The second generation of the Almera was no longer designed in Japan, resulting in a classy European hatchback built on a platform developed by Nissan and its new ally, Renault.
Renault built the first modern hatchback in the world. It was the Renault 16 in 1965, and it constantly improved and changed them. Nissan, on the other hand, was not that good at that. Thanks to the French help, it created a car designed around the driver and focused on a family. The Almera/Pulsar was more of a teenager car or for a young couple in the three-door version.

Its rounded design was a reminiscence of the bio-design era but enriched with a few sharp angles on the front grille that belonged to the new-edge-design trend. Its corner-mounted turn signals with clear glass and yellow bulbs made the car looks sportier. Unlike its five-door sibling, the three-door version featured longer doors and sloped-down fixed rear windows. Even the roof was slightly sloped, with a small kick above the C-pillars and a lip above the rear windscreen to aerodynamically enhance the car.

Inside, the curved lines dominated the dashboard. Only the navigation screen (offered as an option) and the center vents featured squared lines. In the instrument panel, the speedometer took the center stage flanked by the tachometer on the left and the fuel and coolant-temperature gauges on the right. The bucket-seats were designed more for comfort and provided little bolstering. In the back, Nissan installed a split-folding bench, fit for two adults, but the legroom was limited.

Under the hood, Nissan installed a choice of own or Renault-sourced turbo-diesel and gasoline engines. It paired them with a five-speed manual and an option for a four-speed automatic for the 1.8-liter version.