Nissan Serena

The Nissan Serena is a Japanese-market MPV that has found a solid following in Pakistan through the grey import route. It seats seven to eight passengers and is built around practical family use rather than performance. The standard petrol variants run a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with a CVT, which feels smooth in city stop-and-go but can feel strained on motorway overtakes. The e-Power variant uses a petrol engine as a generator to drive electric motors, giving it noticeably better fuel returns and a quieter, more relaxed driving feel in urban traffic. Expect city mileage in the 10 to 13 km/l range for petrol variants and meaningfully better for e-Power.

Being a grey import, the Serena sits in a different category from locally assembled vehicles. Parts availability is reasonable in Karachi and Lahore where Japanese imports are common, but smaller cities may require ordering. Mechanics familiar with Nissan CVTs are available in major urban centres, though CVT servicing should not be neglected as fluid changes are critical. The Highway Star and V Selection trims add body kits and interior upgrades. Resale is decent in big cities but slower in smaller markets compared to Toyota or Honda MPVs.

The Serena suits a large family wanting a comfortable, space-efficient vehicle for city and intercity use. The honest limitation is that grey import parts and specialist servicing add long-term ownership complexity compared to locally assembled alternatives.