Nissan Almera 1.5 Acenta Auto (2019) Review

Introduction

Right, so the Nissan Almera 1.5 Acenta Auto is the sensible pick if you want big back seats, low running costs, and spares you can grab from Goldwagen or Midas on a Saturday. Forget the new-car pitch: Nissan SA dropped the Almera in mid-2023. That means it’s now a used-only story, and the pricing logic changes completely. You’re not trying to justify showroom money for a dated 4-speed auto. You’re after a known quantity that’s honest about what it offers. Here’s how the numbers stack up in 2026 if you actually care about what happens after the first owner hands over the keys.

Key takeaway: Big, honest sedan with proper space and real-world fuel economy, but you’re trading away modern safety and an auto box that’s left behind, especially at 120 on the N1.

Design & Exterior

Park the Almera next to a Suzuki Dzire or Honda Amaze, and you’ll spot the age gap immediately. The N17 was built for budget buyers in markets like India, Brazil, Thailand – and South Africa. It looks the part: neat, simple, zero street drama. The 2014 facelift sharpened the headlights and grille a touch, but the basic shape never changed through to 2023.

Dimensions? It’s 4 425 mm long, 1 695 mm wide, and 1 505 mm high – standard B-segment sedan stuff. Short nose, stretched wheelbase, big windows. You can see they gave up the boot style for actual back-seat space. This car’s designed for use, not for Instagram.

Ride height and the SA pothole reality

Nissan Almera's ground clearance is 160 mm, pretty much average for this group but more forgiving than a Polo sedan if you’re crawling over a speed bump or skirting potholes in Benoni. No one’s suggesting it’s an SUV. But you won’t be risking the sump on every Joburg crater if you pay attention.

Cabin & Practicality

Cabin space is where the Nissan Almera review gets interesting. This is the real selling point and the reason it kept moving units up to 2023.

Rear legroom? Nothing else at this price touches it. Nissan claimed 636 mm. That’s not just a number – you can fit two adults behind two adults, knees crossed, with space for bags. E-hailing drivers, families with tall kids, anyone who carries four up regularly – this is why you buy an Almera.

Materials and the build-quality reality

Let’s not kid ourselves: the interior is basic. Hard plastics everywhere, “Acenta” cloth, a simple Bluetooth head unit (if fitted), manual aircon, and only the front windows are electric. On used cars, check the instrument cowl – I’ve seen plenty peeling or curling. Passenger airbag covers sometimes don’t sit flush. These are known, recurring issues, not just random one-offs from the odd lemon.

Boot and family duty

• Boot: 490 litres – huge for this class.
• ISOFIX: yes, both rear outers.
• Seats: Five on paper, but four adults in comfort (it’s skinnier than a Corolla Quest).
• Doors: Four, with wide rear openings – easy for loading kids or prams.

If you pack smart, the boot will take a weekend’s luggage for four plus a pram. I once did a Drakensberg trip: two adults, a toddler seat, bags, and the chaos that comes with it – still had space for a cooler bag. That matters.

On the Road

The 1.5-litre HR15DE four-cylinder delivers 73 kW and 134 Nm through a 4-speed auto. Modest, even in 2014 – and it feels old-school in 2025. But don’t write it off yet – context is everything.

Around town

In city traffic, the Almera Auto is easy. Light throttle, featherweight steering, visibility that embarrasses most crossovers, and the auto ’box is smooth at low speeds. 0-100 km/h comes in about 13.3 seconds. Sounds slow, but short gearing means it feels quicker up to 60. Just don’t expect fireworks once you’re rolling.

On the open road

On the highway, the gearbox shows its years. Four ratios, no manual override, and you’ll notice it climbing Van Reenen’s Pass with four up. Engine revs sit high, overtakes need real planning, and there’s a big jump from third to fourth. The engine itself is willing enough; the gearbox is the slow kid in the class. With a CVT or five-speed, the Almera could have been something else. The rest of the mechanical package is basically bulletproof.

Ride and refinement

Suspension’s soft, with plenty of travel – perfect for SA surfaces. On the concrete slabs of the N1 to Polokwane, you don’t get the head-toss that stiffer hatches bring. Broken tar on rural R-roads won’t rattle your teeth. Sure, there’s body roll in the twisties, and the 185-width tyres on 15s will start squealing if you push, but driven as intended, it’s properly comfy.

Data & Comparison

The Nissan Almera fuel consumption story

Nissan claims 7.2 L/100km combined. In practice, I’ve managed 6.7 to 7.0 L/100km on a mix of city and highway. That’s rare honesty – most carmakers exaggerate. But with modest power, just 1 040 kg to haul, and no turbo to feed, the Almera can match or even beat the book figure. I did a 700 km Joburg-Durban run at 120, and saw mid-sixes. Not bad for a four-speed auto.

Nissan Almera vs the used-market alternatives

The Quest wins on resale, and the Accent has a better six-speed auto. The Almera’s real edge is back-seat space, honest fuel use, and dirt-cheap spares from your local mechanic.

Total cost of ownership

• Five-year TCO: around R406 400 (fuel, insurance, services, tyres, finance included).
• HR15DE engine is chain-driven – no cambelt to worry about.
• Many parts are shared with the K13 Micra, so filters and pads are cheap and everywhere.
• Ranked third in its class for parts basket in the 2019 AA Kinsey Report, behind the two Corollas.

Nissan Almera service plan South Africa

Back when new, you got a 3-year/90 000 km service plan and a 6-year/150 000 km warranty. By now, any 2019 or earlier Almera plan is long finished. Budget R1 800–R2 500 for a minor service at an indie and a big one every 60 000 km. Nissan dealers will charge more, but most workshops can handle these – nothing complicated.

Nissan Almera 2013 common problems to watch for

Used buyers need to do their homework, especially on discontinued models. Watch for:

1. Instrument cowl: check for peeling or lifting, especially on sun-baked cars.
2. Aircon compressor: test it, 2014–2016 cars sometimes struggle.
3. Boot-lid and rear light seals: water leaks do happen.
4. Front suspension top mounts: a knock on sharp bumps is common and cheap to sort.
5. Service history: many were ex-fleet, so gaps are a warning sign.

Early (2013) cars sometimes had ignition coil issues and an airbag cover fit problem. Not deal-breakers, and repairs are far cheaper than anything turbocharged or DSG-equipped from Europe.

Safety: what you need to know

Global NCAP tested the Almera in 2021: three stars for adults, three for kids. You get two airbags, ISOFIX, and seatbelt pre-tensioners. No ESC, no side or curtain bags, no active assists. The test flagged partial seat detachment and a compromised footwell. If you’re considering a newer Dzire or Amaze with more safety tech, that difference is real. Don’t ignore it.

Nissan Almera 1.5 Acenta Auto price in South Africa

The last new Almera autos in 2023 were listed at around R310 000. Today, clean 2018–2020 cars go for R130 000 to R175 000, and low-mileage 2021–2022 models are closer to R200 000. A 2022 price check showed about R280 000 new. Depreciation’s already done its work – good news for used shoppers.

Verdict

If you want a reliable, budget-friendly sedan with proper rear space and you can find a clean, low-mileage Almera between R130 000 and R175 000, it’s worth a look. E-hailing drivers, cost-cutting families, retirees – you’re who Nissan built this for. If you’re all about highway mileage and safety is your deal-breaker, or if the service history is sketchy, walk away. New stock is gone, but more late-run cars are popping up used with the best mix of warranty and price. Patience helps.