A fun, frugal drive to Anvaya Cove aboard the Nissan Almera

MANILA, Philippines - Last week, Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI) took members of the motoring media up north for a fun ride and drive to the lovely Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan aboard the newly-launched global bestseller, the all-new Nissan Almera.

“Just like its Spanish name Almendra, which means a large diamond, we are presenting to you the diamond of Nissan vehicles,” Lee Junia, NMPI SVP for marketing, sales and after-sales, said as he welcomed the participants. “With its design, styling, comfort, safety and performance, the new Nissan Almera is definitely a class above the rest,” he added.

The all-new Almera is a classic four-door, five-seat vehicle equipped with a fuel-friendly 1.5L engine, and an even friendlier price tag (P710,000 for the 1.5L base manual, P760,000 for the 1.5L base automatic and P830,000 for the 1.5L mid automatic). Its wheelbase is at 2,600mm, comparable to the generosity found with premium D-segment cars. Its luggage compartment is set to accommodate 490L – truly among the most commodious in its class. The Almera is also the first compact sedan equipped with a rear comfort fan.

“The Nissan Almera is now at the forefront of redefining the standards of a B-segment car,” remarked NMPI SVP for administration Val de Leon. “With the Almera, car buyers now have the option of achieving an upscale feel and C-segment spaciousness at a B-segment price,” he explained.

Our media ride and drive consisted of various challenges that allowed us to test, enjoy and experience the Nissan Almera. Each team had to gather clues and accomplish specific tasks en route to Bataan; a ‘Copy the Almera TVC’ challenge where each team had to shoot and edit their own creative version of the Almera TV commercial; an ‘Almera Squeeze’ challenge where the team that could fit in the most number of people and baggage into the spacious Almera wins; and a fuel efficiency challenge where teams were flagged off at the Total NLEX-Apalit station and tasked to journey across to the Total Subic-Tipo station while trying to consume the least amount of fuel.

Interestingly, our team won the amusing ‘Almera Squeeze’as we fitted in 12 full-bodied individuals into the car (mostly men) and fill-up the trunk with bulky items. Believe me, it was quite a sight to see. And going for the honor roll, our team also won the Best Almera TVC title with team members Ira Panganiban, Brent Co, Walter Villa, Anthony de Guzman and Jerry Rivera. In the fuel efficiency challenge, the winning team registered an impressive 25.790 km/L, and that was with the air conditioning switched on at 1 and the thermostat set to the coldest temperature!

Already successfully launched in many other countries including Thailand, the USA, China, India, Singapore and more recently in Malaysia, the Almera has in fact already become Nissan’s best-selling sedan worldwide with global sales already reaching more than 500,000 units. Its mantra of being an “affordable, dynamic sedan” has obviously found a good market in these countries, and is bound to do quite well in the Philippines where consumers are particular about value for money. The Nissan Almera is now assembled at the Nissan Technopark in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.