Nissan Serena

Nissan Serena
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan Motor Company
Production	1991 - present
Body and chassis
Class	Van
Related	Nissan NV200 Nissan Largo
Chronology
Predecessor	Nissan Vanette

The Nissan Serena is a five-door minivan manufactured by Nissan Motor Company. The car was launched in 1991 and started out as a rather compact little van, but 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.

MkI C23 series (1991–2002)

Nissan Serena
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan Motors
Also called	Nissan Vanette Serena
Production	1991 - 2002
Assembly	Barcelona, Spain
Body and chassis
Class	Van
Layout	mid engine, rear-wheel drive
Related	LDV Cub

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.

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.

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 2.3 non turbo 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 Satio Store.

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.

Throughout its production the C23 model underwent several facelifts although the interior design and body largely remained unchanged, for example, addition of air bags 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.

Europe

Nissan Vanette Cargo

The Nissan Vanette was a series of small vans manufactured in Spain by Nissan Motors. 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. The British van manufacturer LDV Limited entered into an agreement with Nissan to sell a re-branded version of the Vanette Cargo, this was sold in Britain as the LDV Cub.

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.

Reputation

The Nissan Serena Mk1 is said to have an image problem by some, in particular Fifth Gear presenter Quentin Willson, who remarked in 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 UK 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.

Nissan Serena 1.6i 16V (1,597 cc), 0–100 km/h: 18 s
Nissan Serena 2.3 D J-V Pack, 0–100 km/h: 27.8 s
Nissan Serena 2.0i 16V (1,998 cc) SR20DE, 0–100 km/h: 12.5 s

Diesel and Turbo Diesel models have superior fuel economy to petrol counterpart. For a 2WD Automatic Diesel coach 10.5km/L (29 mpg) is regularly observed in the city and 13-14km/L (38-40 mpg)on highway with some hills which is significantly better than petrol motors which average 7.6km/L city.

MkII C24 (1999–2012)

2nd generation Nissan Serena
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan Motor Company
Also called	Dongfeng Yumsun ZNA Succe
Production	1999–2005 (Japan) 2001-2013 (Malaysia and Philippines) 2001-2012 (Taiwan) 2003-2012 (Indonesia)
Assembly	Cikampek, Purwakarta, Indonesia Miaoli, Taiwan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	1.5 L 4A15 I4 2.0 L SR20DE I4 2.0 L QR20DE I4 2.5 L YD25DDTi I4 2.5 L QR25DE I4
Transmission	Xtronic CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,695 mm
Length	4,590 mm
Width	1,695 mm
Height	1,825 mm
Curb weight	1,580 kg

These versions had a facelift with a wider variety of engines and colours. From 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. In the People's Republic of China, the Serena Mk. II got the name Dongfeng Yumsun and is produced by their subsidiary Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile. 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 Autech do.

Taiwanese-market Serena with differing rear treatment

MkIII C25 (2005–2012)

3rd generation
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Landy
Production	2005–2012
Layout	FF / 4WD
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L MR20DE DI I4
Capacity	8 persons
Transmission	Xtronic CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,860 mm (112.6 in)
Length	4,650-4,725 mm (183.1-186.0 in)
Width	1,695-1,725 mm (66.7-67.9 in)
Height	1,840/1,850 mm (72.4-72.8 in)

Nissan Serena C25 was debuted in Japan in the year 2005. This model was only sold in Japan home markets, Hong Kong, 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.

MkIV C26 (2010–present)

4th generation
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Landy
Production	2010–present 2013-present (Indonesia, China and Malaysia)
Layout	FF / 4WD
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L MR20DD DI I4
Capacity	8 persons
Transmission	Xtronic CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,860 mm
Length	4,685-4,770 mm
Width	1,695-1,735 mm
Height	1,865-1,875 mm

The 2011 Nissan Serena was released in late November 2010 to the Japanese market, equipped with a new 2.0 litre MR20DD direct injection inline-four gasoline engine. This model is currently sold in Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia. In addition, Nissan Serena C26 will start production in China and Indonesia in the year 2013. For export markets, this model has not been planned for production yet.

In August 2012, Nissan added their newly developed simple hybrid system called Smart Simple Hybrid or S-HYBRID. The Nissan Serena C26 S-HYBRID has its regeneration capacity and output power of the Eco Motor, which is an alternator that is used for Nissan's Serena having an idling stop mechanism and capable of restarting an engine, upgraded. They've even added a lead sub-battery in the engine room for extended energy regeneration capacity. With all that technology, it has a fuel economy of 15.2 km/L (approx 35.8mpg) under the JC08 test mode. In Malaysia, Tan Chong launched Nissan Serena S-Hybrid in July 2013.

The Serena S-Hybrid system