The Nissan Serena is a boxy family van with two sliding doors and seats for up to eight. It competes with the Toyota Noah and Voxy, and usually costs a little less for the same age and mileage. That makes it good value for large families, school runs and small taxi businesses.
Two Generations You'll See
| Generation | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C26 | 2010–2016 | 2.0 petrol, many with S-Hybrid. Simple and cheap to run. |
| C27 | late 2016–2022 | Roomier, better safety kit, ProPILOT driver assistance on some grades, e-Power from 2018. |
A 2016 Serena can be either generation because the C27 arrived in the second half of the year. The chassis code on the auction sheet tells you which one it is.
What "S-Hybrid" Means
S-Hybrid is a mild hybrid. A stronger starter-generator and a small extra battery let the engine switch off at stops and restart smoothly. It saves some fuel in town but is not a full hybrid like a Toyota Noah Hybrid, and it cannot drive on electric power alone. The upside is that there is no large, expensive hybrid battery to worry about.
What to Check
- Sliding doors: open and close both from the button and by hand. Powered door motors and cables are the most common repair on any Japanese van.
- CVT gearbox: ask whether the inspector noted any slipping or whining.
- Third row and seat rails: slide and fold every seat. The middle row slides a long way on rails that can get dirty or stiff.
- Idle stop battery: S-Hybrid cars use special batteries. Budget for replacing them if they are old.
- Always ask for the auction sheet and read it before paying: see how to read a Japanese auction sheet and how to check genuine mileage.
Serena in Stock Now
These are 2015–2016, so they suit markets without an age limit, such as Uganda, Tanzania, the Bahamas and Barbados. Check your country's age limit first: Kenya and Guyana take cars up to 8 years old (2018 or newer in 2026), Jamaica 5 years and Trinidad & Tobago 4 years. See import age limits by country.
- 2015 Serena, 97,000 km: about $4,000 delivered to Mombasa for Uganda, $6,000 to Nassau, $7,000 to Bridgetown.
- 2016 Serena, 103,000 km: about $6,000 to Mombasa (Uganda), $7,500 to Nassau.
Comparing vans? Read 7 and 8-seater family vans from Japan and our Toyota Noah guide.
Delivered = car price + ocean freight to the port, rounded up to the next $500. Insurance, import duty/taxes, port and clearing charges are extra. Prices are from September 2026 and change as cars sell, so click a car to see its live price. See how to calculate the true landed cost.