A sylph is a either slightly-built, graceful woman, or a soulless elemental female being thought by 15th century alchemist, Paracelsus, to inhabit the, er, air. I can't imagine Nissan wanting to reference a soulless, elemental, air-inhabiting etc. etc. But then again I can't imagine the Sylphy as referencing a slightly-built, graceful woman either.

For starters, the car looks very much like the Cefiro, which is hardly slightly-built. And the similarities go far beyond the sort normally proscribed to maintain a family resemblance amongst a particular model range. Both cars are determinedly contemporary with respect to design, and even in hot pink, any femininity would be difficult to discern.

All that said, in profile, the Sylphy is arguably much more pleasantly proportioned than its larger sibling. The face is where the resemblance is strongest, the same basic shapes that define the Cefiro's nose, the headlamps, front grill and bumper, with a little subtle resculpting, also describe the Sylphy's. The headlamps also get two clear protrusions that light up at night. These are meant to help you accurately place the car in tight confines, and they do work quite well.

The two car's flanks also share similar character lines, but the Sylphy's bum is the better defined. It lacks the Cefiro's stacked boot lid for one thing, and the rear in general sports a more organic, cohesive look.

The styling also does a great job in disguising the car's size. The Sylphy is deceptively large, which means great news if interior room is a big priority for you.

Driving It

There are two engine options available, comprising 1.5 and 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder units. The 2.0-liter model tested here develops 133bhp and 191Nm of torque, and it comes mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT. The entry-level 1.5-litre gets a more conventional four-speed automatic gearbox.

133bhp in a car weighing just over 1,200kgs goes quite a long way, and the Sylphy therefore manages to feel quite sprightly off the line. The low speed ride does come off as quite busy, but this could be more the fault of the Bridgestone tyres than anything else. The tyres also generate a fair bit of road noise, but this is really only apparent because the rest of the car is so quiet. Wind noise is practically non-existent, as is the roar and rush of passing traffic.

The steering is nice and light, and also surprisingly accurate. Get the speed up, and the ride dramatically improves, too. The road noise that blights the Sylphy's low speed refinement doesn't seem to get very much louder at expressway velocities, at which the cabin almost becomes sepulchral.

The CVT is well matched to the punchy engine, and is relatively free from the rubber band effect that plagues similar setups in other cars. It's very responsive, too, and even comes with a sport mode that keeps the revs up for better response when you're in an enthusiastic driving mood.

Body roll is not too pronounced, and grip levels from the tyres are really quite high. A fair trade given the relative lack of refinement. The brakes work well, too. They're authoritative and quite easy to modulate. That said, the rear brakes are drums, though, and on a 2.0-litre car this is a bit odd.

INSIDE IT

The Sylphy's cabin is, in a word, huge. There's so much room inside that you wonder if the designers have managed a Dr Who-type space-folding feat. Fit and finsh are both excellent. The dashboard is a neat affair, with little in the way of fancy adornments, and the understated instruments are set on nice cream backgrounds. They're very easily legible, too.

The driver gets an electrically adjustable seat, with memory function. There's even a comfort access system that moves the seat away from the steering wheel when you stop the car to help you get out. When you climb back in and start the engine, the seat moves back to a stored position.

Getting in and out is made even easier thanks to keyless access, a feature normally found on much more expensive cars.

Storage space is almost as generous as the cabin space in general. The glovebox tunnels into the dashboard by nearly an arm's length, it almost seems like you could fit a full-size umbrella inside. The console behind the transmission lever was designed to hold big folders or even an attaché case. The lid that partially covers the console flips backwards to act as a table for rear passengers.

Equipment levels are very high. You get an electronic climate control system that comes with Nissan's germ-killing Plasmacluster Ion air filtration technology, as well as antibacterial treatment for the steering wheel and gear lever. Curiously enough, however, the Sylphy doesn't come with a three-point safety belt for the centre rear passenger, an odd omission. Especially considering that you get safety features like active head restraints, and pretensioners and two stage seatbelt load limiters for the front occupants.

The Sylphy also comes with a satellite navigation system that would mystify even the most tech-savvy of teenagers. Actually getting lost is a more attractive proposition than the thought of having to wrestle with the system's tiny, fiendishly complicated menus. That said, you do get a reversing camera thrown in, another big expensive car feature that finds its way into the Sylphy.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

At $83,500 with COE, the Sylphy clearly has its sights on the similarly priced 2.0-litre Honda Civic. It's certainly better equipped, for one thing, and there's a good deal more interior room, too. You also get peace of mind knowing that underneath the Nissan exterior resides Renault's famously crash worthy Megane platform.

VERDICT

The Honda Civic has enjoyed relative free rein in this particular segment of the market, but the new Sylphy could challenge the former's dominance. The biggest element in the Sylphy's favour, quite literally, is the fact that it's really a not-so-junior version of the Nissan Cefiro. In terms of sheer, cavernous roominess and equipment levels, it's hard to beat.

NEED TO KNOW

Model Nissan Sylphy
Engine Type 1,997cc, 16V in-line 4
Max Power 133bhp at 5,200rpm
Max Torque 191Nm at 4,400rpm
Gearbox CVT
Top speed NA
0-100km/h NA
Price $83,500 with COE
Warranty 3 years / 100,000km
Contact Tan Chong Motor Sales Pte Ltd
Telephone 6466-7711

SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN

Honda Civic Si (A) $82,500 with COE
The Civic has the most space-age dashboard of pretty much any car you can buy today. Build quality is top notch, as are the engines and the handling.

Mazda 6 2.0 4dr (A) $83,988 with COE
A recent facelift has given the popular 6 a slightly redesigned face, as well as better refinement. Handling and ride are both extremely good, too.