In 1999, Nissan introduced a new version of its successful but underwhelming Almera N15. Its successor Almera N16 was a pleasant surprise - the appearance of the car has improved significantly. Unfortunately, Nissan's collaboration with Renault undoubtedly affected the quality of the new Almera. Later it turned out that only vague memories remained of Japanese reliability, and daily communication with Almera is not as serene as before.
Body
Almera N16 debuted in two body styles: 3-door and 5-door hatchback. In 2001, a sedan version appeared. All body modifications are connected by one big problem - corrosion. Nevertheless, thanks to the efforts of the manufacturer, compared to the previous generation, the defect took on a smaller scale, but it was not possible to completely get rid of the disease. Despite the fact that the body is galvanized, rust affects many of its elements: the rear doors are right under the lower border of the glass; the place of transition of the rear wings to the rapids; thresholds; front beam - just below the radiator; areas in the immediate vicinity of the rear wiper and license plate.
The European vehicle safety research organization EuroNCAP rated the Nissan Almera's safety four out of five stars.
Interior
The second generation Almera offers plenty of space in both the front and rear seats. Both hatchbacks have an identical trunk capacity - 328 liters. Although the sedan has a larger trunk with a volume of 393 liters, this is a modest result against the background of classmates. For comparison, the luggage compartment capacity of the Astra I is 460 liters, and the Focus I is 490 liters.
The front panel looks quite modern. After restyling in 2002, the quality of finishing materials has significantly improved. Satellite navigation and a large display in the center of the dash were available as options. The clock received a silver trim, and the steering wheel was reshaped, as was the gearshift lever. Changes also affected the control panel for the audio system and climate control.
Engines
Petrol
When buying an Almera, a greater risk is associated with the choice of engine. Reliable and dynamic gasoline units with a working volume of 1.4 and 1.6 liters have disappeared from the line of power units of the new Almera. Their place was taken by 16-valve engines with a capacity of 1.5 liters and 90 hp. (QG15DE) and 1.8 L 114 hp (QG18DE). The most dynamic is the version with a 1.8-liter petrol unit. After modernization in 2002, the engines received the NVCS (Nissan Valve Timing Control System) variable valve timing system, and their power increased to 98 hp. and 116 hp respectively. The main problem of both engines, especially the 1.8-liter one, is high oil consumption (up to 1 liter per 1000 km) due to the poor quality of the piston rings. Engine repair will cost about 30,000 rubles. In addition, both motors have a timing chain with a chain that tends to stretch. In this case, a characteristic rumble appears, and power drops. Other typical malfunctions affect the lambda probe, flow meter and crankshaft position sensor.
Diesel
Minor problems also affected diesel engines, in particular the 110-horsepower 2.2 Di (YD22DDT) with direct fuel injection of Nissan's own production. The biggest drawback of this VP44 injection pump engine, whose resource rarely exceeds 200,000 km. Its cost is about 30,000 rubles. By today's standards, the Japanese diesel lacks dynamics.
2.2 dCi (YD22DDTi) - created in collaboration with Renault. In fact, this is a modernized Nissan engine: the turbodiesel is equipped with a common rail injection system and a variable geometry turbocharger. The power unit has a power of 136 hp. and shows good performance. However, diesel is more sensitive to fuel quality, which affects the durability of injectors. The increase in power was achieved, including due to the variable geometry turbocharger, which is much more expensive to repair.
Connoisseurs of economical driving will like 1.5 dCi produced by Renault. Its maximum power is 82 hp, and it takes 14.5 seconds to sprint to a hundred. Average fuel consumption is about 4.5 l/100 km. A 1.5-liter diesel is sensitive to fuel quality. After 100-150 thousand km, the likelihood of the need to replace Denso fuel injectors increases. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not provide for the possibility of a refurbishment. After 150-200 thousand km, the turn of the turbocharger may also come. In addition, there are cases of turning the liners and failure of the fuel pump. Nevertheless, owners usually praise this engine.
Transmission
As standard, all engines are paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, with the exception of the 136-horsepower 2.2 dCi, which is combined with a 6-speed only. Fans of the "machine" will find it in versions with petrol engines with a displacement of 1.5 and 1.8 liters.
Chassis
A common complaint among Nissan Almera owners is suspension noise. Most often, its source is rubber-metal compounds, including anti-roll bar bushings. But to be fair, the Almera isn't overly stiff and absorbs bumps well. A non-standard solution was used on the rear axle - the so-called "Scott-Russell mechanism". Thanks to the system of levers attached to the torsion beam, the car's behavior at high speed is improved, including during cornering with poor coverage.
In versions with 1.5dCi, there is a possibility of failure of the electro-hydraulic power steering pump.
Conclusion
Serious malfunctions that require high costs to fix have undermined the confidence of many Japanese brand lovers in the Nissan Almera N16 series. An attempt to attract new customers through modern stylistic solutions was not successful. Nissan engineers have not been able to create a model that is superior in reliability to its predecessor. The body of the Almera is prone to corrosion, and gasoline engines consume too much oil. But on the other hand, a well-groomed copy gives a chance for a long and trouble-free operation. Among the advantages - a reasonable price and good equipment.
15.11.2016
Nissan Almera the second generation (N16) is a well-known car in our market, which is often confused with a completely different car - the Nissan Almera Classic. But these are two completely different cars, so, for example, the Almera Classic was assembled at Samsung factories and sold in many countries under the name " Samsung SM3". Nissan Almera N16 is a joint development, the car is built on a stretched Logan platform, and the name Almera was given to it, rather, as a marketing ploy. The assembly of the second generation of Almeria was carried out only in England and Japan.
A bit of history:
The premiere of the first generation Nissan Almera took place in 1995 in Frankfurt, this car with a three- and five-door hatchback body replaced the Nissan Sunny model. In the fall of 1998, the compact minivan Nissan Tina (Japanese version of the Almera), built on the basis of the Sunny, was introduced. In 1999, the Nissan Almera N16 made its debut; the capacities of design centers in Japan and Europe were involved in the development of the car. Unlike the previous version, this car began to be assembled in Europe, at a factory in Sunderland, UK. The restyled version of the Nissan Almera was presented in the fall of 2003 at the auto show in Paris. There have been few external changes, but they are clearly visible. The main changes in appearance relate to the front and rear of the body, as well as new powertrains and improved security systems. Since entering the market, the Nissan Almera N16 has become extremely popular in many countries, especially in the UK, Spain and Germany. As for the CIS, this car was the sales leader among cars in the C segment for several years.
Advantages and disadvantages of Nissan Almera (N16) with mileage
Despite the fact that the body metal is of good quality, nevertheless, on cars older than 7 years, corrosion is a common occurrence, especially for cars that are operated in large cities, where in winter the road is abundantly sprinkled with reagents. First of all, the thresholds, wheel arches and trunk lid begin to rust. Also subject to corrosion and engine number. The windshield is very weak, as a result, chips and cracks appear on it very quickly. Another weak point is the headlights, their protective plastic quickly becomes cloudy, and the reflectors begin to peel off after 3-4 years.
Power units
Cars in the basic configuration were equipped with a 1.6-liter engine (90, 98 hp), in more expensive trim levels, a 1.8-liter power unit (116 hp) was installed. There is also a diesel version of the car, but they are almost never found on the secondary market. As experience has shown, the 1.5 engine is very reliable and easy to maintain. The 1.8 engine is also reliable, but over time it starts to eat up oil, and quite a lot - up to 0.5 liters per 1000 kilometers. Both motors are equipped with a timing chain drive, the metal chain has a fairly long resource (250,000 km), but after 100,000 km it requires special attention, as it can stretch at any time. Ringing sounds when starting the engine and diesel rumble at idle will serve as signals of the need for an urgent replacement of the chain.
Gasoline engines are not picky about fuel quality and can run on 92-octane gasoline without any problems. Most of these cars have considerable mileage, and if the engine starts to run unevenly, then most likely the injection system is simply clogged. To avoid such problems, it is recommended to flush the injection system every 30,000 km. The valve mechanism is not equipped with hydraulic compensators, although the adjustment of the thermal clearances of the valves is usually carried out when repairing the cylinder head. As for cars with engines of not the newest design, fuel consumption is relatively small - 8-10 liters per 100 kilometers in urban mode, on the highway - 6-7 liters per hundred.
Transmission
A five-speed manual transmission is standard across the range of petrol engines. A 1.8 petrol engine can also be equipped with a four-speed automatic, but such instances are very rare with us. In the vast majority of cases, there are no complaints about the operation of a mechanical transmission, even on cars with a mileage of 150-200 thousand km. The original clutch, with careful operation, on average, serves 70-80 thousand km. If the gears start to shift hard in the mechanics, this is the first sign that the box will soon need expensive repairs. Of the operational shortcomings, a fuzzy reverse gear engagement can be noted. There are practically no negative reviews about the reliability of automatic transmissions, perhaps this is due to the fact that cars with automatic transmissions are not in great demand. 
Driving performance Nissan Almera (N16) with mileage
The chassis of the Nissan Almera was developed specifically for the European market and is equipped with a traditional MacPherson-type front suspension, and a semi-independent beam at the rear. In terms of comfort and driving pleasure, the chassis is well-designed, but for many motorists, its life is no less important. But Almera will not disappoint in this component either, only traditionally expensive original spare parts spoil the picture, but if you spend time looking for a non-original, you can save a lot.
Up to 100,000 km, the suspension requires almost no investment, except that it may be necessary to replace the stabilizer struts (most cars are not equipped with an anti-roll bar). But after 100,000 km, the suspension begins to slowly crumble. Shock absorbers will be the first to be asked for replacement (on a run of 100-130 thousand km), wheel bearings and silent blocks will have to be replaced on a run of 90-120 thousand km. If you go around the pits and hatches, the ball bearings will last up to 150,000 km, they change as an assembly with levers. Almera's steering is quite problematic, for example, rail repairs have to be done, on average, once every 50,000 km. Steering rods and tips can withstand about 100,000 km of run without any problems. The brake system does not cause any remarks: the pads run 40-50 thousand km, the discs up to 100,000 km.
Outcome:
Nissan Almera second generation- a reliable, simple and inexpensive car to maintain, which will be an excellent alternative to domestic cars. Before buying, you need to carefully study the history of the car and carry out a complete diagnosis of the main components and assemblies, since these cars are often used as traveling vehicles in trading companies and taxis, as a rule, the mileage of such cars is cosmic, and the condition is deplorable.
Advantages:
- Reliability.
- Small fuel consumption.
- Comfort suspension.
Flaws:
- High cost for original spare parts.
- Weak steering rack.
- The body is not protected from corrosion
Nissan Almera N16 was produced from 2000 to 2006. The car was positioned as a modern family sedan, with a minimum set of comfortable features and additional equipment. On the territory of Russia, it enjoyed a certain popularity (about 40,000 copies were sold in this type of body).
Improvements to the appearance of the car
Most often, motorists use as external tuning:
- Installation of rims of larger diameter, better quality and a different pattern. These types of wheels are made of light alloy metal.
The most famous manufacturers are:
The cost of rims varies depending on the manufacturer, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 rubles per unit;
But how wheel bolt pattern occurs, and how to determine it by brand, you can learn from this
The cost of a complete set of attachments varies from 20,000 to 45,000 rubles.
Installation can be done by hand, however, in order to avoid damage to tuning parts or factory spare parts, it is carried out in specialized services.
The installation cost will be about 10,000 rubles;
The most popular film manufacturers are companies - 3M, LLumar Johnson. Products of these companies guarantee durable operation and high-quality concealment from ultraviolet rays. But how athermal tinting of car windows is done, and how to do it yourself, is indicated
On the video - tuning Nissan Almera n16:
Headlight revision
Headlight tuning is a special type of tuning, as it can drastically change the appearance of the front of the car.
This type of tuning includes:
- Replacement of standard lighting lamps with more powerful counterparts. Most often, owners resort to the use of xenon lighting lamps. Such lamps give out a more powerful light beam, and the service life is several times longer than that of halogen lamps.
The most popular manufacturers in the domestic market are the companies:
- Philips;
- Boxsh.
But what the best LED lamps look like in the dimensions of a car can be seen in the photo in this
The products of these manufacturers are distinguished by high quality, excellent light, but also high price compared to competitors.
On the video - tuning headlights Nissan Almera n16:
The cost starts from 800 rubles per lamp. Installation of such lamps does not take much time, and almost any motorist is able to carry it out.
The installation process goes through the following steps:
- dismantling the old element (there is a rubber gasket behind the headlight housing, it is necessary to remove it from the seats, and then, having opened the lamp holders, pull out the standard product),
- after that, install the tuning element in reverse order;
Installation of plastic lining on the headlights — cilia. - Since this part is not difficult to manufacture, its purchase can also be entrusted to small enterprises. The main thing is that the colors match. The assembly of the part is carried out by gluing with double-sided adhesive tape on the headlight housing.
Sales market: Russia.
The second generation Nissan Almera sedan (N16) was developed on the new Nissan MS platform, created jointly with Renault specialists. In October 2002, Almera was upgraded. Both the design and the technical part have been revised. As for the appearance, the car received new projector-type headlights, a front bumper in the spirit of Primera (with a large air intake covered with a fine mesh, and round foglights). The rear bumper and taillights have also been updated, the design of the rims has changed, and new body colors have been added. During the modernization, the chassis was reconfigured, which further improved the Nissan Almera's driving performance, maneuverability and handling, and the car's behavior at maximum load became better. In addition, the restyled sedan received more powerful engines. In Russia, official dealers offered 1.5 liter (98 hp) or 1.8 liter (116 hp) petrol engines. As usual, a more efficient engine is aggregated not only with a five-speed “mechanics”, but also with a 4-band “automatic”.
The interior of the Almera sedan has been noticeably updated. The four-spoke steering wheel has been redesigned, and the instrument panel and center console have been completely redesigned. In expensive trim levels, a multifunctional display of the entertainment and information system is installed, which combines the functions of controlling the audio system (CD / DVD), on-board computer, climate control, etc. All sorts of boxes, trays, hooks, etc. are provided for storing things, including additional capacity in the spare wheel compartment. Complete sets differ not only in the level of equipment, but also in the controls on the front panel. The basic equipment of the Nissan Almera 2003-2006 sedan in the Comfort package includes electric mirrors, central locking with remote control, front electric windows. The steering wheel has a vertical adjustment, there is an adjustment of the driver's seat in height. The more expensive Lux includes heated front seats, climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, CD changer, rear power windows and a host of other options.
The second-generation Nissan Almera sedan after the update received increased power gasoline engines - the 1.5-liter now develops 98 hp. instead of the previous 90, and the 1.8-liter - 116 instead of 114. If we talk about dynamic performance, they have improved slightly. The base modification of the Nissan Almera sedan accelerates to a maximum speed of 177 km / h, and acceleration from 0-100 km / h takes 13.1 seconds (0.7 seconds less). In the 1.8 MT modification, the “maximum speed” is 186 km / h, and in the 1.8 AT version it is 176 km / h, the acceleration time from standstill to “hundreds” is 10.8 and 12.5 seconds. respectively. The average consumption of gasoline remained within the same limits - from 6.6 l / 100 km to 7.8 l / 100 km. The volume of the fuel tank is 60 liters. It can be noted that in the European market, the restyled sedan received new diesel engines: a 1.5-liter Renault diesel (82 hp) and upgraded 2.2-liter units (112 and 136 hp), the most powerful with 6-speed mechanics.
Suspension sedan Almera N16 has an independent (front MacPherson strut, rear torsion bar). Front ventilated disc brakes and rear disc brakes are installed, but unlike the version with a 1.8 liter engine, a more affordable modification can be equipped with rear drum brakes. The four-door body has the following dimensions: length - 4436 mm, width - 1706 mm, height - 1448 mm. The wheelbase is 2535 mm, the minimum turning radius is 5.2 m. The volume of the luggage compartment is 460 liters. Folding rear seat backs allow you to carry long items, but the opening in the bulkhead between the passenger compartment and the trunk is relatively small.
Nissan Almera second generation (N16) 2003-2006 features a high level of security. Active safety is provided by electronic systems, including optional Electronic Stability Program (ESP), standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) and Brake Assist. By default, the car also received two front airbags, child seat mountings. Options include side airbags.
Among the advantages of the Nissan Almera 2003-2006 sedan are high build quality, reliable suspension, unpretentious chain-driven engines. Compared to the previous version, the performance has improved. Given the years of manufacture, the body should be checked for corrosion (thresholds, bottom, arches). Often, owners complain about characteristic diseases: problems with the current power steering and steering rack, burn-out reflectors of low beam modules.
Read completelyModifications Nissan Almera N16
Nissan Almera N16 1.5MT
Nissan Almera N16 1.8MT
Nissan Almera N16 1.8AT
Odnoklassniki Nissan Almera N16 for the price
Unfortunately, this model has no classmates...
Owner reviews Nissan Almera N16
Nissan Almera N16, 2002
Advantages : handling, ergonomics, rich equipment, cheap spare parts.
Flaws : harsh suspension, Shumka weak.
Sergey, Moscow
Nissan Almera N16, 2005
I took a 2005 Nissan Almera N16, skated for 6 months. Generally like the car, especially the front is very nice. It's bad that there are no fender liner, there are none, so the dirt from under the bumper flows. Rear lights are large, but the work is not very. There are not enough niches in the cabin, there are no pockets in the luggage compartment, so when I go through the turns, I hear how all things fly through my trunk. I don’t like the fact that the fuel level sensor has problems with determining the level of the tank, it says that half the tank, but in fact it is already less than half. Ergonomic interior, but here's a low armrest on the right. With fastening for child seats practical. I like that the Nissan Almera N16 has a heated seat with 2 levels. The head unit is not bad, if you are not a music lover, the radio catches. The ride is comfortable, everything is fine with driving performance, a little Nissan Almera N16 collapses when cornering.
Advantages : interior comfort, good driving performance.
Flaws : additional compartments, no fender liner.
Yuri, St. Petersburg
Nissan Almera N16, 2003
I took a Nissan Almera N16 in the Comfort package, from the UK, there is an assembly. Bought in the market. Prior to that, only one owner was at the car. I used to have an Opel Vectra with a 1.8 liter engine with 16 cylinders. Alas, the difference was almost immediately obvious and it was not in favor of my new car. First of all, I noted the stiffness of the suspension, the steering wheel trim itself is of poor quality and inexpensive, there is no way to adjust the driver's seat in height, and a low sound signal. As for me, the fuel consumption is too big (I fill AI-95 and it turns out that the car eats 9.7 liters in urban mode). When you go on a rough road, you feel that the rear suspension is torsion beam. But there is also a positive side, namely that the Nissan Almera N16 is reliable, no troubles have happened, that is, it serves faithfully. Although strange plastic, but I am glad that there are no squeaks. There are no complaints about electronics either. Satisfied with the ground clearance. The cabin is very warm. As a result, I got a reliable car, which has its drawbacks, but it helps me a lot in work.
Advantages : reliability, plastic does not creak, electronics, ground clearance, warmth in the cabin.
Flaws : Heated rearview mirror.
Stepan, Veliky Novgorod
