Motoring Editor MALCOLM BAYLIS previews Nissan's revised Almera

IN A couple of weeks' time, Nissan's new Sunderland-built Almera arrives in the showrooms, bringing with it more than just a whiff of the Primera, the senior member of the Nissan family.

The Almera comes with sharper styling front and back, just like the Primera, and also features a variation on what is known as the Primera's N-Form cockpit concept theme.

This minimises the number of switches for the driver to operate, making it easier to operate the audio system, climate control and (when it is fitted next year) the DVD satellite navigation system.

Then there is a range simplification, the same process that began with Primera and now extends to the Almera offering a choice of just three trim levels, namely the S, SE and SVE.

Gone are the Twister, Sport, Hurricane, Sport+ and SE+.

What the new lettering indicates is quite simple: the more letters the more standard equipment.

There will be a total of six S-grade models available: three, four and five-door versions with a 1.5-litre engine, and the same body-style options teamed with a 1.8-litre manual and automatic transmission.

Pricing is an interesting feature, too. In most cases there is more equipment, but the new car is cheaper than the equivalent models in the range it replaces.

For example, the outgoing 1.5-litre 90PS three-door was priced at £10,350, but the new 98PS three-door will be £9,995, a saving of £355.

The 1.8-litre 113PS SE five-door was a popular buy at £12,650, but the new car with 116PS is priced at £12,050, down £600.

And the SE is also fitted with rear parking sensors as well as electronic climate control.

Nissan launched its new range on the UK market from Seaham Hall near Sunderland, once the home of Lord Byron, and before its transformation into a luxury hotel, a hospital and sanatorium. There was talk that local lad Paul Gascoigne wanted to buy the site but he appears to have lost interest soon after. However, he did live in a neighbouring cottage while playing for Middlesborough.

Driving the Almera took in many of the rural roads running through the industrial north east, through Prime Minister Tony Blair's constituency and also his home town, as well as a few major roads. Nothing particularly taxing, and the car behaved as you would expect it to, reliably, comfortably but not excitingly. But then it is built more as a family get-about rather than a speed-shattering sports car.

The range of engines proved perky enough, but engine noise, as well as that from the road surface and wind noise, was noticeable for most of the journey.

On the plus side, though, the changes to the cabin trim are very acceptable, with good surfaces and sensible fascia layout, a nice slick gearchange and positive steering.

For those looking for external changes, there is the arrival of honeycombed upper and lower front grilles, headlamps with clear lenses to cover the new four circle lamp system, and at the back end, the tail lights of the hatchback get the same overlapping circles as the similarly-bodied Primera. Fifteen-inch wheels, similar to those on Primera, are standard on most Almeras while top models get new 16-inch alloys.

What has not changed is the three-door and five-door low "surf-tail" roof that bucks the trend towards increasingly high-rise hatchbacks.

Engine choice remains at two petrol, with two diesels scheduled to arrive within six months.

Both petrol engines have been improved with increased power and torque, and therefore performance.

The 1.5-litre is rated at 98PS, nine per cent more powerful than before, while torque has been increased by six per cent. The benefit is a 0-62mph acceleration time that is cut by 0.7 seconds to 13.1-seconds, yet average fuel economy stays at 42.8mpg.

On to the 1.8-litre, which now develops 116PS (as it does in the Primera). This means the acceleration time of 0-62mph drops to 10.8 seconds. The engine delivers three per cent more maximum pull and manages to achieve an average fuel consumption of 37.7mpg.

Within six months, the Almera should be available with two diesel units, both of 2.2-litre size, one producing 110PS and capable of returning more than 60mpg, and the other a 136PS unit.

For the benefit of company car drivers, the 1.5-litre petrol engine is not only the best seller, it is cleaner than before with 158g/km so slotting into the 15 per cent tax banding, while the 1.8-litre is rated at 18 per cent and the 2.2-litre diesel the same.

For those more interested in the car's specification, the entry-level S has air conditioning, remote central locking, front electric windows, CD player, temperature gauge, three-point seat belts and head restraints, twin airbags, tilt adjustable steering wheel, dimming courtesy light, pollen filter, audio settings linked to the main and spare ignition keys and a luggage area net.

The SE pack adds £655 to the price of an S model, and comes in at £10,650, and also comes with 1.8-litre manual and the 2.2-litre diesel.

The SE also means the driver gets the N-Form console layout and a display monitor mounted on top of the dashboard where it is easily seen.

It also has the rear parking sensors, and what is called an "electronic set-and-forget" air conditioning system, which the outgoing model did not offer.

Also listed within the specification pages are side airbags, active front head restraints, ABS anti-lock brakes together with brake assist and brake force distribution, trip computer, powered windows all-round, map reading light, sunglasses holder, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and body coloured door mirrors and door handles, as well as all the other features offered on the S-model.

The flagship SVE carries all the equipment of the S and SE plus 12-spoke alloy wheels with wider tyres, four-spoke leather trimmed steering wheel, electric sunroof and front fog lamps.

A 1.8-litre SVE five-door will be priced at £12,750, £550 cheaper than the outgoing equivalent, which is the 1.8-litre SE+.

Updated: 09:10 Friday, September 20, 2002