The is a

compact car Compact car is a vehicle size class — predominantly used in North America — that sits between subcompact cars and mid-size cars. "Small family car" is a British term and a part of the C-segment in the European car classification. However, p ...

produced by the Japanese car maker

Nissan , trade name, trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells ...

since 2000 as the successor to the

Nissan Pulsar The is a line of automobiles produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1978 until 2000, when it was replaced by the Nissan Bluebird Sylphy in the Japanese market. Between 2000 and 2005, the name "Pulsar" has been used in Australia and New ...

. The Sylphy has also been marketed in export markets under several other nameplates, including

Pulsar A pulsar (from ''pulsating radio source'') is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. This radiation can be observed only when a beam of emission is pointing toward Ea ...

, Almera, Sunny and Sentra. For the third-generation model (B17) introduced in 2012, the Sylphy model was merged with the B17 Sentra, meaning it is no longer a standalone model. Until 2012, it is known as the in Japan. The initial Bluebird Sylphy nameplate was a continuation for the larger

Bluebird The bluebirds are a North American group of medium-sized, mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the order of Passerines in the genus ''Sialia'' of the thrush family (Turdidae). Bluebirds are one of the few thrush genera in the Americas. ...

which was phased out in 2001. It was renamed the Sylphy for the third-generation model in 2012. __TOC__

First generation (G10/N16; 2000)

Nissan launched the G10 or N16 series Bluebird Sylphy in August 2000 as replacement in the Japanese market for the

(N15), and it was exclusive to Japanese dealerships called '' Nissan Blue Stage''. The model code of "G10" used in Japan differed from most other markets which retained the legacy N-series (N16) naming scheme inherited from the Pulsar. The change in name from Pulsar to Bluebird Sylphy in Japan came about as Nissan was about to phase out the long-running

, and this kept the old name alive. Export markets received this same vehicle under a myriad of alternative names: Almera in Europe and Brunei;

in Australasia; Sentra in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan; plus Sunny in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Middle East. It was not available in North America; instead, there was the Sunny-based Nissan Sentra (B15). The Bluebird Sylphy was made available in a single body style, a well equipped small four-door sedan. The factory in the UK, where the N16 was manufactured as the Almera, continued to produce three- and five-door

hatchback A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. ...

versions. These European models featured slightly different frontal styling—a unique grille, bonnet and bumper accommodated the headlamp design shared with Japanese models. Some European markets also received an Almera sedan model, which featured the same frontal styling as the hatchbacks. British-made Almeras also saw some exports outside of Europe, mainly to Australia and with Pulsar badging. The new platform spawned a

compact MPV Compact MPV (an abbreviation for Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is a vehicle size class for the middle size of MPVs. The Compact MPV size class sits between the mini MPV and large MPV (minivan) size classes. Compact MPVs remain predominantly a ...

version (the ''

Nissan Almera Tino The Nissan Almera Tino is a car which was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan between 1998 and 2006 in Japan, as the Nissan Tino. Nissan's Spanish factory produced the Almera Tino between 2000 and 2006. It has been described as a mini MPV, a ...

'' or ''Nissan Tino'') for the first time. The

Nissan Wingroad The Nissan AD is a subcompact van and station wagon, wagon built by Nissan since 1982. The AD is sold under a different name when manufactured as a passenger car, called the . __TOC__ VB11 series In October 1982, the AD Van supplemented (a ...

continued to be sold as the Pulsar wagon or Almera Traveller in many countries. The original release Bluebird Sylphy had a vertical chrome grille with Nissan emblem on the bonnet. In February 2003, the Bluebird Sylphy received minor changes with a revised grille (with the Nissan emblem moved onto the grille) and an all-new rear end with J31 Teana-inspired tail lights. This update also applied to the Sunny and Sentra models in Southeast Asia. Australian Pulsar sedans received the same update, although a horizontally-stated grille featured instead. In October 2005, the second generation Nissan Bluebird Sylphy (G11 series) was previewed at the

Tokyo Motor Show The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show by ...

. In Japan, the

Nissan Tiida The is a compact car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan since 2004 through three generations. Depending on the market, the Tiida was also marketed as a subcompact car, particularly in the Americas for the first-generation model as the ...

hatchback and Tiida Latio sedan replaced also replaced the G10/N16 range, particularly in export markets where the G11 was not offered. Although the release of the G11 series Sylphy and Tiida signified the withdrawal of the G10/N16 from many markets, it was facelifted for an October 2005 release as a budget model to sit beneath the G11 Sylphy and Tiida in Southeast Asian markets such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. This more substantial front-end facelift allowed for the fitment of reshaped headlamps, a revised front bumper and fenders, and a new grille and bonnet.

Regions

Asia

In Japan, the Nissan Revival Plan was implemented, and saw the reorganization of Nissan's Japanese dealership network, introducing ''Nissan Red Stage'' as the sole provider of all Sunny/Pulsar vehicle platforms formerly available at '' Nissan Satio/Nissan Cherry/Nissan Prince'' locations. Engine choices consisted of the 1.5- ''QG15DE'', 1.6- ''QG16DE'', 1.8- ''QG18DE'', and the 2.0-litre ''QR20DD''. A five-speed

manual transmission A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...

is only available for the 1.5-litre, the other models featuring a four-speed

automatic transmission An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...

with the 2.0l motor mated to a CVT. The

four-wheel drive Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...

version was only offered with the 1.8-litre model. In Thailand, where the Sunny name was used, alongside the sedan, the five-door was also sold (imported from the UK). Consequently, each body style has a different front end. China, Singapore and Sri Lanka also received the sedan model only under the Sunny name. In China, it was produced by the

Dongfeng Motor Company Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (abb. DFL), most commonly known in English-language sources as Dongfeng Nissan,In Chinese sources, () most commonly refers to Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company, a DFL subsidiary. is a Chinese automobile m ...

, a joint venture with Nissan. In Singapore, the N16 succeeded the B15 model in the year 2000. It was available in two engine variants, both 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre. In 2004, a facelifted model was introduced. The facelifted model was only available with a 1.6-litre engine. It continued to be available for sale, until the year 2011. Both versions came in manual and automatic transmissions. Nissan Sunny was only sold in the sedan variant, imported from Japan. In the Philippines, the pre-facelift N16 model was known as the Nissan Sentra Exalta (available from 2001 to 2003; Where the "Exalta" name was previously used at the luxurious versions of the B14 Sentra). This early model is similar to the JDM Bluebird Sylphy. Nissan Philippines then introduced a model with new headlights and tail lights. The Exalta name was dropped and was renamed back to Sentra. The B16 Sentra was introduced in the Philippines, where it is sold as the Sentra 200 and was sold alongside the Pulsar-based N16 model for awhile. Sales ended in the Philippine market in 2014. In Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, the Bluebird Sylphy is sold as the

Nissan Sentra The Nissan Sentra is a series of automobiles manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 1982. Since 1999, the Sentra has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. Until 2006, Sentra was a reba ...

. For Indonesia, Nissan sold the Sentra between 2002 and 2004 in small numbers for private buyers in a single trim level, the 1.8 Super Saloon. It featured standard ABS, dual airbags, leather interior, and CD player with MP3. The facelifted model N16, the Sunny Neo was powered by the 1.6-litre engine was and intended for

taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice ...

use only. After the Japanese production ended in 2005, the N16 maintained in production in Malaysia and the Philippines as the Sentra—albeit, sporting new front-end styling treatment. The models for Malaysia are SG and SG-L, with the choice of Comfort or Luxury Package. The Sunny continued to be offered in Singapore until 2011 in the following trim levels: EX Saloon, Super Saloon, and Luxury Edition. Exclusive for the local market, the Malaysian-built N16 was made available until 2014 as the Sentra Sport 1.6 in Comfort and Luxury trim levels. It is unrelated to the North American Sentra.

Australia

In Australia and New Zealand, Nissan continued to use the

name for the N16 series. The four-door sedan sourced from Japan and the five-door hatchback from the UK (a rebadged Almera) were offered. Consequently, each body style has a different front end. Trim levels were LX, ST, Q and Ti. Engine choices consisted of the 1.6- and 1.8-litre petrols. Power output was and . The four-door was available in four trim levels—an LX with the 1.6, the ST and Ti with the 1.8-litre engine as standard, and a Q version with the 1.8-litre and a sportier level of trim, including a rear spoiler and alloy wheels. In the five-door range there was no LX version. Nissan launched the hatchback model with the ST trim level and a sporty Q version. As such, all hatches were 1.8-litre powered. The base-model LX sedan came with a driver's airbag, air-conditioning, remote locking and power mirrors, although no

anti-lock brakes An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a safety anti-skid braking system used on aircraft and on land vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing the wheels from locking up during braking, thereby maintainin ...

(ABS) or power windows were offered. The ST five-door gained an extra front

airbag An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. Th ...

, whereas the four-door model did not have one as standard. In Ti form, the four-door gained both front airbags, ABS, climate control air-conditioning, alloy wheels and power windows. The Q model was similar to the Ti four-door, although there were slight discrepancies between the sedan and hatch, with the latter version having an extra air-bag and 15-inch alloy wheels versus the 14-inch alloys on the sedan. ;Sedan File:2003 Nissan Pulsar (N16) ST-L sedan (2015-07-24) 01.jpg, 2000–2003 Nissan Pulsar ST-L sedan (Australia) File:2000 Nissan Pulsar (N16) ST sedan (2016-01-04) 02.jpg, 2000–2003 Nissan Pulsar 1.8 ST sedan (Australia) File:2005 Nissan Pulsar (N16 S2 MY04) ST-L sedan (2015-07-03) 01.jpg, 2003–2005 Nissan Pulsar 1.8 ST-L sedan (Australia) File:2003 Nissan Pulsar (N16 S2) ST sedan (2015-08-07) 02.jpg, 2003–2005 Nissan Pulsar ST sedan (Australia) ;Hatchback File:2001 Nissan Pulsar (N16) ST 5-door hatchback (2015-08-07) 01.jpg, 2001–2002 Nissan Pulsar 1.8 ST 5-door (Australia) File:2001 Nissan Pulsar (N16) ST 5-door hatchback (2015-08-07) 02.jpg, 2001–2002 Nissan Pulsar 1.8 ST 5-door (Australia)

Europe

For the European market, Nissan sold the N16 series as the second generation

Nissan Almera The Nissan Almera is a line of automobiles that has been manufactured by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan since 1995. For its early generations, the Almera is a compact car (C-segment), essentially being the European export-market version ...

from 2000. Produced in the United Kingdom, the Almera range comprised three- and five-door hatchbacks and the less common sedan. Compared to other markets, the European-manufactured cars featured unique frontal styling — while the headlamps remained common with Japanese models — a restyled grille, bonnet, and bumper did feature. A facelift was released in 2003, with production continuing until the Almera's demise in 2006.

Renault Samsung SM3

From 2006, a derivative of the Bluebird Sylphy, the

Renault Samsung SM3 The Renault Samsung SM3 is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Renault Samsung Motors from 2003 to 2020. __TOC__ First generation (G10; 2002–2009) The first generation SM3 was a rebranded first generation Nissan Sunny/B ...

was sold in

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

and Russia as the

Classic. The same year, the car was launched in Central and South America as Nissan Almera, (except in

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

where it was sold as a Samsung). Also since 2007, the Renault Samsung SM3 is sold as the Nissan Sunny in the Middle East, with a single trim that comes with a 1.5-litre engine. The Samsung SM3 is also sold as the

Renault Scala The Renault Scala nameplate has been used by the French automobile manufacturer Renault for the following cars, in the following markets: * Renault Samsung SM3 The Renault Samsung SM3 is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer R ...

in Mexico,

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

. File:20100728 renault samsung sm3 01.jpg, Renault Samsung SM3 File:Samsung SM3 PE16 2011.jpg, Renault Samsung SM3 (facelift) File:Renault Scala.JPG, Renault Scala (Mexico) File:Nissan Almera Classic 01.jpg, Nissan Almera Classic (Russia) File:Nissan Almera Classic 02.jpg, Nissan Almera Classic (Russia) File:Nissan Almera Classic Салон МКПП.jpg, Nissan Almera Classic interior (Russia)

Second generation (G11; 2005)

The second-generation model was launched at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. It uses an extended version of the B platform shared with the C11 Tiida and L10 Livina. Interior space is larger due to its enlarged wheelbase (2,700 mm) and the biggest boot (504 liters) in its class. In Japan, it replaced the Nissan Sunny (B15) and the previous Bluebird Sylphy as Nissan's compact sedan. The Bluebird Sylphy uses the same engine as the Nissan Tiida/Versa/Latio, which is the 1.5-litre ''HR15DE'' engine and the all-new 2.0-litre ''MR20DE'' engine. The 2.0-litre version uses Nissan's Xtronic CVT. Starting from 2008, the Bluebird Sylphy was also available for overseas markets as the Nissan Sylphy. The Sylphy was sold in China from 2006 to 2018 under the Sylphy Classic name. In terms of styling, the Chinese variant had amber turn signals on the front compared to clear ones sold in international markets. The rear was the same style as international variants until 2008 where it was given a facelift for 2009. The rear was given new taillights as well as an extra fog lamp on the bottom of the rear bumper. Trim levels consisted of the 1.6XE, 2.0XE, 2.0XL, 2.0XV and 2.0XV Navi. Engine and gearbox options consisted of the 1.6-liter '' HR16DE'' and the 2.0-litre '' MR20DE'' paired to a 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, or a CVT gearbox. Production for the Classic Sylphy ended in late 2018 after a shortened 2019 model year was produced. The G11 generation Sylphy was rebadged by Dongfeng and engineered into an electric vehicle starting from 2018, with the model renamed to E11K under the Junfeng electric car sub-brand. The E11K is available with a 451 km range 60.43 kW battery and a 405km range 57.757 kW battery as of 2022. Styling-wise, the E11K still retains the exterior styling of the 2009 to 2018 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy; it remained in production with no further facelifts as of late 2022. The Sylphy was also sold in some Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Taiwan. The Yulon Motor Company of Taiwan manufactured the Bluebird Sylphy and sold it as the

Nissan Bluebird The is a compact car with a model name introduced in 1957. It has been Nissan's most internationally recognized sedan, in multiple body styles, and is known for its dependability and durability. The Bluebird originated from Nissan's first vehic ...

. In Malaysia, the G11 Sylphy launched in June 2008. Two variants were offered: Comfort and Luxury. Both variants were powered by Nissan's MR20DE engine paired to a CVT. In June 2009, 'Tuned by Impul' accessories were made available and consisted of a front grille, front and rear lips, side skirts, a rear wing spoiler, suspension and alloy wheels. In January 2010, a new variant dubbed 'Luxury Navi Package' offered navigation and a reverse camera. In March 2012, the facelift G11 Sylphy was launched in Malaysia and was available with three variants: 2.0 XL Comfort and 2.0 XL Luxury and 2.0 XV Premium. In June 2012, revised 'Tuned by Impul' accessories were launched. In Russia, the Bluebird Sylphy was available between 2012 and 2018 as the

. Production started in fall of 2012 in the

AvtoVAZ AvtoVAZ ( rus, АвтоВАЗ, p=ɐftoˈvas) is a Russian automobile manufacturing company owned by the state. It was formerly named as VAZ ( rus, ВАЗ), an acronym for Volga Automotive Plant in Russian (russian: Во́лжский автомо� ...

plant in

Tolyatti Tolyatti ( rus, Толья́тти, p=tɐlʲˈjætʲ(ː)ɪ), also known as Togliatti, formerly known as Stavropol (1737–1964), is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It is the largest city in Russia which doe ...

. The car was available with the 1.6-liter engine and either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. It shared the same dashboard as well as the interior components from the

Renault Logan Logan may refer to: Places * Mount Logan (disambiguation) Australia * Logan (Queensland electoral district), an electoral district in the Queensland Legislative Assembly * Logan, Victoria, small locality near St. Arnaud * Logan City, local gover ...

. Pre-facelift styling File:2005 Nissan Bluebird-Sylphy 03.jpg, Front File:NISSAN BLUEBIRD SYLPHY G11 rear.jpg, Rear Post-facelift styling File:2006 Dongfeng-Nissan Sylphy Classic.jpg, Front File:Nissan Sylphy Classic G11 Shishi 02 2022-09-20.jpg, Rear

Third generation (B17; 2012)

The third-generation Sylphy was revealed at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. The model is merged with the seventh-generation Sentra to reduce development costs, with several changes to accommodate the taste of Asian customers. File:2012-2015 Nissan Sylphy (B17) 1.8 Premium sedan (2017-11-28).jpg, Nissan Sylphy B17 (Singapore; pre-facelift) File:2012-2015 Nissan Sylphy (B17) 1.8 Premium sedan (2017-11-29).jpg, Nissan Sylphy B17 (Singapore; pre-facelift) File:Nissan Sylphy B17 Facelift (front).jpg, Facelift (China) File:Nissan Sylphy B17 Facelift (rear).jpg, Facelift (China)

Fourth generation (B18; 2019)

The fourth-generation Sylphy was unveiled on 16 April 2019 at the 18th Auto Shanghai. It was revealed prior to its Sentra counterpart which was launched for the North American market later that year at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. File:Nissan Sylphy B18 004 (cropped).jpg, Nissan Sylphy B18 (China) File:Nissan Sylphy B18 003 (cropped).jpg, Nissan Sylphy B18 (China) File:Nissan Sylphy e-Power In Guangzhou Auto Show 2021.jpg, Nissan Sylphy e-Power (China)

Sales

References

External links

* {{nissan Sylphy Compact cars Cars introduced in 2000 2010s cars 2020s cars Vehicles with CVT transmission Sedans