The Nissan Serena has been a mainstay of the Malaysian motoring scene since the mid-90s.

Big on value, even bigger on space – the Serena offered a value-for-money alternative to 7-seater SUVs, which are often harder to get in / out of. The Serena, like its rivals took advantage of a growing demand locally for more stylish and comfortable large family movers that were not utilitarian vans.

It was well designed and very reliable, but for the most part, the first two generations of the Serena, the C23 and C24 were known to be thirsty given their size, weight, and relatively asthmatic powertrains.

The fourth-generation C26 changed all of this, with the introduction of the Serena S-Hybrid which for the first time employed a new generation engine which Nissan tries to pass off as a mild hybrid, more on that later.

Elsewhere, a modern new design increased occupant space and creature comforts, whilst keeping overall proportions tight for ease of driving around town. This is perhaps the best appeal of the C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid.

The C26 Nissan Serena Hybrid range in Malaysia

The C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid was first introduced in Malaysia in 2013. Billed as the first hybrid MPV to go on sale here, it was initially fully-imported (CBU) from Japan. The sole Serena S-Hybrid Highway Star variant was priced at RM149,500.

Powering the Serena S-Hybrid is the hybrid MR20DD 2.0-litre engine producing 147 PS and 210 Nm mated to a Jatco XTronic CVT transmission sending power to the front wheels.

The S-Hybrid (‘S’ for Smart) in its name is courtesy of a 1.8kW ECO (Energy Control Motor) motor that doubles as an alternator and an engine starter motor, thus in addition to starting the vehicle, it can also recharge the vehicle’s electrical systems during deceleration.

Since the ECO Motor cannot directly drive the wheels, it is considered a micro-hybrid and not even a mild-hybrid, unlike the Honda IMA hybrid system of the same period. The ECO Motor can, however, provide a temporary "torque assist function", adding 50 Nm of torque for about 1 second to the crankshaft when driving the vehicle away from a standstill.

Since it is not a real hybrid, the Serena has no hybrid battery problems to worry about, because it doesn't even have one. Instead, the Serena S-Hybrid relies on two 12V batteries, the main battery that drives ECO Motor and a sub-battery that power other electrical accessories such as wipers and lights.

The Serena S-Hybrid Highway Star offered features such as keyless entry and start, auto headlamps, climate controls and overhead 2nd/3rd-row air vents. On the outside, the Highway Star variants also carried a striking front grille and 16-inch alloy wheels.

In 2014, the facelifted Serena S-Hybrid debuted. The big news of the facelift was the shift to local-assembly (at Tan Chong's plant in Serendah), taking advantage of tax incentives for CKD hybrids. The main highlight was a redesigned front end, LED headlamps and taillights, and new wheels.

The facelift also introduced a second variant, the S-Hybrid Highway Star Premium, which crucially added a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.1-inch roof-mounted LCD screen, and combination leather seats.

Also read: Deal Breakers: Nissan Serena, love its practicality, not its infotainment

Prices were more attractive too, starting at RM138,800 and RM149,500 for the Highway Star and Premium Highway Star respectively. The C26 Serena remained on sale until its successor, the C27, was introduced in 2018.

The Nissan Serena S-Hybrid’s rivals

In Japan at least, the C26 Serena goes up against the other mid-sized MPVs such as the Toyota Voxy and Honda Stepwgn.

Given those models are not officially sold in Malaysia, the closest competitor to the C26 Serena was the short-lived Mazda Biante, and to a certain extent the Toyota Innova which sits at a similar price range but remains a body-on-frame MPV intended for more hardy use.

Market prices of the C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid

Pre-facelift 2013 – 2014 units of the Serena S-Hybrid range between RM 52k and RM 70k for CBU units depending on mileage and condition.

Post-facelift 2014 – 2018 CKD units typically start off at RM 62k and go up to RM 105k for early-2018 Highway Star Premium units.

Besides good design and packaging, the Nissan Serena Hybrid offers the strongest resale value of any used Nissan model, beating even the Navara pickup truck, making it a solid used purchase.

Which variant should I buy?

The pre-facelift and facelift Serena S-Hybrid models have virtually no powertrain and interior design differences, therefore, this narrows down your search to the aesthetics and the additional features of the facelift model.

There’s no denying the post-facelift's additions make the overall outlook more modern and thus may appeal to buyers that are looking for an extra dose of style as well as the improved equipment levels of the Premium Highway Star variant.

Also read: Used Honda Civic FB for under RM 65k – Newer and better than the Civic FD, how much to maintain and repair?

Buyers that are not too concerned with design and features and only need the Serena for its passenger carrying capacity, can save a few dollars and go for the pre-facelift model which starts at a substantially lower price range.

Here’s a shortlist of the basic running costs between the two models:

At the time of writing, there are three Carsome Certified C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid units on sale.

 All Carsome Certified vehicles come with 'Carsome Promise' which includes 175-point inspection, professional car reconditioning, all-inclusive and at a fixed price.

If you're not happy, the deal includes a 5-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty.

Common problems and maintenance cost for C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid

Most commonly, the Serena S-Hybrid is misrepresented for having an expensive-to-replace main battery but this just is not the case. As we’ve mentioned, the Serena S-Hybrid relies on a main battery and sub-battery, so there is no hybrid battery-related problem.

Both the main and sub-battery are Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) batteries that are capable of recovering charge faster as well as handle the cyclic stresses of the idle Start/Stop function.

EFB batteries are more expensive than regular lead acid 12V batteries but it's still cheaper, than Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries found in higher-end cars equipped with Start/Stop functions.

The following table highlights the relative costs of replacement of both the Serena S-Hybrid batteries:

As you can see, it costs less than RM 1k to replace Serena S-Hybrid's batteries.

For greater insight, we spoke to Noel Chong from JTech Autoserve, an independent specialist workshop for Nissans who tells us the C26 Serena S-Hybrid is a very reliable and dependable workhorse if cared for diligently. Serious common problems are rare and if any, it's mostly due to poor maintenance habits.

Firstly, always use the correct, fully-synthetic (0W-20) engine oil as recommended by Nissan and ensure oil changes are on time. Usage of different oils/viscosities accelerates problems like engine wear and carbon build-up.

As the MR20DD engine features direct-injection, Noel recommends a procedure called walnut blasting to remove carbon deposits that build up in the intake valves after some time. This procedure costs under RM500 and dissolves and removes all carbon deposits, thereby restoring engine efficiency.

Symptoms of clogged intake valves include loss of power and poor fuel economy.

As for the transmission, Nissan recommends the replacement of CVT-transmission oil every 80k km, although, in older/high mileage cars, it is prudent to follow a shorter 40k km interval to avoid problems with the CVT.

We find Nissan's 80k km service interval to be unusually long for CVT transmissions, for example, Honda, the leading seller of CVT transmission equipped vehicles in Malaysia recommends CVT oil changes every 40k km.

Also, the Serena's CVT transmission also requires a very precise levelling procedure to ensure smooth operations, so it is wise to use specialists such as JTech Autoserv, and not bawah pokok mechanics to save a few dollars.

Noel also recommends frequent inspection of the ECO Motor belt and pulley assembly, as this system is integral to the engine operation, a worn belt or tensioner pulley can cause premature problems in the system.

Besides this, there are some common wear and tear problem items that prospective buyers should look out for. On high mileage cars, look out for unusual knocking noise of vibrations from the car's underbody. The problem is usually related to worn subframes, and JTech Autoserv's proposal to customers is to replace it with more durable, upgraded polyurethane ones.

The power sliding doors may also give problems on heavy-duty family use cars but this is usually caused by a jammed actuator and fixing it is cheap.

Conclusion 

Big on space, practicality and design, the C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid is a compelling choice for a family vehicle. 

Perhaps its biggest appeal is its relatively compact size which makes it usable and easy to drive (and park) on a daily basis. 

Additionally, given the C26 Serena offers holds its value very well, one can afford to resell it easily later on if they wish to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. 

For peace of mind, give your C26 Nissan Serena S-Hybrid the proper care it deserves with GoCar Garage. Operated by the Tan Chong group and based in Petaling Jaya, the multi-brand GoCar Garage offers a manufacturer-level service experience at lower prices, and is open for all makes and models. 

Also read: Buying a used Nissan Teana (L33) - a supremely comfortable sedan, from RM 55k

Also read: Used E60 BMW 5 Series for under RM 35k. Common problems and how much to repair?