Owner Review: Powerful Engine and Smooth CVT - My Nissan Sylphy 2.0 CVTC

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Basic information

Nissan Sylphy 2.0 CVTC

Reason why I bought this car

My previous 2008 Proton Persona fuel consumption was high, the transmission was slow and sluggish and constantly underpowered despite a 1.6L engine. My main usage of the car is to drive to work.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM 80k

• Models that I have considered include: Honda City, Toyota Vios

The reason why I choose this car

Back in 2015, my uncle was selling his 6-year old Nissan Sylphy to upgrade to a CX-5. Knowing how careful he drives and maintained his car, I made the purchase. The other reason was the price. Given how undervalued Sylphy was, bought it at RM55k (RM112k when new) with 78k mileage on it. It was a bargain being significantly cheaper and it is another class above a new City/Vios.

User experience

• I have already done 180,000+km.

While purchasing without homework and test drive, it was purely due to the brand and the price. What amaze afterwards was the performance and comfort that comes with it. For full tank of 45L I can do 450km city and 500 highway

Performance

The 2.0L engine wasn't the most powerful in its class but it is good enough to hit 140km/h easily. Surely more powerful than a City/Vios

The CVT is smooth as silk, no more jerking on your way back from a tired day of work. There is no downshift kick when you put the foot down and power comes when needed with no delay.

Handling 

The suspension is on the softer side, so do not corner too hard. But it is this softer suspension that gives both the car and passengers the comfort it needs. 

Interior

The cabin was well isolated from noise. The doors came with soundproofing rubber and the engine was fitted with soundproofing foam. It was so quiet sometimes I accidentally cranked the engine again after starting it. 

The clamshell seats almost felt like a semi bucket seat that hugs you snug when driving. Not to mention the fabric felt like a comfortable sofa.

The interior looks luxury, just the door panel is made out of different materials like soft PVC, wood, plastic, and fabric

The rear seat was lavishly spacious and comfortable, a 175cm tall me would still have 2 fists of leg room.

Maintenance

So far the car has been low maintenance and hassle free for me.  Regular service and wear & tear parts are inevitable but so far the cost is still relatively low.

The most expensive part replaced was the aircon compressor which broke down in the 10th year and cost  RM1500 to replace.

Other than that it as reliable and cheap to maintain as any other Japanese car in the market.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Powerful Engine
• Smooth CVT
• Comfortable interior
• Low maintenance fee 
• Unique Cecil Blue paint

Cons

• Faulty climate control 
  • The aircond tends to switch from in-cabin air to outside air on its own, which leads to outdoor dirty air into the cabin. You would need to switch it back manually, which could be quite annoying. Tried many ways to fix it but it didn't work, eventually I disconnected the switch/fuse and it works. (I heard it's a common problem for Sylphy, hope this helps guys!)
• Dashboard
  • The dashboard soft PVC melted under Malaysia's hot weather. You could leave a mark on the dashboard and it will never recover. I "fixed" it by covering it with a dashboard cover from my local accessory store.

Ratings

Total Score: 5
Performance: 4
Quality & Features: 5
Space: 5
Ride Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Price & Cost: 5

Summary

I am a sucker for comfort, a car to me is only a vehicle to get to my destination, of course, as comfortable as possible. There is no need for a lot of horsepower and I choose comfort over power anytime.The Nissan Sylphy definitely checked all my boxes, smooth yet powerful. The CVT is not that bad either, you have to try it to believe it.

Would certainly hold on to this car, at least until the next Nissan Sylphy comes along (if ever)

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