Tan Chong and Nissan have never surprise us, and continue its old-styled tradition of bringing in cars that are boring, but functional and reliable. Just think about the Datsun 120Y, which we still see some on the road. Similarly, the all-new Sylphy has nothing to shout, and the styling still does not turn head, but it might still continue as the roomiest family car with its new 1.8-litre Twin CVTC engine, mated to the extremely smooth CVT, producing about 129hp/174Nm of torque. The old 2.0-litre engine is gone for good, as the latest trend in engine capacity has shifted to lower capacity, yet producing better power, and run more efficiently. Sylphy is not a good selling model here, as the new model is CBU from Thailand instead of CKD, which cost be more cost effective for Tan Chong, without the need to maintain a manufacturing line, and overstocking on parts.
Improvement could be seen in the engine compartment, with better multi-level top engine mount, which could effectively reduce a lot of vibration and enhance in the NVH department. However, the traditional lead acid battery is a let down as I am an advocate for maintenance-free type nowadays. Wiper blade looks modern, but it does not gel well with the car design. With only 1.8-litre engine as an option, though producing almost similar horsepower from the old unit, it still cound not match on the torque. The VL model could be around an estimated RM125k, which is similar to the outgoing model. With such pricing, it is hard to compare to other Japanese makers, as Nissan is no doubt the cheapest, but comparing to Korean makers, one could immediately think twice whether those could be good choices in this C-Segment.
The best options available in the Sylphy is the default 6-airbag and traction control. The VL model get a set of 17" wheels, fog lamps, HID headlight with washer, Start Stop button, retractable side mirrors, rear air-con vent, dual zone auto aircon and also rear camera. If it were just RM10k more than the standard E spec unit, the VL could be the mainstream selection. Dual front and rear disc brakes finally made its way to this generation as well.
Nissan always has its own fan, especially on its reliability. The Sylphy is a good family car, just not as handsome as others. It has ANCAP 5-star safety rating, though NCAP 5-star is still the preferable result. However, it is a good start and Nissan needs a fresh C-Segment to stay competitive in the sector.
| Sylphy 1.8 VL | Cerato 2.0 | Elantra 1.8 | Cruze 1.8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Power | 129HP/174Nm | 161HP/194Nm | 148HP/178Nm | 140HP/176Nm |
| Transmission | CVT | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Traction Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty (Yrs) | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Price (RM) | 125k | 119k | 115k | 107k |
The best options available in the Sylphy is the default 6-airbag and traction control. The VL model get a set of 17" wheels, fog lamps, HID headlight with washer, Start Stop button, retractable side mirrors, rear air-con vent, dual zone auto aircon and also rear camera. If it were just RM10k more than the standard E spec unit, the VL could be the mainstream selection. Dual front and rear disc brakes finally made its way to this generation as well.
Nissan always has its own fan, especially on its reliability. The Sylphy is a good family car, just not as handsome as others. It has ANCAP 5-star safety rating, though NCAP 5-star is still the preferable result. However, it is a good start and Nissan needs a fresh C-Segment to stay competitive in the sector.
