Review
I have been in the market for a compact sedan and have been comparing the Toyota Vios and Nissan Almera extensively side by side. Went down to both showrooms for test drives. I am also a long time Sunny driver.

Styling is always going to be a subjective issue. I think the Almera edges out the Vios in the looks department. The Vios for instance, just looks a little too 'cartoony' from some angles. The Almera, while not exactly a supermodel, conveys a relatively straightforward and benign demeanor with its lines and contours. It is unoffensive and I like that - It doesn't try to pretend it is something its not.

I was very much impressed with the interior however. I'd say that the Almera is very much superior in its interior finishing and space. Unlike the Vios, which has a sea of hard plastics surrounding the entire dashboard and a pretty cramp rear cabin, the Almera on the other hand seemed almost cavernous by comparison. The rear leg-space, was the deal clincher for me. I could comfortably stretch out (and I am 1.87m tall).

Again, with regards to driving dynamics, I was also pleasantly surprised. The power output might sound low on paper but in real world driving the Almera was pretty fleet footed once the car got off the initial crawl. In Singapore, the power is more than adequate for our day to day city driving needs.

The previous reviewer mentioned that it was 'High price for a low build, cheap quality car.' I could say the same for the Vios. One has to temper expectations when you're shopping in this segment and in this respect, the Almera gets my vote.

What I like
- Cabin space
- Interior and riding comfort
- Did I say it was spacious?
- Ease of use
- It is a night-and-day improvement over the Sunny

What I do not like
- The lack of a front armrest
- Slightly anemic engine

Review
A friend was looking for a ride as first time owner. Went along to check out the Almera.

I simply don't understand why can't Nissan do a better styling for their bread and butter family sedans. Alright, the exterior styling is not impressive. Took a look at the interior. Basically it is a Nissan March with some changes to the air-vents to the center console.

Overall interior build feels cheap and very basic. Legroom is good for front and rear, overall space a good match with the Toyota Vios.

A closer check reveals that the entrance at the front body has got insulation rubber installed at the top half, the rear has got none of the insulation rubber at all. Why I am so particular about it is because it will affect the refinement. Further more, with such a car at such a price, my expectations of a car is naturally higher.

In conclusion, we didn't go for a test drive even because it is just a huge turn off... So can't comment about the engine performance, noise and ride quality... If this Almera is to replace Sunny and Latio sedan, I feel outright disappointed because it is not a worthy contender at all... Latio has the quality and luxurious feel to it. Sunny though is an old model, the overall package is very much better than this Almera, Sunny has good quality materials, good build. Though it is tight, low on fuel economy, Sunny still does its job well moving the family comfortably with decent styling, comfort and refinement...

In the end, my friend turn to Toyota Vios instead...

What I like
Basically none.

What I do not like
- High price for such a low build, cheap quality car? PLEASE...
- Awful styling, looks unbalance, ungainly...
- Cheap build, low on equipment, low quality...
- I think basically the entire car I dislike...
- Really not a worthy replacement to Sunny or Latio Sedan... Sunny has miles better build, materials quality, styling than this Almera.