The History Of Nissan Serena

The Nissan Serena started life as a very small people carrier, but grew larger over time. 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 versions were the 2.3 diesel engines and it was unusual as the MPV 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 commercial van version) and the CD20T 1973 cc Diesel Turbo for people movers.

Models were manufactured in Japan from 1991 onwards, many have now been imported into Australasia and the United Kingdom. Nissan produced many different versions 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.

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 formadible and principal competitor in the home JDM market, the Toyota Estima/ Previa, but also the Chrysler Corporation minivans had it ever been sold in the North American market. The engines that would have been most likely sold in the MPV in the North American market would have been either the SR20DE, and the SR20DET to compete with the Estima/ Previa's supercharged 2TZ-FZE in the North American market, in addition to competitive V6 powered minivans/ MPVs by the Domestic Big Three American auto manufacturers.

These versions had a facelift with a wider variety of engines and colours.

• Non facelift: 2.0L engine
• Facelifted: 2.5L engine

This model is also sold as the Suzuki Landy in Japan