Nissan Seren

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 springs. 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 8 seats instead of the usual 7.

These versions had 1.6 and 2.0 petrol or 2.3 diesel engines. Trim levels were LX, SLX, SGX and SGXi.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.Had the Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager never been developed for the North American market, this would most likely have been the MPV sold in the North American market, where it would have not only competed with its most formidable and principle competitor in the home JDM market, the Toyota Estima/Previa, but also the Chrysler Corporation minivans had it ever been sold there. The engines that would have been most likely sold in the MPV in that market would have been either the SR20DE, and the SR20DET to compete with the Estima/Previa's supercharged 2TZ-FZE, in addition to competitive V6 powered minivans/MPVs by the Domestic Big Three American auto manufacturers.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.