Nissan Serena
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.
It is a "junior" model to the Nissan Elgrand in Japan.
MkI C23 series (1991–2002)
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 Bluebird Store.