Nissan Serena: Features explained

The latest iteration of the new Nissan Serena arrived in Malaysia in May 2018 and is sold as a mild hybrid vehicle. The seven-seater MPV, which is now in its fifth generation, is available in two trim levels. First, there’s the entry-level Highway Star variant priced at RM 131,888. , and is priced at RM 143,888. In our market, the Nissan Serena finds its rivals in the likes of Kia Grand Carnival and Toyota Innova.

When compared to its predecessor, the new Serena no longer offers seating for up to eight people. However, with its competitive price tag and spacious cabin, this is one of the better value MPVs currently in the market. With all that said, let’s take a look at some of the essential features that are available on the new Nissan Serena.

Exterior features

The new-gen Nissan Serena looks far sharper and presentable than its forerunner. Some of the most noteworthy exterior design features at the front include the incorporation of Nissan’s signature new V-motion front grille with loads of chrome garnish, and split-design headlamp cluster with projector LED units and DRLs. The front bumper also appears more sculpted and integrates horizontally-placed fog lights. Along the sides, the Serena features 16-inch, diamond-cut multi-spoke alloy wheels, mildly flared fenders, distinctive front quarter glass, large windows all around, chrome door handles, contoured body panels with extended side sills, rising shoulder line, contrasting roof color with a “floating effect”, and a blacked-out D-pillar.

The back of the Nissan Serena houses the MPV’s vertically-arranged tail lamps cluster with an interesting and crisp looking LED strip. The protruding rear roof spoiler matches well with the Serena’s glossy black treated rear window surrounds and tailgate trim, while chrome slabs situated between the lights and another above the plate holder adds further contrast and visual appeal. Finally, the thin rear bumper incorporates the rear fog light and a couple of fake vents. The new Serena also gets hands-free, power-sliding rear doors, and a split-operated tailgate. Color choices on the top-trim include Cashmere Gold with an Imperial Umber roof, Tungsten Silver with a Diamond Black roof, and Brilliant White with a Diamond Black roof.

Interior features

The new Serena comes equipped with modern kit featuring - intelligent keyless-entry with push-start ignition, two-tone leather upholstery, automatic climate control with rear vents, Nissan’s ‘zero gravity’ seats, flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel, 7-inch multi-information colour display for the driver, premium Clarion 6.75-inch head unit with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a 10.1-inch roof-mounted rear entertainment screen, 6-speaker audio system, seven USB ports, LED cabin lighting, rear sunshades, and second-row picnic tables with built-in tablet holders.

The cabin of the new Serena comes with captain-style second-row seats with individual armrests, which are not only comfortable but they also improve the legroom for third-row passengers by a fair bit. Even so, the last row is best left for kids or smaller adults, despite offering generous enough knee room. There’s a tremendous amount of headroom, courtesy of the high roof, and along with the large windows, this interior feels impressively spacious and airy. The build quality and general fit & finish are good, too, though you’re bound to find some scratchy bits of trim. In terms of storage cubbies, the interior has so many of them that are spread all over the place, and you might accidentally end up forgetting some of your belongings without even realising it.

Engine and performance

Nissan’s MR20DD four-cylinder petrol engine powers the new-gen Serena. It displaces two litres and comes armed with continuously variable valve timing plus dual-overhead camshafts. The end result is 148 horsepower and 200Nm of peak torque. The Serena is a front-wheel drive (FWD) platform and comes with an Xtronic CVT gearbox, the latter adopting an adaptive shift control logic. Providing additional assistance to the internal-combustion unit is a small electric motor that generates just over 2 horsepower and about 48Nm of torque. While it may not sound like much, Nissan engineers have programmed this tiny motor to provide some added thrust during initial acceleration phases with its torque assist feature. Obviously, the Serena is not a performance machine, as it takes a leisurely 13.5 seconds to touch 100 kmph. However, it redeems itself by being able to achieve up to 14 kmpl on a combined cycle.

Safety features

Nissan has kitted the new Serena with most of the vital safety features that one can expect to find in a modern people-haulier. There are front, side, and curtain airbags, vehicle dynamic control, traction control system, hill start assist, ABS with EBD and brake assist, front-facing digital video recorder, around-view monitor, moving object detection, intelligent driver alert assist, and second-row ISOFIX anchor points.