In the RM100-125k price range, you have many choices. In the end it will depend on what you are looking for a what is more important to you - the exterior looks, interior looks, interior quality, driving experience, NVH, resale value, aftermarket service and support etc.

Apart from the Nissan Sylphy and Honda Civic, you may want to explore Toyota Altis, Mazda 3, Peugeot 408T, Renault Fluence and Ford Focus.

FWIW I have owned the previous generation Sylphy 2.0. Not too sure how the current model compares with the previous generation model but if you want a quiet and comfortable car with smooth acceleration, the Sylphy is a good choice but performance and driving dynamics are lacking. Tan Chong's after-sales service is good if not great.

If you want resale value, Honda Civic and Toyota Altis would be good choices but to me they are overpriced for what they have to offer against other alternatives. Though there is no doubt about their resale. The current Civic is not as popular or well-received when compared to the previous generation Civic though (the previous generation Civic is thought to be the best model Honda had managed to come up with in terms design).

After-sales service and support of Japanese cars (Honda, Toyota and Nissan) are usually reliable when compared to the cheaper continentals. Mazda's support is a bit lacking but is improving.

If you want elevated driving experience compared to the Japanese cars you may want to look at the Ford Focus. But after-sales service is not as good as the Japanese, and resale value is also not as good.

Although I had owned the Sylphy 2.0 previous generation, I still had a soft spot for the car. The strengths of the Sylphy are in the quietness and spaciousness/comfort at the back seat due to good legroom. It is a nice car for the family.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: May 28 2015, 12:18 PM

Funny that this new Sylphy 1.8 shows the grinding sound when the car is idle or is traveling up an inclined slope. Not to mention the kluk sound every morning when driving above 60km/h. Are these noises present in ALL cars, or it is only few cars are affected?

FWIW the older generation Sylphy 2.0 does not have any sort of funny noises either from engine, transmission or even inside the car. Just a very quiet car.

I presume you are referring to Mazda 3 when you felt that the tyre noise is not good. A change in more silent tyres on the Mazda 3 don't help much? Personally I am not an advocate of soundproofing the car although it will help in making the car quieter.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Oct 10 2015, 08:10 AM

Yes, can check with them again. Or you can check with other Sylphy owners and see if they have the same sound in their cars. If other Sylphy owners do not experience the noises, then you will know that your car only shows this sound, and it can be rectified at the SC ie. some part is faulty that is causing the sound.

OK good to hear that you do not experience any "kluk" or grinding noises in your car. That would suggest that the noises that the other owner experienced in his car are something that is not normal.

Yes, the previous generation Sylphy 2.0 looks outdated. The current Sylphy model looks better.

I've done with my my Nissan Sylphy, though the previous 2.0-litre model. Exactly the same thing to all 4 doors. It cost me RM300 at that time. Claimed USA product and all. No difference in sound as the Sylphy is inherently already a very quiet car. There might be minimal difference, but to my ears close to zero. The only difference is the doors feel heavier to open and close, and when the doors close there is a more solid thud sound rather than a hollow sound without the soundproofing material.

Not sure how quiet is the current 1.8 model, whether it is as quiet as the previous generation 2.0. If it has the same quietness, in my opinion there is no need to spend money on soundproofing the Nissan Sylphy.

WHat are the factory tyres on the Nissan Sylphy 1.8? The previous generation Sylphy 2.0 came with Yokohama Aspec dB tyres. Quiet tyres.