” you will have to pay 519,900 already. Its Korean twin brother Hyundai Solaris with similar power units these are 445,000 and 480,000 rubles for versions with "mechanical" and "automatic" gearboxes, respectively. Prices for the Chevrolet Aveo start at 454,000 rubles for a "mechanical" 115-horsepower model. A variation with a torque converter "automatic" will cost 530 "wooden". And, finally, the platform Renault Logan Expression with a 1.6 engine (102 hp) and a manual transmission will cost 424 "thousands", in order to get a Logan "automatic" the buyer will have to fork out half a million rubles. So, Almera looks quite worthy against the background of rivals! It seems to me that the low cost and the combination of qualities valuable for the regions will not prevent Almere from dispersing throughout the country with the planned annual circulation of thirty thousand.

Vitaly Kabyshev
Photo: Vitaly Kabyshev and Nissan