Another new model is due to be officially added this Thursday (26th June 2008) to Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM) stable of Nissan cars in Malaysia. Here is a brief first drive impression of the new Nissan Slyphy 2.0 CVTC with XTronic CVT 'box.
The Sylphy is an all-new car from Nissan in the form of a C-segment sedan. In fact, it is a true Nissan Sentra replacement, for a long time coming from ETCM in Malaysia. With the MR20DE displacing 1,997cc and a wheelbase of 2700mm, it is encroaching into the D-segment dimensions of 5-10 years ago - much like the current Honda Civic 2.0S.
As you see above, the test driver is my brother Justin having a feel of the new Sylphy, which has a light EPS rack and an equally feathery feel of its ride and soft damping. The CVT 'box is nice, with very minimal rubber-band feel. So much so, I could still recall the rev counter dropped when it 'upshifts'!
The alloys you see above is of 15" shod with equally puny Yokohama Aspec dB tyres of 195/65 dimension. They are quiet on the roll but the thick body of Syphly dwarfs the wheels very much.
Steering appeared to be nicked from Grand Livina with leather grip and beige 'empty' panels at 9 and 3 o'clock. Not very dirt resistant we reckoned.
Based upon the short drive, Nissan's MR20DE (pic above) is sprightly, quiet and smooth, unlike the vocal Civic 1.8 lump and the thrumming new Altis' (4-speeder) 4-pot. Paired to Nissan's XTronic CVT the drive is a calm, cool and serene affair, with the 191Nm @ 4,400 rpm well utilised on those uphill spurts. On the flipside, the 133ps on tap at 5,200rpm may not see the light of day in the form of Vmax with the speedo reading only up to 180km/h, with just one scale beyond NOT even indicating 190km/h. Strange for a locally assembled car, mimicking JDM-spec!
Boot is a very capacious and useful 504L!
The new Nissan Sylphy 2.0 CVTC is priced at RM112,800 (on-the-road with insurance).
For RM4,000 extra you may opt for full V-Kool tinting, 6-CD in-dash radio-CD player and combo-leather seats.
It is available for viewing and test drive now at ETCM showrooms nationwide.
Related posts:
Nissan Bluebird Sylphy coming in Q1 2008?
Carlos Ghosn visits Tan Chong's new Nissan plant in Malaysia
Nissan Sylphy launch delayed to July 2008?
2 comments:
The dashboard looks b-o-r-i-n-g. Even worse, the steering wheel looks odd and does not blend in color-wise with the dashboard!
Looks alright in the real car!
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