2012 Nissan Sylphy Review
Many of us will recall a time when the Nissan Bluebird and the Nissan Sunny ruled the roads, that was back in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. They have now been relegated to history but they were the precursors to the modern day economy cars and much of what they stood for has become the industry standard. They were the forebears to the Nissan Sylphy which inherited the emblems and the standard. The Nissan Sylphy competes with the Toyota Axio, Toyota Allion and Mitsubishi Galant Fortis.
Detailed Review
The Nissan Sylphy has been in production for three generations since 2000 . It was previously known as the Nissan Bluebird Sylphy until the arrival of the third generation in late 2012 when the Bluebird name was dropped entirely. Now it’s simply known as the Nissan Sylphy.
The first generation known as the G10 in Japan and N16 in other markets was in production from 2000 to 2012, the second generation known as the G11 was in production from 2005 to 2012 in Japan and its production ran in parallel with the G10. Production of the G11 is still ongoing in other markets outside Japan. The third generation known as the N17 has been in production from 2012 to Present.
The 2012 Nissan Sylphy comes with the 1.8 Litre MRA8DE engine that is linked to an XTRONIC CVT and available only in 2WD. For more details on how reliable this engine is, refer to the Nissan Sylphy Buyer’s Guide.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Grades
- Nissan Sylphy S – This is the base grade that comes with 15-Inch steel rims, manually operated clothe seats with no armrests, DVD Player, Key-Start, manual mirrors and halogen headlights
- Nissan Sylphy X – This is the intermediate grade that comes with 15-Inch steel rims, manually operated clothe seats with armrests, DVD player, Smart Start, electric mirrors and halogen headlights
- Nissan Sylphy G – This is the luxury grade that comes with 16-Inch alloy rims, electrically operated clothe seats with armrests, Navigation/DVD player, Smart Start, electric mirrors, Xenon Headlights and curtain airbags.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Interior
Legroom & Space
There’s clearly a lot of thought that went into the design of the interior and this is reflected in the functional interior. Compared to the previous generation, the cabin feels more spacious and modern. At the first row, the legroom is excellent for both driver and passenger. At the second row, the space is also excellent and adequate for three adults with enough shoulder space and plenty of legroom.
Cabin Storage
There are several storage compartments in the cabin that are useful for storing items such as smartphones, beverages, goggles, handbags etc. At the first row there are 4 cup-holders, door panel storage , a glovebox and a center-box. For the second row, there are 4 cup-holders and front seat jacket pockets.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Boot Space
The boot space is good for a saloon car and at 510 Litres, It can probably carry 2 medium sized suitcases with space to spare for groceries.
Extras: USB Charging Port, ECO Mode, digital instrument cluster, head rests on all seats.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Safety Features: VDC + TCS, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, 3 Point ELR seatbelts, SRS Airbags
2012 Nissan Sylphy Exterior
The redesigned Nissan Sylphy has a modern look that is way better than its predecessor that was considered plain and banal. The 2012 Sylphy looks sharp and sporty with crystal LED lights that accentuate the sleek curves. The steel rims with plastic covers cheapen the look and as much as possible, go for alloy rims.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Fuel Consumption
2012 Nissan Sylphy 1.8L fuel consumption: 15.6 km/L
2012 Nissan Sylphy Acceleration
2012 Nissan Sylphy 1.8L accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 10.5 sec.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Fuel Tank Capacity: 52 Litres
2012 Nissan Sylphy Ground Clearance
The 2012 Nissan Sylphy has a ground clearance of 6.6 Inches(170mm) which is above the minimum recommended clearance of 6.5 Inches for Kenyan roads and it will comfortably clear speed bumps.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Stability and Handling
The Nissan Sylphy drives surprisingly well compared to the previous generation that was somehow wobbly to say the least. The cabin is comfortable and quiet thanks to enhanced body rigidity that suppresses vibrations. The engine pulls well and the gear shifts are fluid. Around corners, there was no hint of body roll at a moderate speed of 80km/h.
Nissan Sylphy Service Intervals
Minor Service: At 10,000 km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, and Engine Oil
Major Service: At 15,000km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter, ATF Filter, Cabin Filter, Plugs, Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Pads, ATF Oil, and Engine Oil
Spare Parts Availability, Cost & Where to buy
Service parts are very affordable and widely available in Kenya. Body parts are not as readily available but we expect this to change as the cars become more common.
2012 Nissan Sylphy Reliability
For a detailed reliability analysis of the Nissan Sylphy, please refer to the Nissan Sylphy Buyer’s Guide.
Resale Value: Average
Nissan Fuga Competitors: Toyota Axio, Toyota Allion and Mitsubishi Galant Fortis.
Cost of Ownership
See Latest Nissan Sylphy Prices in Kenya
What we like about the 2012 Nissan Sylphy
1. Comfortable and quiet cabin
2. Good fuel economy
3. Reliable
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