If someone is into sports cars then they would probably know a thing or two about Nissan and the brand’s most sought-after cars- Nissan Skyline and Nissan Silvia. The Skyline has been successful in both Japanese and international motorsport for its superb 2.6-liter inline six-cylinder engine, technology, and performance. At the same time, Silvia is loved for its tunability, drift potential, and affordable price.
If a buyer is going for either of them, it is important to know about the cars in detail to choose the best one that suits their needs. This is why we came forward with our Nissan Skyline vs Silvia to let the buyers measure every little detail before making the ultimate decision. In this article, we will compare every nits and bits of the two sports cars and help the buyers select their next Nissan car. Hop in and let the journey begin!
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Main Difference of Nissan Skyline vs Silvia
Before we begin, see the comparison table of two of the best sports cars from both Nissan Skyline vs Silvia to know a little bit more.
Feature |
Nissan Skyline GT-R |
Nissan Silvia Spec-R |
Engine Type |
3.8L twin-turbocharged V6 |
2.0L turbocharged inline-4 |
Horsepower |
565 hp |
276 hp |
Torque |
467 lb-ft |
268 lb-ft |
0-60 mph |
2.9 seconds |
5.5 seconds |
Top Speed |
196 mph |
155 mph |
Transmission |
6-speed dual-clutch automatic |
6-speed manual |
Drive Type |
All-wheel drive |
Rear-wheel drive |
Starting MSRP |
$116,040 |
$27,682 |
Special Features |
Active aerodynamics, active suspension, launch control |
A limited-slip differential, sport seats, sport suspension |
Style |
Sophisticated, luxurious |
Compact, sporty |
History and Background
Historical evolution of the Nissan Skyline
The Nissan Skyline was initially a product of the Prince Motor Company in 1957 but then Nissan obtained it in 1966. Shinichiro Sakurai designed and engineered this famous car from its inception. Although introduced as a luxury car, later it became a beloved motorsport. Some of the key milestones and generations of Skyline are given below:
- The second generation (1963-1968) of the car introduced the "G7" series which featured a six-cylinder engine.
- The iconic Skyline GT-R came to life in the third generation (1968-1972) and made its way into racing and sports success.
- The R30 series came into the Sixth Generation (1981-1985), offering a four-wheel-drive system.
- The R-32 series was introduced in the Eighth Generation (1989-1994) which offered the now-legendary GT-R trim level.
- The Tenth Generation (1998-2002) was the time of the R34 Skyline GT-R and is considered one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars ever built.
Now in 2023, Nissan debuted two limited-edition models of the GT-R named The Nissan GT-R Premium edition T-spec and Nissan GT-R NISMO Special edition.
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Historical evolution of the Nissan Silvia
The Nissan Silvia was produced by Nissan from 1965 to 2002. It is a sports car that can be an alternative to the Nissan Skyline though much affordable and smaller in size. Some of the key milestones and generations of Silvia are given below:
- The first generation was introduced in 1965 which was a hand-built coupe based on the Datsun Fairlady platform. The styling help came from Albrecht Goertz. It was powered by a 1.6L four-cylinder engine.
- In 1975 Nissan made the first mass production of Silvia built on the all-new S platform. The Japan models brought upon a 1.8L (L18) inline-4 and the US models came with a 2.0L (L20B) inline-4.
- The Silvia was redesigned in 1991 for the last time. It was the first Silvia to be offered with all-wheel-drive.
Although The Silvia was discontinued in 2002 due to declining sales, it remains a popular car among collectors.B. Historical evolution of the Nissan Silvia
B. Commonalities and differences in their histories
Nissan Skyline vs Silvia both have a unique journey being iconic Nissan models. But the differences lie in their design as Silvia was an in-house production and Skyline was not. Both are sports cars but with huge prices and technological variance.
Exterior Design
Nissan Skyline vs Silvia both are versatile in exterior design as they have diverse ranges of body styles and variations over their generations.
A. Nissan Skyline exterior features
The Skyline is available in many body styles and variations including
- Sedan with a variety of trim levels.
- The two-door sports car coupe.
- Convertible
- Wagon/Van
If you are looking for stylish and aerodynamic design then the Nissan Skyline is your way to go. It has notable design elements such as
- V-motion grille
- Sharp headlights
- Muscular fenders
- Sleek roofline
- Rear spoiler
- Signature Quad Round Headlights, etc.