Nissan Serena
Encyclopedia
The Nissan Serena started life as a very small people carrier, but grew larger with each generation over the years. Earlier versions were FR layout with a live axle
mounted on leaf spring
s. Later versions had a multilink independent rear suspension, and were FF layout
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.
Until around 2002, the standard petrol engine was an SR20DE
. In the early nineties, Nissan produced a version with the turbocharged SR20DET
to carry people very rapidly. From 2002 onwards the Serena used the QR20DE
and QR25DE
. A variety of other engines were used over the years, including diesels
specifically the CD20 (for the commercial van version), CD20T 1973 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.
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.
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
.
problem by many, 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."
Although the Nissan Serena handles better than most people perceive it to (due to its mid 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 1597cc 0–100 km/h 18 s
Nissan Serena 2.3 D J-V Pack 0–100 km/h 27.8 s
Nissan Serena C23 1998cc SR20DE 0–100 km/h 12.5 s
under the Nissan label. 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. since September 2007.
in Japan.
This model is also sold as the Suzuki Landy
in Japan.
Live axle
A live axle, sometimes called a solid axle, is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit....
mounted on leaf spring
Leaf spring
Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles...
s. Later versions had a multilink independent rear suspension, and were FF layout
FF layout
In automotive design, an FF, or Front-engine, Front-wheel drive layout places both the internal combustion engine and driven roadwheels at the front of the vehicle.-Usage implications:...
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 (1991-2001)
In European markets, the C23 Serena had 1.6 or 2.0 L petrols, or 2.3 L diesel engines. Trim levels were LX, SLX, SGX and SGXi.Until around 2002, the standard petrol engine was an SR20DE
Nissan SR engine
The Nissan SR engine is a 1.6 L, 1.8 L, or 2.0 L straight-4 4-stroke internal combustion gasoline engine manufactured by Nissan Motors. It features an aluminum head and aluminum block with steel sleeves in selected models and features a DOHC 4-valve design, with variable valve timing...
. In the early nineties, Nissan produced a version with the turbocharged SR20DET
Nissan SR engine
The Nissan SR engine is a 1.6 L, 1.8 L, or 2.0 L straight-4 4-stroke internal combustion gasoline engine manufactured by Nissan Motors. It features an aluminum head and aluminum block with steel sleeves in selected models and features a DOHC 4-valve design, with variable valve timing...
to carry people very rapidly. From 2002 onwards the Serena used the QR20DE
Nissan QR engine
The QR family of straight-4 piston engines by Nissan were introduced in 2000 and range from 2.0 L to 2.5 L in displacement. These motors are aluminum, dual overhead camshaft , four-valve designs with variable valve timing and optional direct injection.-QR20DE:The 2.0 L QR20DE...
and QR25DE
Nissan QR engine
The QR family of straight-4 piston engines by Nissan were introduced in 2000 and range from 2.0 L to 2.5 L in displacement. These motors are aluminum, dual overhead camshaft , four-valve designs with variable valve timing and optional direct injection.-QR20DE:The 2.0 L QR20DE...
. A variety of other engines were used over the years, including diesels
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
specifically the CD20 (for the commercial van version), CD20T 1973 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.
Auto Express
Auto Express
Auto Express is a weekly motoring magazine sold in the United Kingdom published by Dennis Publishing. The Editor-in-Chief is Steve Fowler.Launched in September 1988, its 1000th issue was published on 20 February 2008. It's only weekly competitor in Britain is the long established Autocar...
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
The Nissan Vanette was a series of small vans manufactured in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by Nissan Motors
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
. 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
LDV Limited
LDV Group Limited was a British van manufacturer, based in the Ward End area of Birmingham.In its history part of Rover Group and Leyland DAF, was latterly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian GAZ group...
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
LDV Cub
The LDV Cub is a small van that was marketed by the British manufacturer LDV Limited from 1996 until 2001.The van was developed alongside the Nissan Vanette and the two vans are identical apart from different badging and branding. It was built at Nissan's plant in Spain....
.
The model was discontinued in 2001 and replaced by a re-badged version of the Opel Vivaro
Opel Vivaro
The Opel Vivaro is a medium-sized light commercial vehicle produced by the German automaker Opel, and sold under the Opel brand in most of Europe, but under the Vauxhall brand in the United Kingdom. It was originally launched in 2001, and is available in panel van, minibus, combined bus/van and...
/Renault Trafic
Renault Trafic
The current Trafic resulted from a joint venture between German Opel, Japanese Nissan and French Renault. It is also sold as an Opel Vivaro, Vauxhall Vivaro and by Nissan as the Primastar....
called the Nissan Primastar
Nissan Primastar
The Nissan PrimaStar is a medium commercial vehicle originally launched in 2001, and is available in panel van, combi, bus and chassis cab configurations. Two wheelbases and two roof heights are available, as well as three diesel engines and a petrol. The vehicle resulted from a joint venture...
, which is produced in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Reputation
The Nissan Serena Mk1 is said to have an imageReputation
Reputation of a social entity is an opinion about that entity, typically a result of social evaluation on a set of criteria...
problem by many, in particular Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
presenter Quentin Willson
Quentin Willson
Quentin Willson is a British TV presenter and motoring expert, perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes Britain's Worst Driver, Fifth Gear, and the original incarnation of Top Gear. He lives in Warwickshire with his wife and three children.-Early years:Willson studied...
, 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."
Although the Nissan Serena handles better than most people perceive it to (due to its mid 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 1597cc 0–100 km/h 18 s
Nissan Serena 2.3 D J-V Pack 0–100 km/h 27.8 s
Nissan Serena C23 1998cc SR20DE 0–100 km/h 12.5 s
MkII C24 (1999-2005)
These versions had a facelift with a wider variety of engines and colours. In Taiwan the Serena C24 has been manufactured by YulonYulon
Yulon Motor is a Taiwanese automaker and importer. Taiwan's biggest automaker as of 2010, Yulon is known for building Nissan models under license...
under the Nissan label. The Nissan C24 was also manufactured by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia. In the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, the Serena Mk. II got the name Dongfeng Yumsun and is produced by their subsidiary Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile. since September 2007.
- Non facelift: 2.0L engine
- Facelifted: 2.5L engine
MkIII C25 (2005-2010)
In 2007, 2008 and 2009, Serena C25 is the best selling minivanMinivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
in Japan.
This model is also sold as the Suzuki Landy
Suzuki Landy
The Suzuki Landy is essentially a rebadged Nissan Serena. It is a minivan that is slightly bigger than a Nissan Quest and a competitor to the Volkswagen Eurovan. The Suzuki Landy was not a great success in Japan, as buyers stuck with the usual popular minivans, such as the Toyota Noah, Voxy and...
in Japan.