Sylvan Mirage Cruise 8522 LZ LES Review

The Sylvan Mirage Cruise 8522 LZ LES is a versatile and capable family pontoon that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Pontoons have been among the hottest-selling boats in North America for the past two decades and there’s no sign of that changing any time soon. That’s why so many boat builders have jumped on the pontoon bandwagon in recent years, introducing all-new pontoon lines of their own as they try to cash in on a hot market. But other builders have been building pontoons for years – in the case of Sylvan Marine, since the company first opened its doors back in 1947 on the shores of its namesake Sylvan Lake, in northern Indiana. More than seven decades later, Sylvan remains a pioneer in pontoon design, building a wide range of boats that neatly marry high-tech engineering with opulent creature comforts – including the Sylvan Mirage Cruise family.

The 2018 Sylvan Mirage Cruise 8522 LX LES is a great example. Stretching just under 24 feet in length, the Mirage Cruise is a truly multipurpose pontoon that’s designed to offer something for every member of the family.

Four-corner lounge seating makes the most of this pontoon’s open layout, providing two distinct living spaces on board.

With its facing wrap-around lounges and space for a removable pedestal-mount table, the roomy bow easily accommodates four people in comfort, and six without really squeezing. The seats feature full-height back rests, making them equally comfortable for occupants facing forward, facing aft or seated facing one another. Plush 22-ounce marine carpet feels great under either wet or dry feet, while a variety of other flooring options are available.

High-back Captain’s chairs amidships treat the pilot and navigator to a luxurious ride.

Amidships, a pair of high-back Captain’s chairs with fold-down armrests accommodate the driver and navigator. A small console extending from the port gunnel provides a convenient cup holder for the passenger, located just aft of the port-side mid-ships entry gate. Just ahead of the gate, the rear panel of the port-side bow seat opens to reveal a useful pop-up change room.

The helm console is intuitively laid out, with plenty of space for adding a flush-screen display.

It’s the driver who gets truly spoiled on the Sylvan Mirage Cruise, with an attractive fiberglass console and a swiveling Captain’s chair that’s mounted on an automotive-style sliding base. The primary gauges are displayed in a compact cluster up top where they’re easily visible no matter how the steering wheel is adjusted. The throttle control is perfectly positioned, being within easy reach and at a good height. There’s also a standard AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing easy streaming of music from phones and other portable devices.

Stern seating mirrors that of the bow, with an overhead Bimini top.

The aft section of the Sylvan Mirage Cruise 8522 mirrors the bow with twin lounge seats and facility to accommodate a removable pedestal mount table between them. Passengers in the twin Captain’s chairs can join the conversation up front, or swivel around to be part of the group in the stern. Overhead, a standard Bimini top keeps the aft portion of the boat under some welcome shade. A double top, covering the entire boat, is available as an upgrade.

The rear swim platform includes space for a ski pylon.

The rear entry gate leads to the boat’s deep, full-width swim platform, which comes complete with a retractable boarding ladder to the starboard side. Since it will see its share of water, this portion of the deck is normally finished in a durable Sea Weave flooring, which dries quickly while providing excellent anti-slip qualities. It also wears like iron while feeling soft and comfortable under foot.

With maximum power the Sylvan Mirage 8522 LZ LES will reach speeds approaching 40 mph.

With its twin 25-inch tubes, the Sylvan Mirage Cruise 8522 LZ LES is rated to handle outboards of up to 150 horsepower. Our test boat, rigged with a Yamaha F150, drove very well, offering the kind of stable, predictable handling that quickly inspires confidence. The boat cruises nicely at 3,500 rpm and around 20 mph, and reaches a top speed of just under 40 mph at wide open throttle. While other boats may be larger or faster, the Mirage Cruise is just a joy to drive, and a treat to spend time aboard.