NISSSAN ALMERA |
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The Sentra is dead - Long live Almera |
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For 14 years, Nissan's Sentra has been a stalwart of South African motoring. Traditional values such as solid build quality, reliability, low maintenance, solid resale values and ease of use made it a firm favourite with fleetowners, car hire companies and individuals alike. There simplicity of use and ease of driving made them a popular choice among women. But time marches on. The competition world wide gets stiffer each year and recently, the Sentra was beginning to look a little dated, the ugly duckling of the pack. Nissan as a company too suffered some trying times which delayed new model launches. But if ever there was a comeback kid in the Automotive industry, Nissan is it. This year has seen what was a struggling company reduce its debt by more than half, dramatically cut operating costs, return to profitability and launch some new models that are guaranteed to re-position it as a major player. Following the launch of the Almera hatch recently, Nissan have now launched the sedan version to replace it's trusty Sentra. |
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The Eurocentric styling of the new cars is striking and to me at least (and although the Nissan folks are quick to point out that the vehicle is not based on anything it's relatives at Renault produce) the Renault influence is definitely present. From the frontal styling, to the body trim treatment to the interior design and use of colour and texture, clearly Nissans design team spent some time looking at Renault's products. In fact, according to a Nissan spokesperson, "All of Nissan's world-wide design and engineering resources have been involved in the development of the new Almera, but particularly the company's extensive network of European design centres - in the UK and Germany - and engineering centres in the UK and Belgium, and much thought has been put into the car's ease of use reflecting Nissan's new European approach to interior design and execution..
A strong emphasis has been placed on utility touches which include seat pockets for storing A4 maps and magazines, a centre console box designed to store up to seven CDs, and a cleverly designed lid that accommodates a box of tissues and cup-holders that hold cups of varying sizes. The approach by designers and engineers was to create "intelligent" space. A good example is a convenience hook for handbags or shopping bags on the side of the centre console. This same thoughtfulness also manifests itself in features such as a storage strap to be found along the rear seat cushion front side, where umbrellas of all sizes can be safely strapped in. |
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| Nissan’s
newcomer is bigger, prettier, safer and represents better value
than its outgoing sister. From the dashboard to the rear headrest it
is 120mm longer than the existing Sentra, with a 105mm longer wheelbase,
and it offers notably more head, leg and elbow room with a generous 460
litres of usable luggage space.
We recently had the opportunity to drive the new vehicles and albeit that it was a short introduction, the message is loud and clear. Nissan is a player again. The initial impressions were ones of improved quality, comfort, handling dynamics and lower interior sound levels while retaining the ease of use that made the outgoing models so popular. |
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| The entry-level
Comfort model offers power steering, height adjustable driver seats, front
cup-holders, Nissan's NATS Anti-Theft system, driver airbag and 14-inch
wheels shod with 175/65 R14 radial ply tyres. The Luxury specification
adds electrically operated windows and electrically adjustable side
mirrors, a radio, air-conditioning, luxury trim, CSR halogen headlamps,
remote locking and unlocking, and Nissan's Superlocking feature, which
prevents the locking mechanism from being forced open.
The 1.6 Luxury models get larger 185/65 R14 tyres, while the Almera 1.8
Luxury is distinguished by 15-inch wheels and 185/65 R15 radial ply tyres. |
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| All engines are multi-valve,
double overhead camshaft units with direct ignition and multipoint fuel
injection. The 1 597cc power plant develops 81 kW at 6 000 r/min, and
maximum torque is 138 Nm at 4 400 r/min. The 1,8-litre QG18DE four-cylinder power plant features both a Nissan Valve Timing Control System (NVCS) and the Nissan Direct Ignition System (NDIS). The multivalve DOHC unit develops 88 kW at 6 000 r/min and 161 Nm of torque at 4 400 r/min. |
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| The new engine has
a traditional iron block, with an aluminium head and lightweight plastic
rocker cover. Governing the new electronically controlled exhaust gas
recirculation system and all other engine functions, is a powerful new
32-bit engine management system. The new Nissan Almera Sedan is based
around a rigid structure, providing the foundation for significant
advances in ride comfort, road and mechanical noise isolation and
handling. The new car has an advanced multi-link beam rear suspension
system with a proven MacPherson strut suspension in front.
In addition to the superior road-holding benefits, the compact layout
of the multi-link beam allows better interior space utilisation, with more
room for passengers and luggage. |
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| Apart from anti-locking brakes (ABS), the Almera 1.8 Elegance model also offers a brake assist system called Nissan Brake Assist plus EBD (Electronic Braking Distribution), which reduces the effort to bring the vehicle to a standstill in an emergency stop. Nissan engineers have found that in emergency situations driver's often don't press hard enough on the brake pedal to use the ABS system to its fullest potential. Brake Assist is a mechanical brake booster that amplifies the pressure on the pedal, providing optimal braking performance under full control. |  |
| Nissans
"triple safety" concept, comprising impact safety, control - or
active - safety and information safety has been applied in the following
ways. The first element protects in the event of an accident. The car's superior design not only helps to avoid or reduce the risk of injury resulting from the impact, but also the risk of secondary or aggravated injury after the impact. The impact-absorbing body is divided into two separate zones - a crash energy-absorbing zone designed to absorb collision impact, and a safety restraint zone that acts as a protective shell around the vehicle's occupants. This 'Zone Body' approach aims to provide the highest levels of passive impact protection. Part of the absorbent structure are the front sidemembers with a hexagonal cross-section. As a result, they can now absorb the energy of an impact more efficiently. The S-shape side members also serve to spread the force of the impact transmitted to the cabin in two directions so as to offer a level of safety that satisfies safety standards for offset collisions as well. |
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| The force of a side impact is
met by the high-rigidity cabin, and, thanks to the cross members, is
spread across the entire body side, thus reducing the chance of cabin
deformation. This rigid, impact-dispersion structure protects in the case
of side impacts. In order to lessen any blow to the head that may occur due to secondary impact inside the cabin during a side collision, the inner side of the front, centre and rear pillars as well as the roof side have a specially designed upper interior structure designed to soften an impact. All models are equipped with a front airbag designed to lessen the chance of head injury in the event of a frontal collision. The top-of-the-line Elegance model features dual front airbags. |
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| Pre-tensioners
immediately take up seat belt slack, for faster restraint in the event of
a frontal collision exceeding a certain impact level. Control safety comes from the quick steering reaction, excellent handling and secure braking. On the Elegance model the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) adjusts the brake fluid pressure on each wheel electronically, preventing wheel lock and contributing to safer braking. Braking Assist on this model is activated when the force applied to the brake pedal exceeds a certain level. Thus, braking characteristics are natural during ordinary driving, while a larger braking force comes into play with less pedal effort in emergency situations. The third safety component is information safety, such as easy to read and well-placed dials and controls - everything that helps the driver to be in control of the vehicle all the time. This also includes good visibility. For example, the Almera features halogen headlamps employing a computer-designed reflector that collects light scattered upward and focuses it downward. This design increases illumination by 50% compared with conventional headlamps, giving the driver a better view of the road ahead while reducing glare for oncoming cars. Thanks to the large wiper blades, 10% more of the windscreen is now covered by the wipers than conventionally. Large door mirrors provide an expanded rearward view to either side of the vehicle. Peace of mind is provided by the sophisticated anti-theft systems, and Nissan's comprehensive warranty. The Almera is fitted with NATS (Nissan Anti-Theft System) that stops anyone from starting the engine without the coded ignition key. All models in the range are covered by a 100 000km/3-year warranty. Prices are very competitive, starting at below R100 000.
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