Nissan cut a set of windows into the panels of a Vanette, transformed it into a people carrier, and named it Serena.
It wasn’t unusual for a carmaker to convert a van into a minivan. Volkswagen, Chrysler, Ford, and PSA did it, to name just a few. So why wouldn’t Nissan follow the same recipe? It did it, and it did a good job if the owner was never in a hurry. The Serena was launched in 1991, and it was a unique presence on the road due to its unusual concept. Unlike other minivans from its segment, it wasn’t a front-engine and front-wheel-drive. It was a mid-engine and rear-wheel drive.

The car’s exterior couldn’t hide the fact that it was a light commercial vehicle transformed into a minivan. Its short and steep front end was good for an LCV driver to stop as close as possible behind the car in the front. Its sliding door on the passenger side was large enough to be loaded with a forklift. It was a tall vehicle with a liftgate in the back. As an option, Nissan added a second sliding door on the driver’s side.

Inside, everything was covered in cheap-looking plastic. The front seats were separated by the engine cover under the floor behind the front axle. In the back, the carmaker added a bench and a pair of side-mounted jump-seats. As an option, later on, Nissan installed tree rows of seats when the side-mounted jump-seats were not allowed anymore.

Nissan offered the Serena a choice of gasoline, diesel, or turbo-diesel engines ranging between 75 hp and 140 hp. One of the most common versions for the European Serena was the naturally aspirated 2.3-liter unit, which was not available in Japan.