Nissan’s Almera has just become the best selling imported car in Russia, selling more than 5,600 since the beginning of the year.

Retail sales of the Almera in the UK have increased by nearly a third while overall sales for the segment have increased by just 3% over the same period in 2003.

Most of this 85% increase is from sales of the Almera SE Extras. First introduced in January 2004, the Extras pack offers 16-inch alloy wheels plus a customer saving of £1,405 to the standard SE model. For September, the Extras pack, which is still available on the 1.5-litre model, now adds front fog lamps, worth £185, at no extra cost keeping the price of the SE Extras at £9,995.

Nissan has also enhanced the spec of the top of the range SXE model, which is available with both 1.8-litre petrol and 2.2dCi engines. Both gain an electric sunroof and rear parking sensors.

The 1.8-litre model gains the additional specification of ESP (electronic stability programme) whilst the 2.2dCi, which retains ESP, goes up in price by £200.