The Nissan Serena is a minivan manufactured by Nissan, joining the slightly larger Nissan Vanette. The car was engineered by Nissan's Aichi Manufacturing Division and launched in 1991 as compact passenger van, and it grew larger with each generation over the years. Earlier versions were front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a live axle mounted on leaf springs.
Later versions had a multilink independent rear suspension, and were front-wheel drive or 4WD. The most popular version was the 2.3 diesel engine version and it was unusual in that it had eight seats instead of the expected seven.
It is a "junior" model to the Nissan Elgrand in Japan; its name is from the Latin word "serēnus", meaning "clear, tranquil, pleasant" and offers a minivan approach in comparison to the Nissan Lafesta which is an MPV.
Models were manufactured in Japan from 1991 onwards, and many were imported into Australasia and the United Kingdom. Nissan produced many different trim levels - FX, SX etc. Full-Auto (full-time) 4WD versions were also produced providing greater stability and better handling. The naturally aspirated 2.3 diesel was never manufactured for the Japanese market and its seating arrangement and interior fittings are not the same as the 2.0 petrol (SR20DE), 2.0 Diesel CD20 and Turbo Diesel CD20T models manufactured in Japan for the local market. It was exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Bluebird Store'.'
Throughout its production the C23 model underwent several facelifts although the interior design and body largely remained unchanged, for example, addition of airbags and bench seats for the second and third rows. Each facelift model can be identified by front grill design which was updated in 1994 and 1997.
In European markets, the C23 Serena had 1.6 or 2.0 L petrols, or 2.3 L diesel engines LD23. Trim levels were LX, SLX, SGX and SGXi. Auto Express once named the Serena as the slowest passenger car in the benchmark 0-60 mph (now 62 mph) test, with the 2.3 diesel version (added in the mid 1990s) taking 27.8 seconds to reach that speed.
Until around 2002, the standard petrol engine was an SR20DE. A variety of other engines were used over the years, including diesels specifically the CD20 (for the commercial van version), CD20T 1,973 cc Diesel Turbo and CD20ET.
The Nissan Vanette was a series of small vans manufactured in Spain by Nissan alongside the European market Serena models. The van was produced in two versions, the Vanette E, which shared the basic body shell with the Nissan Serena people carrier, differing only in not having rear windows and passenger seats, and the Vanette Cargo, which was longer and had a higher roof line from behind the front seats.
In June 1998, LDV Group entered into an agreement with Nissan, to sell a rebranded version of the Vanette Cargo. This was named the LDV Cub, alongside the Vanette, it was sold in Britain. The model was discontinued in 2001, and replaced by a re badged version of the Opel Vivaro/Renault Trafic, called the Nissan Primastar, which is produced in Luton, England and Barcelona, Spain.
The Nissan Serena Mk1 is said to have an image problem by some, in particular Fifth Gear presenter Quentin Willson, who remarked in a 1997 Top Gear episode that "...the Nissan Serena was about as seductive as a skip and as desirable as an old shoe."
By 2001, the Nissan Serena was described as the worst new car sale on Britain, by Top Gear's Buyers Guide, with "absolutely nothing to recommend it for".
Although the Nissan Serena handles better than most people expect it to (due to its mid-mounted engine), its power-to-weight ratio is particularly poor, as shown by the 0–100 km/h averages listed below. The only models with marginally acceptable acceleration are powered by the SR20DE engine.
Largo was the model name used for a Nissan passenger van based on the C23 Serena between 1992 and 1998.
Unlike the previous Largo, which was essentially a widened C22 Nissan Vanette, the W30 Largo was a totally rebodied, wider Serena with more equipment such as four-wheel-drive. It was exclusive to Nissan Satio Store locations as a large load carrying vehicle next to the Sunny. The Largo was available with either a 2.4-litre petrol, or a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, both mid engined (under the front seats).
The second generation Serena was launched in Japan in July 1999. These versions had a facelift with a wider variety of engines and colours. From September 2002 onwards (the time of the facelift) the Serena used the QR20DE and QR25DE. The pre-facelift C24 Serenas all have a 2.0 L engine, with the optional 2.5 L engine becoming available from 2002.
In Taiwan a lengthened version of the Serena C24 has been manufactured by Yulon under the Nissan label. The Taiwanese Serena is 141 mm (5.6 in) longer than the original, all behind the C-pillar. The Taiwanese version is still in production (2012) and is only available with the 160 PS (118 kW) 2.5 liter QR25DE engine joined to a four-speed automatic. The Nissan C24 was also manufactured by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Indonesian-market cars use the 2.0 L QR20DE inline-four petrol engine. The trims available in Indonesia are Comfort Touring, Highway Star, and Autech. The Comfort Touring trim-level doesn't come equipped with electric sliding door and reverse camera, while the Highway Star and the Autechdo. In the People's Republic of China, the Serena Mk. II was restyled, rebadged, and renamed to Dongfeng Succe and is produced by their subsidiary Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile. Later in 2013, Dongfeng Yumsun was sold in Indonesia by Xarrina Motor Indonesia as ZNA Succe.
Nissan Serena C25 was debuted in Japan in May 2005. This model was only sold in Japan home markets, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei.
In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Serena C25 was the best selling minivan in Japan.
This model was also sold as the Suzuki Landy in Japan, a practice that is continued with the fourth generation Serena.
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