Nissan Sylphy

The cabin of the Nissan Sylphy is unlike other compact sedans in the market. Here, Nissan tries to focus on providing a sense of affordable opulence when competitors are crimping on comfort features to maintain a specific price range. For instance, the leather seats match the leather-wrapped steering wheels and trims coupled with soft-touch materials for a luxurious feel. The second-row seats even feature a pulldown center armrest with two cup holders so rear passengers can also have a comfortable ride. There’s also the automatic dual-zone climate control AC system; USB, Bluetooth, and HDMI connectivity; and an 8-inch touchscreen display with a navigation system and MirrorLink capabilities. The infotainment system is partnered with a 6 speakers sound system.

The design of the Nissan Sylphy boats of classic elegance. The familiar curve and crease of the front bumper lead to a chrome front grille flanked by projector-type HID headlights accentuated with LED daytime running lights. Underneath are a pair of front fog lights. On the side are outside mirrors with side turn signals for added safety and clean lines that sculps the car’s body. The rear features LED taillights and mid-mounted barely visible spoiler with stop lamp. Because of its formality, the Nissan Sylphy does not come in any fun, eye-catching colors. Rather this compact sedan is offered in five color options only: Aspen White, Brilliant Silver, Deep Iris Gray, Ebony, and Grayish Bronze. The Sylphy measures 4,615 mm long, 1,760 mm wide, 1,495 mm tall, and a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. This Nissan sedan rides on a set of 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 195/ 60 R16 rubber for the 1.6 Liter engines and 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 205/ 50 R17 tires for the bigger 1.8 Liter engine Sylphy.

In terms of handling, the Sylphy is very responsive, powerful, and has smooth-revving power. Manual transmission allows the driver to be more in sync with the vehicle when changing gears while the XTRONIC CVT option also allows for powerful acceleration and effortless cruising. However, there are some driver reports that the power can be jerky at low speeds due to the initial surge on acceleration. But highway cruising is effortless and relatively smooth. The added pedal indicator further helps the driver make smart choices to make the drive more efficient. In terms of riding quality, the leather seats and soft-touch materials make the ride feel more luxurious. Couple that with great insulation material that keeps noise, vibration, and harshness levels low and a suspension system that combines MacPherson Strut with stabilizer at the front and torsion beam with stabilizer at the rear, this Nissan sedan provides a comfortable, quiet, and decently cushioned ride.

The Nissan Sylphy comes in two engine options. The first one is the 1.6 L dual overhead cam, fuel-injected four-cylinder 16 valves engine that delivers 116 Ps of power at 6,000 rpm and 154 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The HR16DE 1,598 cc petrol engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an XTRONIC CVT. The bigger engine option, the 1.8 L inline 4 cylinder, DOHC, 16 valves MRA8DE engine can generate 131 PS of output at 6,000 rpm and 174 Nm of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. The 1,798 cc engine is partnered exclusively to an XTRONIC CVT. The XTRONIC improves the fuel economy of up to 10 percent compared to standard CVT by optimizing gear ratio but devoid of the complexity of manual shifting. This allows the Sylphy to get more power for the least amount of engine revolutions while delivering the feel of a more direct drive. The Pure Drive technology of Nissan further adds aerodynamics and powertrain technology to make the engine more environmentally friendly by reducing carbon emissions.

When it comes to active and passive safety features as well as driver-assist technology, the Sylphy is lagging compared to other compact sedans in the market. For one, it only offers two SRS airbags for the driver and front passengers. Driver-assist features are limited to push start engine and keyless system. You won’t find speed sensing locks, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, or even active cruise control on this Nissan sedan. There’s no rear camera, sensors, or any form of parking assist system. Braking is handled by a ventilated disc at the front and disc for the rear. It is supported by an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA) for added braking power and control.

For all its branding effort to place the Sylphy as a luxury yet affordable compact sedan, Nissan fails to equipped it adequately with safety features in comparison to some of its tough competitors in the same niche. But with its affordable price, cabin comfort, fuel economy, engine power, and classic elegant exterior, the Nissan Sylphy is worth giving a chance. After all, the all-new fourth-generation Sylphy has not reached our shores yet. Maybe Nissan did better in equipping it with more tech features. We just hope that it gets to retain its value-for-money proposition.