It has been a long, long wait, but the sixth-generation Nissan Serena will soon be launched in Malaysia. First revealed to the world in November 2022, the C28 MPV was previously sighted on our local roads undergoing testing in March 2023 and more recently in November this year. Today, we’re getting an official preview of the new-to-us Serena, which replaces the C27 model that has been sold here since 2018 – a facelift was introduced around mid-2022.
Before we proceed, there are a few house rules that we need to mention. Firstly, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), the exclusive distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, is opting to disseminate information about the C28 Serena in stages, with the first focusing on just the car’s exterior design and powertrain. Further information pertaining to the interior and equipment list are currently embargoed and will be revealed in the near future.
Next, the cars you see in these photos are production trial units that came off the line at Tan Chong Motor Holdings’ (TCMH) Serendah plant in Selangor. The facility, which assembles the current C27 Serena for the local market and for export to Thailand (it is also involved in production of the Perodua QV-E), will switch to the C28 Serena.
This is noteworthy because the new Serena will be offered with Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system (more on this later). The Kicks launched earlier also has an e-Power setup but it comes fully imported (CBU) from Thailand, whereas the C28 Serena will be the first e-Power model to be assembled in Malaysia.
As for when it will go on sale, ETCM says it is looking to launch the C28 Serena e-Power between February and March next year. We’ll only get estimated pricing closer to the launch date but for context, the facelifted C27 Serena is currently available in Highway Star and Premium Highway Star Package trims priced at RM149,888 and RM163,888 respectively.
With all that out of the way, let’s get down to the biggest change with the new Serena: its powertrain. The e-Power system features a HR14DDe 1.4 litre naturally-aspirated inline-three petrol engine making 98 PS and 123 Nm torque, which acts exclusively as a generator for a 1.77-kWh lithium-ion battery located under the floor between the front seats.
The battery powers an electric motor rated at 163 PS (161 hp or 120 kW) and 315 Nm of torque that drives the front wheels exclusively. There is no mechanical link between the engine and wheels, so there’s no need for a transmission.
By comparison, the outgoing C27 Serena’s MR20DD 2.0 litre NA inline-four petrol engine serves up 150 PS (148 hp or 110 kW) and 200 Nm of torque to the front wheels via an X-Tronic CVT. Augmenting the engine is the S-Hybrid system, which is a mild hybrid setup featuring an electric motor rated at just 2.6 PS (2.6 hp or 1.9 kW) and 48 Nm that acts as the starter and alternator, while also handling the idle stop system, recuperation and providing a little drive assistance.
C28 Nissan Serena e-Power (left), C27 Serena S-Hybrid (right)
With the e-Power system, you get the benefit of an electric vehicle (EV) driving experience (instant torque delivery for better acceleration) without worrying about charging or range because the petrol engine is always there to charge the battery so long as there’s petrol in the 52-litre fuel tank. Those who are allergic to the “rubber band feel” of a CVT will also be pleased.
In case you’re wondering, the e-Power system was available with the previous C27 Serena, although we never got that configuration in Malaysia. For the C28, the system was improved with better outputs for both the engine and electric motor. In the Kicks, the system consists of a 2.06-kWh battery, an electric motor rated at 129 PS (127 hp or 95 kW) and 280 Nm as well as a HR12DE 1.2 litre inline-three petrol engine with 82 PS (81 hp or 60 kW) and 103 Nm.
Design-wise, the C28 Serena appears as an evolution from its predecessor, with notable design cues being a more modern take on the brand’s signature V-motion grille, which sports an array of vertical slats in black or chrome that neatly integrates the “three-eye” LED projector headlamps. Other elements of the overhauled face include small LED fog lamps flanking the lower intake, while the side air inlets, which were previously decorative, now actually have a purpose as air curtains.
At the rear are boomerang-shaped taillights that are slimmer than on the outgoing model, while the tailgate has been simplified so that the Nissan logo and ‘Serena’ script are closer together. The number plate recess is also smaller, and there’s a rear LED fog lamp is located on the right beneath the taillight cluster, with the opposite being a standard reflector.
C28 Nissan Serena e-Power (left), C27 Serena S-Hybrid (right)
Viewed from the side, you’ll find the Serena’s profile looks largely familiar, with the kinked beltline making a return. What doesn’t make a return is the prominent character line that starts from the headlamps and dips down to meet with the rails for the sliding doors – this has been changed to a straight line originating from the ends of the front bumper. The wheels fitted are 16 inches in size with 205/65 profile tyres.
No official dimensions were disclosed, but the C28 Serena already on sale in Indonesia is listed as being 4,765 mm long, 1,715 mm wide, 1,885 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,870 mm. For context, the outgoing model is 4,790 mm long (likely due to its protruding face), 1,740 mm wide, 1,865 mm tall and its wheelbase spans 2,860 mm. So, not much of a difference in terms of wheelbase.
As stated earlier, we can’t talk about the interior for now, but you probably already know how it looks like if you read our initial report on the C28 Serena when it made its global debut or our coverage of the MPV at various motor shows.
Given what you know from this post and from your own research, what do you think of the new Serena? Are you looking forward to its launch?
