Honda City vs Nissan Almera, head-to-head

Before getting into the details, let us see what each of these cars have to offer.

Nissan Almera: The Nissan Almera is one of the most spacious cars in its class. Still, it feels quite bare when compared to the other cars in the same segment. The car was first manufactured back in 1995 and is still going strong after receiving some facelifts over the past few years.

Honda City: Last year, the Honda City got a facelift too. This B-segment sedan was reintroduced with a fresh new look and a glut of extra equipment. The City isn’t a car you should pick if the rear-seat
space is a priority.

There is a new Hybrid model which is priced at RM89,200 on-the-road without insurance. However, it lacks the City V’s LED headlamps and fog lamps, leather seats/steering/gear knob and curtain airbags.

Engine and Transmission

The Almera comes in variants that have a 1.2L to 1.5L engine. It comes with a 4-speed gearbox as or a 5-speed one well as. On the other hand, the Honda City comes with a 1.5L engine for both petrol and diesel variants. It has a 5-speed gearbox in Petrol and a 6-speed gearbox in its Diesel variant.

Design

When looking from the outside, the Almera ST has the will look no better than the other more- sporty looking rivals. The car attempts to show that it's different from the rest with the Nissan’s next generation signature grille and sizeable multi-reflector halogen headlamps.

Up front, the Nissan Almera’s design isn’t too far from the Sylphy, its bigger brother. It is 1,505mm in height and has a 2,600 mm wheelbase. The dashboard is straightforward and clutter-free, while the black central panel with a circular button cluster stands for the automatic climate control.

If you look on the inside, the car is spacious enough for five grown men to sit without any congestion. The increased rear legroom and boot space is more than many of the mid-size sedans. This is something that its rivals really need.

The Almera is leaning towards making the car more spacious whereas the new Honda City has undergone some design changes which are more focused towards adding functionality. The V model gains LED tail lights as seen on the Japanese-market earlier and ducktail spoiler with an integrated LED third brake light.

On the inside one can see gunmetal interior trim and separate rear smartphone pockets, an advanced multi-info instrument cluster which is present in all the newer models. There is an integrated seven-inch Touchscreen Display Audio infotainment system. It makes the interior look more functional or cluttered depending on the owner’s perception.

Features

The top of the line Almera VL model has independent control for a rear fan. The trunk space is pretty generous at 490L. The car comes with front airbags, keyless system, brake assist, immobilizer, child protection lock and speed sensing locks.

The simple 2-DIN head unit is dashboard-integrated and can easily connect with an iPhone/iPod via USB. Sadly, there is no Bluetooth feature.

The entry-level Almera is awash with hard plastic surfaces in the passenger section to keep the price down, but the seats are covered with a modern design and good quality upholstery.

On the other hand, the city has everything that you expect from a car in this budget to have, including rear AC vents, front and rear armrest, automatic climate control and leatherette upholstery. Yes, before you ask, both the cars get a sunroof. There’s telescopic adjust for the steering wheel. The Honda DigiPad that supports Wi-Fi and HDMI. The six-speaker sound system paired with the touchscreen on the City sounds a lot crisper.

The new equipment added to the vehicle is the Reflector halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, Bulb-type tail lights, Sharkfin antenna, 15-inch two-tone alloy wheels, 175/65R15 tyres, Keyless entry, push-button start, Auto-retractable power-folding door mirrors, Advanced multi-info display, telescopic steering adjustment, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, Height-adjustable driver’s seat, fabric seat upholstery, Steering wheel audio controls, an all-new four speakers, Integrated radio/CD head unit, Bluetooth connectivity, Steering wheel audio controls, and Reverse sensors.
Again, you can see that the City is going for a lot more functionality whereas the Almera is looking to get a clean look without trying to add to the car, features the makers feel are unnecessary.

Price

Almera: The vehicles come at a price, i.e., starting from RM 68,500 and goes up to RM 82,000.

City: The entry-level 1.5 S priced at RM78,300 which is RM 2000 more than the previous model and the mid-spec 1.5 E and the range-topping 1.5 V are still priced at RM84,600, and RM92,000 respectively.

Conclusion

Both the Honda City and the Nissan Almera are great vehicles to drive. They might come in the same price segment but cater to different needs. The Almera is an excellent choice if you are looking for a roomy vehicle, while, the City is ideally suited for those who want a car equipped with modern devices. May the best ride win!