Nissan Sylphy

Nissan Sylphy at a glance

Generations overview

First generation: Bluebird Sylphy (G10, 2000–2005)

Nissan launched the Bluebird Sylphy in Japan in August 2000. It replaced the Pulsar (N15) there and was based on the Pulsar N16, with its own grille and more equipment. The Japanese car had 1.5, 1.8 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. The 1.5 came with a five-speed manual, the 2.0 with a CVT and the others with a four-speed automatic, and the 1.8 could be ordered with four-wheel drive.

A facelift in February 2003 brought a new grille and rear lamps inspired by the Teana. Abroad the same car was sold under other names, such as Almera in Europe and Sunny in parts of Asia. Japanese production ended in 2005.

Second generation (G11, 2005–2012)

The second Sylphy was previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2005. It used a stretched version of the B platform of the Nissan Tiida, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase and a 504-litre boot, the largest in its class at the time. Japanese buyers chose a 1.5 HR15DE or a 2.0 MR20DE with the Xtronic CVT.

In China, Dongfeng Nissan unveiled the Sylphy on 18 June 2006 in Beijing and began sales on 24 August. Production took place at the Huadu plant in Guangzhou, with a 2.0 MR engine and CVT. Later a 1.6 HR16DE joined it, with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic as alternatives. The G11 stayed in Chinese production as the Sylphy Classic until 2018. It was also sold in Malaysia from June 2008 and built in Taiwan by Yulon as the Nissan Bluebird.

Third generation (B17, 2012–2019)

At the Beijing show in 2012 Nissan showed a Sylphy that shared its body with the seventh-generation Sentra; the two models had merged to save development cost. In Japan it went on sale on 5 December 2012, built at Oppama. Its details:

• a new 1.8-litre MRA8DE engine with 96 kW (131 PS) and 174 Nm;
• an Xtronic CVT with an auxiliary planetary gear;
• 15.6 km/l in the JC08 cycle, 16 percent better than before;
• a drag coefficient of 0.29 and a 510-litre boot;
• prices in December 2012 from ¥1,937,250 to ¥2,389,800 (about €19,000–23,000).

The new body was 15 mm lower and 65 mm wider than the G11.

Sylphy Zero Emission

In 2018 the B17 was also turned into an electric car for China. The Sylphy Zero Emission was shown at Auto China in April 2018, and orders opened on 28 June 2018. It used parts of the Nissan Leaf: the battery of the new Leaf and an 80 kW motor with a top speed of 144 km/h. Its range was 338 km under the Chinese test, and in 2018 it cost CNY 166,000 after subsidies, just under €22,000 at the time.

Fourth generation (B18, 2019–2026)

The B18 was unveiled on 16 April 2019 at Auto Shanghai, months before the matching Sentra appeared in Los Angeles. Chinese sales began in July 2019. Its 1.6-litre engine gives 99 kW (137 PS) and 159 Nm and drives through a CVT; the wheelbase is 2,712 mm.

e-Power

On 30 September 2021 Nissan presented the Sylphy e-Power in Tianjin, the first Nissan saloon with this system. A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine of 53 kW only works as a generator. The wheels are driven by an electric motor with 100 kW (136 PS) and 300 Nm, fed by a small 1.5 kWh battery. Nissan quoted 3.9 l/100 km in the Chinese test. How e-Power works in a larger car is explained in our Nissan X-Trail T33 article.

A facelift for China arrived in March 2023. It added a 7-inch instrument display, a 12.3-inch touchscreen and ProPilot lane-centring assistance.

Fifth generation (since 2026)

The fifth generation was unveiled on 11 September 2025, and the new Sylphy went on sale in China on 24 February 2026. It keeps the 1.6-litre engine with 99 kW and the CVT, reaches 186 km/h and uses 5.88 l/100 km in the WLTC cycle.

Sales in China

The Sylphy was China's best-selling saloon in 2018, 2021 and 2022. By March 2023 five million had been sold in China since 2006. By 2025 annual sales had roughly halved from the 2020 peak.