Nissan introduces all-new Serena, scheduled to go on sale in late August

Nissan Motor Co Ltd said its all-new 5th-generation Serena will go on sale in Japan at the end of August.

The Serena was first introduced to the market in 1991, and it quickly established itself as one of the most popular family vehicles in Japan, becoming one of Nissan’s core domestic models. While still embracing the values that has defined past Serenas, Nissan said the all-new version takes an evolutionary step forward with a refreshed, exciting look both inside and out, as well as a variety of new functions that caters to a new generation of minivan users.

With hints of previous models in the new exterior design, the new Serena features a roomy, dynamic and refined design that sets the tone for next-generation minivans. The front fascia is bolder, highlighted by Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille and two-tier headlamps that also appeared in the previous model.

The Serena’s trademark waistline is even smoother, conveying sportiness while also providing better driver visibility. The two-tone body color couples with the D-pillarless design to externally highlight the Serena’s spacious interior.

The dashboard design, adopting a “lateral flow” theme to give a more expansive feel, features a thinner instrumental panel mounted frontward that delivers a sense of panoramic openness. High contrast color coordination also helps to create a spacious and modern interior.

Certain design cues of the new minivan were intended to emphasize the vast spaciousness of the vehicle, such as the blackened front-pillar that makes the door glass seem larger and the curved roof line that provides more headroom for the Serena’s occupants. The A-pillar itself is thinner than before: With absolutely no compromise in structural rigidity, the thinner A-pillar drastically decreases blind spots. Also, a slimmer instrument cluster improves outward vision from the driver’s seat. The hollow-shaped headrests and the built-in second row seatbelts greatly emphasize the open space available from the third row and beyond.

The Serena is equipped with the latest in safety technology. These include Nissan’s emergency braking system, Lane Departure Warning, Around View Monitor and Smart Rearview Mirror. It will also feature Intelligent Park Assist, the easy-to-use automatic parking system that was first equipped on the X-TRAIL, with improved accuracy. And, making its debut is Nissan’s autonomous drive technology, ProPILOT, which can automatically control the accelerator, brakes and steering when driving on the highway, in both heavy and flowing traffic.

The Serena comes with a variety of new functions and features to compliment different lifestyles. For example, the dual rear doors can be opened in two different ways to match the location and/or activity of the user. Also, these rear doors can be operated in hands-free fashion by having the Intelligent Key and sliding your foot under the door (available only on the Highway STAR), so you don’t have to let go whatever you’re carrying, whether that be shopping bags or a surf board.

The zero gravity seats on the first and second row, which were well-received on the Teana sedan, have been adopted for the new Serena. The third row seats, also designed for maximized comfort like the front seats, help reduce fatigue during long drives.

The base price for the vehicle has been set at below ￥3 million.

© Japan Today