2024 Nissan Almera vs Honda City Comparison: Spec Sheet Battle

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Top-spec sedan duel

This year, the local subcompact sedan market is getting more competitive. That’s because Nissan Philippines has just released the refreshed Almera for the 2024 model year. It comes with tech upgrades, plus a more appealing exterior look. 

2024 Nissan Almera VL 1.0 Turbo CVT

In turn, Honda Cars Philippines also introduced the refreshed 2024 City back in July. It likewise gains a revamped exterior, as well as an enhanced safety kit. 

So, which of these two sedans is better when it comes to onboard specs? To find out, let’s compare the top-spec 2024 Nissan Almera VL 1.0 Turbo CVT against the top-of-the-line 2024 Honda City Sedan RS 1.5 Honda Sensing CVT. 

2024 Honda City RS 1.5 CVT Honda Sensing

Note that we chose those two trims, as both represent the best of what their models have to offer a prospective buyer. 

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Exterior

In terms of dimensions, the Nissan Almera VL has a length of 4,530mm, a width of 1,740mm, and a height of 1,460mm. It also has a ground clearance of 135mm and a wheelbase length spanning 2,620mm.

2024 Almera VL from the front

The Honda City RS meanwhile, is 4,589mm long, 1,748mm wide, and 1,467mm in height. Its wheelbase length clocks in at 2,600mm, and it has a ground clearance of 134mm. 

Size-wise, the Honda model is longer, slightly wider, and taller off the ground compared to its rival. The Nissan though, does get a slightly longer wheelbase, and 1mm more ground clearance. 

Concerning exterior equipment, both the Almera VL and the City Sedan RS get LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, and LED taillights. Only the Honda model has an automatic on/off function, but both get automatic high beams. 

2024 City RS from the front

Both cars also get power-folding side mirrors and a set of 16-inch alloy wheels. The Honda City RS though has more style-oriented exterior parts which the Almera does not get. This includes front and rear sport bumpers, a trunk spoiler, and a side sill garnish. 

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Interior

Both of these subcompact sedans can comfortably seat up to five occupants. Both also get automatic climate control systems, and leather seats. The Almera however, does get 60:40 split folding seats, while the Honda has fixed rear seats. In turn, the Honda gets rear AC vents with controls and a rear folding center armrest - features that are absent in the Nissan model. 

For their drivers, both cars provide a push-to-start button, an analog gauge cluster paired with a digital trip meter, a manually adjustable driver’s seat, a tilt and telescopic steering column, a leather steering wheel, and a keyless entry system. Only the City RS gets paddle shifters. 

Inside the Almera VL

Handling entertainment on board the Almera VL is an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound is then fed into its cabin via a six-piece speaker system. The Nissan also gets a wireless charging pad. 

The Honda meanwhile, uses an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is then linked to eight speakers (including 4 tweeters) and it also gets wireless charging. 

A peek inside the City RS

Both screens are the same size, but connectivity in the City might be better due to its wireless feature. Also, it might get better sound quality since it has more speakers as well. 

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Engine and Performance

Under the hood of the 2024 Almera is a 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-3 gasoline engine that’s good for 98 horsepower and 152 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to its front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

Almera VL front cabin

The 2024 City meanwhile, is propelled by a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 gasoline engine that can produce up to 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. It also uses a CVT, and it is also a front-wheel-drive model. 

In summary, the City has more horsepower compared to the Nissan. This is to be expected since the Almera has a smaller engine. Despite that, however, the Nissan model makes slightly more torque compared to the Honda. 

Handling ride comfort on both cars is a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. Both also use a front disc brake, a rear drum brake, and a hand-operated manual parking brake. 

City RS front cabin

Last but not least, the Nissan Almera gets a start-stop idling feature, while the Honda City does not. 

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Safety

For safety, both sedans get what you’d expect from a modern vehicle. Both have a total of six airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and an engine immobilizer.

Parking, however, might be easier on the Nissan thanks to its around-view monitor. Then again, the Honda does get a reverse camera. 

The Almera has the Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite

Further enhancing safety on both cars are plenty of advanced driver-assistive features. Present on both are automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. 

Among the two, only the Nissan gets blind spot warning and rear-cross traffic alert but the Honda model gets a lead car departure warning which isn’t present on the Almera.

Last but not least, the City also gets something called “Agile Handling Assist” while the Almera has “Vehicle Dynamic Control.” Both work similarly in that they support vehicle stability during certain driving conditions by applying light pressure to the brakes. 

The City RS and other City trims come standard with Honda Sensing

Only the Nissan, gets a smartphone-based service system via its NissanConnect. Using this app, one can remotely start or stop the Almera VL, as well as see vehicle health reports, and set up maintenance alerts. It also has an SOS button, which is helpful during certain emergencies. 

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Price

Nissan Almera vs Honda City: Conclusion

If what you’re prioritizing is safety, then these two sedans can no doubt meet your demands. There are some caveats though. For instance, parking and monitoring blind spots might be easier on the Nissan, while the Honda is better at keeping you centered on the road thanks to its lane keep assist. 

Almera VL from the rear

For the particularly safety-oriented, the Almera also gets the NissanConnect services. This is not available on the Honda. On the other hand, the City's strength lies in the fact that all of its variants get Honda Sensing. The Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite meanwhile, is only present on the top-spec VL. 

There’s also the fact that the Honda does get wireless Apple CarPlay which isn’t available on the Nissan. This means one can do away entirely with wires aboard the Honda. Both though get a wireless charging pad.

City RS from the rear 

These also have vastly different engines. We can’t directly say which one’s the “faster” car, so do take each for a test drive to find out yourself. 

For more car comparisons like this, keep it here on Philkotse.