Nissan Sylphy

The Nissan Sylphy is a compact sedan under Dongfeng Nissan. Since its domestic assembly and launch by Dongfeng Nissan in 2006, it has long dominated the upper ranks of China's sedan sales charts, earning the reputation as the "King of Family Sedans". As of June 2026, the Sylphy employs a "three generations sold concurrently" strategy in the Chinese market, encompassing three model lines: the all-new 15th-generation Sylphy, the 14th-generation Sylphy, and the Sylphy Classic (13th generation), with the entire lineup powered by a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a CVT gearbox. The 15th-generation Sylphy was officially launched on 24 February 2026, offering three variants with an official retail price range of RM104,900–RM119,900 and a limited-time launch promotional price of RM94,900–RM109,900. The 14th-generation Sylphy is priced from RM84,900 to RM94,900, with an introductory launch price of RM74,900–RM84,900; the Sylphy Classic carries an official price tag of RM79,900, with a promotional launch price of RM65,900. Key competitors to the Sylphy include the Volkswagen Lavida, Volkswagen Sagitar, and Toyota Corolla.

Design Language

On the exterior, the 15th-generation Sylphy adopts Nissan's latest "Electric V-Motion 3.0" family design language, offering two distinctive front styling options: the Light Wing Edition and the Star Wing Edition. The Light Wing Edition features a borderless front grille flanked by a full-width LED light bar, with an illuminated central NISSAN badge that delivers a welcome lighting animation upon unlocking; the Star Wing Edition sports a smoked honeycomb mesh grille for a sportier aesthetic. The headlamps have been upgraded to matrix LED units complemented by lion-claw daytime running lights (DRLs). In terms of dimensions, the car measures 4,656 mm in length, 1,825 mm in width, and 1,448 mm in height, with a 2,712 mm wheelbase. Compared to the preceding generation, length is up by 4 mm and width by 10 mm, while height is reduced by 2 mm and the wheelbase remains unchanged. At the rear, it features split-type full-width smoked LED tail lamps, a subtle integrated ducktail bootlid spoiler, and a concealed exhaust design. The side profile exhibits sleek character lines, omitting the previous blacked-out C-pillar garnish for a cleaner look. Inside, the dashboard has undergone a comprehensive redesign with a floating dual 12.3-inch integrated display setup, replacing the conventional embedded small screen and cluster of physical switchgear. The dashboard is trimmed in soft-touch materials with contrast stitching, elevating overall perceived quality to rival higher-segment vehicles.

Powertrain & Performance

The entire 2026 Sylphy lineup is powered by the third-generation HR16 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. It produces a maximum output of 99 kW (135 PS) and a peak torque of 159 Nm. Power is delivered through a CVT gearbox. Depending on the variant, WLTC combined fuel consumption is rated between 5.57 L/100 km and 5.96 L/100 km. The vehicle runs on RON 92 petrol, ensuring low everyday running costs. Top speed is rated at 186 km/h. Notably, the 2026 Sylphy range has discontinued the previous e-POWER hybrid variant, offering exclusively the 1.6-litre petrol powertrain across the lineup.

Chassis & Handling

Under the skin, the 2026 Sylphy features a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear torsion beam semi-independent setup. The suspension is tuned for family-oriented comfort, providing supple bump absorption and light, effortless steering suited for daily family motoring. Steering is handled by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. Braking duties are performed by front ventilated discs and rear solid discs. The drivetrain is configured with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout.

Cabin & Equipment

The cabin represents the primary upgrade focus for the 15th-generation Sylphy. A floating dual 12.3-inch integrated widescreen display comes standard across the entire range, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 smart cockpit chipset paired with 12GB RAM and 128GB on-board storage. Running on the Nissan Connect infotainment suite, the system supports connected services, intelligent voice control, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Huawei HiCar smartphone connectivity. The centre console is fitted with a Qi wireless charging pad (on mid-to-high spec variants), with Type-C USB ports located underneath. The climate control panel retains physical dual-zone buttons for intuitive operation on the move. Seating comfort is provided by Multi-Layer ergonomic Zero Gravity seats, incorporating three layers of cushioning foam and a T-shaped anti-fatigue structure. The driver's seat features multi-way power adjustment, with front seats gaining ventilation and heating functions on higher trims. The rear passenger compartment is equipped with dedicated rear air-con vents and charging ports. Boot capacity stands at a generous 560 litres.

Safety & Driver Assistance

In terms of passive safety, the 2026 Sylphy comes standard with 6 airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), a reverse camera, and rear parking sensors across the entire lineup. High-spec variants add a 360-degree surround-view camera system. On the active safety and driver assistance front, Level 2 semi-autonomous driving assistance is standard across the 15th-generation range. Top-tier variants are equipped with the ProPILOT intelligent driver assistance suite, comprising full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), and traffic sign recognition. The hardware setup is supported by a Mobileye EyeQ5 chip, 2 cameras, 8 ultrasonic sensors, and 3 millimetre-wave radars.

Market Performance & Verdict

The Nissan Sylphy remains a perennial stalwart in China's passenger car market. In terms of sales volume, the Sylphy registered a cumulative retail volume of 320,000 units throughout 2025, ranking 4th on China's overall sedan sales chart and 5th among best-selling passenger vehicles overall, standing as the sole pure internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle in the top five. In December 2025 alone, monthly sales reached 23,964 units. Serving as Dongfeng Nissan's core sales pillar, the Sylphy single-handedly contributed nearly half of the brand's total annual volume. With the introduction of the dual integrated screens, standard 8155 chip, and standard Level 2 driving aids, the 15th-generation Sylphy has made significant strides in smart connectivity. However, with the 2026 lineup dropping the e-POWER hybrid variant to rely solely on the 1.6-litre petrol powertrain, it may face headwinds amidst the rising market penetration of new energy vehicles (NEVs). Overall, bolstered by its proven core traits of "generous cabin space, low fuel consumption, and superior comfort", an immense owner base, and a broad price span ranging from RM65,900 to RM109,900, the Sylphy continues to command strong market appeal and solid competitive prowess in the RM100,000-class family sedan segment.