Review: 2022 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid – When SUVs just aren’t spacious enough…

First shown back in 2019 in its Japanese home market, the face-lifted C27 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid’s arrival on our soil was somewhat overdue when Nissan vanguards Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) launched it back in July this year.

Nevertheless, its arrival only proved one thing: the appeal for a somewhat ‘traditional’ people-moving MPV is still present, even in this crossover SUV-led age that we’re in. Crucially, apart from the mild styling updates, there were a host of other enhancements added to make an otherwise spacious, comfortable, and practical MPV a lot easier and safer to drive.

We’ve spent time behind the wheel of one recently, which happened to be the range-topping Premium Highway Star variant pictured.  Simply put, if you seek space for seven that isn’t an SUV but comes well-equipped as any today, then the Serena S-Hybrid could be the MPV you seek.

OVERVIEW

At first glance, the mild nip-tuck Nissan gave this C27-generation Serena doesn’t look too shabby to say the least. Things like the restyled front grille, bumpers, LED headlights, as well as the updated taillight graphics, all bode well towards elevating the stance of what is effectively a large and relatively square-shaped people-mover.

Opt for the range-topping Premium Highway Star trimline as tested and you’ll also get larger 16-inch (15-inch in the ‘standard’ Serena) alloy wheels dressed in a two-tone finish, which ought to match with the exclusive two-tone exterior colourway choices offered in this trimline. Our tester didn’t come dressed in any of which, but we reckon this stealthy, single-tone ‘Diamond Black’ hue pictured will garner plenty of admirers.

Aptly, there’s no hiding this MPV’s size. At nearly 5 metres long and just under 2-metres tall, this is indeed a big vehicle, as how most MPVs traditionally are. Nevertheless, despite the squared design’s less than appealing lines, they do translate into a very spacious and comfortable cabin, which is what counts for the most in any MPV.

ON THE INSIDE

On board, the overall cabin layout remains unchanged from the pre-facelift version, but there are notable aesthetic changes and tweaks, especially in this range-topping Premium Highway Star trimline. The most obvious of which is the brown-hued and quilted Nappa leather seat upholstery which not only adds some much needed colour to an otherwise monochrome cabin, but also a dash of class too.

What makes the Serena a true family-friendly proposition are its powered dual-sliding doors that offer one-touch operation for greater ease, as well as the 2-2-3 layout of the seats themselves. You don’t need to slide or recline any seats here to access the third row bench which, much to our surprise, felt a lot more comfortable than it looks.

Abundant space and comfortable seat design aside, the presence of rear air-cond vents, seven USB charging ports, and this range-topper’s new and larger 11.6-inch roof-mounted multimedia screen, all make life for passengers less mundane. From short daily school and market runs to the occasional vacation road trip lasting hours, passengers really have little to loathe with what this MPV’s cabin has to offer.

The same applies up front for drivers too, especially after considering the updates Nissan primed here like the revised and larger 9-inch infotainment touchscreen that’s now loaded with both Apple and Android smartphone connectivity. The other nifty feature said screen boasts is a 360-degree parking camera display that better aids with maneuvering in and out of tight parking spots.

Overall, what will really sway prospects into the Serena S-Hybrid’s favour, especially in Premium Highway Star trim as featured, is its offer of unrivalled space and the bonus of comfort and practicality stemming from which – you simply can’t get this from any crossover SUV today.

DRIVING

Life behind the wheel of the Serena S-Hybrid isn’t too dreary, instead feeling very smooth and refined for the most parts.  Much of this stems from the combination of the mild-hybrid powertrain and a comfort-focused chassis tuning this MPV is endowed with.

The mild hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-litre 4-cyl mill with direct-injection mounted up front plus a small electric motor, is carried-over from the previous generation model. The former offers 150 HP and 200 NM of twist to the front wheels via CVT automatic box, and it’s assisted by a small electric motor that adds a further 3 HP and 48 NM, but only under certain circumstances – i.e. hard acceleration.

Sure, those aren’t gravity-defying numbers per say, but they are indeed enough to get this MPV moving. What’s decent here too is the ride quality. Soft, supple damping and spring tuning at all four corners ensures this MPV rides as such. Above all, when driven right, the Serena S-Hybrid’s claims of sipping just 7 Litres/100 KM on average makes for one for one frugal people-mover to say the least.

Also, despite its size, the presence of a very light electric power steering module means even ladies won’t break a sweat when it comes to handling this MPV for the daily. In short, this is a family mover that’s not just made for Dads, but Moms too.

SAFETY

Evidently, this is one area where the changes take greater effect. That’s because Nissan have primed all this MPV with a number of advanced driver assistance (ADAS) such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane-Departure Warning (LDW), as well as a Blind-spot Info System (BLIS).

Even the 360-degree camera mentioned earlier has been bolstered with Moving-Object Detection feature which, in turn, helps to heighten driver awareness, just like the other features mentioned above.

In all, we reckon these are much-needed bits for an MPV of this size and bulk, and the fact they come standard across the board only bolsters the Serena’s cause overall. Our only gripe perhaps lies in the absence of active Lane-Keeping Assist (LKAS) and adaptive cruise control, which we reckon would’ve sweetened the Serena’s package and kept it on par with similarly-priced crossover SUVs.

Besides that, what’s also exclusive to this range-topping Premium Highway Star trimline are a pair of digital video recorders (DVR) or ‘dashcams’ – one at the front, working in tandem with another at the rear.

These aside, the basics are covered well too. You get the usual affair of seatbelts in all 7 seats, ISOFIX childseat anchors in the second row, 6 airbags, as well as the all-important pairing of anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Stability Control. All this, coupled with the ADAS features mentioned, sees the Serena stand as one of the safest MPVs at the price it commands.

RUNNING COSTS & RELIABILITY

Being a ‘mild hybrid’ – or ‘Smart-Hybrid’, as Nissan terms it – does offer several perks. Firstly, the absence of a massive battery pack that may require replacing after an 8-year lifespan is one massive cost-saving offered for those planning on long-term ownership.

Secondly, the aforementioned 2.0-litre mill mounted up front isn’t just frugal when driven right, it’s also one of Nissan’s more robust and highly reliable units thanks to its relative simplicity – no turbo, or any of the usual trick electrified ancillaries found in ‘proper’ hybrids here.

On the fuel economy front, a full fill-up of the Serena’s sizeable 60-litre tank shouldn’t cost more than RM125 on RON95. Based on the 7.0-litre/100KM claimed average, it should return at least 550 KM of real-travel, depending on how you drive and how many passengers and or cargo you lug too.

We’ll also add that, from what we’ve observed amongst current owners of the pre-facelift Serena S- Hybrid, this is one MPV that’s not at all difficult to maintain, even when they’ve gone past their warranty periods. Speaking of which, there’s a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty coverage included in the Serena’s asking price too.

SHOULD YOU BUY ONE?

In all, it’s clear that the ‘traditional’ MPV recipe that the refreshed Serena S-Hybrid encompasses still holds strong relevance and appeal, and that’s despite the burgeoning rise of comparable crossover SUVs.

If anything, the refreshments endowed in this latest iteration of said MPV only strengthens said appeal, especially considering the next best thing costs at least RM60,000 more than this range-topper featured.

At RM162,888 sans insurance and additional accessories, you’re indeed getting nearly unrivalled space that’s both comfy and practical at said price. Are you ready for the ‘Family Life’, then?

SPECIFICATIONS

Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Premium Highway Star