SILKY SMOOTH MOTORING

Thursday, 5 March 2009

SILKY SMOOTH MOTORING

You don’t need a big car to enjoy smooth and luxurious motoring

LIKES –
• Smooth and responsive engine.
• Seamless transmission.
• Long legroom.
• Impressive interior features and fittings.

DISLIKES –
• Average boot size.
• Difficult to maintain beige interior, especially the steering wheel.
• Foot-operated parking brake.

Most houses today, especially in urban areas, require driveways that have to fit more than two cars but the width of houses have not changed over the decades. Downsizing to avoid leaving the car by the roadside over night may be a solution but in most cases, at the expense of motoring pleasure.
Not with the arrival of the Nissan Sylphy anymore. It is sized between full blown 2-litre and 1.6-litre category cars but have more features and safety than many full size 2-litre cars.
From any angle, the Nissan Sylphy 2.0 CVTC looks like a full size 2-litre category car at a glance. So there is no loss of face when you drive to work or formal functions in one. Its design is also contemporary with pleasing lines.
On the inside, the luxurious fittings like wood grain, titanium surface and ‘Masumi’ seat materials in different shades of black, beige and brown heighten the ambience. The design of the ‘clamshell’ seats, dashboard and door panels further add to the exclusive looks and feel. Above all that, the extra long legroom puts the final endorsement by even the most discerning of motorists.
There are also a number of special features that put others to shame. The centre console between the front seats can hold an attaché case (slim one though), laptop or a handbag which is better security that leaving them on the unoccupied front passenger seat when on the move.
Technical features are no less impressive. The engine is a 2-litre all-aluminium alloy (for lightweight) engine with continuously variable valve timing that enables as much as 90% of its maximum torque from as low as 2,000rpm. Put into driving terms, it simply means minimal throttle effort needed to get the Sylphy picking up speed anytime. The transmission is also the latest (third generation) Xtronic CVT which is seamless, quiet and no snatches or jerks. It is electronically controlled so that there is the optimum balance between speed and fuel consumption without much of the typical CVT response delay.

As if all those features are not enough, there is also a host of safety features that can put even some of the full blown 2-litre category cars to shame. The Nissan Sylphy has a coveted 6-star rating from Japan New Car Assessment Programme (JNCAP) which very few cars can achieve. For the Malaysian market, the list is long which simply means that one can drive with full confidence.
The Sylphy is exceptionally quiet and smooth even at high speeds. It is a pleasure to drive and easy too, even for the less experienced drivers. One needs to get used to the foot operated parking brake though.
All the goodies need not be that expensive. The Nissan Sylphy retails at RM113, 584.00 OTR with insurance for private registration in West Malaysia. With savings of some RM50K compared to having to pay for the top selling full blown 2-litre category cars, it make sense in times of economic slowdown. You also get to park your car in any driveway at ease.