20 September 2002: Nissan’s Almera for model year 2003 has been given the new Primera treatment with revised front and rear detailing, including major surgery to the bumpers. New headlights and tailights design also freshen up the model.

Inside, the Almera fabrics are less jazzier than current ones, but the dashboard improvements are probably the most interesting, where Nissan has included elements of the N-form console concept introduced in the Primera, making a new sense of switches numbers and layout.

The main dials, still in a standard front-of-driver nacelle, are now in style from the X-Trail and Primera, with chromish bezels. A large top of dash screen allows plenty of room for DVD navigation when that comes along, and in the meantime for nice big information display.

New features available in Almera 2003 include rear parking sensors, electronic climate control, and larger wheels with an alloys option.

The engines in the Almera remain at 1.5 and 1.8 litres displacement, but the smaller engine is now 9 percent more powerful and significantly torquier, both without affecting fuel consumption. The 1.8-litre now has the same 116 PS as it does in its Primera application.

Though the 2.2-litre turbodiesel has been confined to the van version in the Irish market, because of the VRT situation here, in other markets there will now be two options here - with 110 PS and 130 PS power outputs.