A variety of other engines were used over the years, including diesels specifically the CD20 (for the commercial van version), CD20T 1,973 cc Diesel Turbo, and the CD20ET. Until around 2002, the standard petrol engine was an SR20DE. Auto Express once named the Serena as the slowest passenger car in the benchmark 0-60 mph (now 62 mph) test, with the 2.3 L diesel version (added in the mid 1990s) taking 27.8 seconds to reach that speed. In European markets, the C23 Serena had 1.6 or 2.0 L petrols, or 2.3 L diesel engines LD23. Each facelift model can be identified by front grille design which was updated in 19. Throughout its production the C23 model underwent several facelifts although the interior design and body largely remained unchanged, for example, addition of airbags and bench seats for the second and third rows. It was exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Bluebird Store. The naturally aspirated 2.3 L diesel was never manufactured for the Japanese market and its seating arrangement and interior fittings are not the same as the 2.0 L petrol (SR20DE), 2.0 L diesel CD20 and turbo-diesel CD20T models manufactured in Japan for the local market. Full-Auto (full-time) 4WD versions were also produced providing greater stability and better handling. Nissan produced many different trim levels - FX, SX etc. Models were manufactured in Japan from 1991 onwards, and many were imported into Australasia and the United Kingdom. The Serena is designed to comply with Japanese vehicle class, which means its external dimensions are restricted to 4.7 m in length and 1.7 m in width. Competitors include the Toyota Noah, the Honda Stepwgn, the Mitsubishi Delica, and formerly, the Mazda Biante. It is a "junior" model to the Nissan Elgrand in Japan its name is from the Latin word " serēnus", meaning "clear, tranquil, pleasant" and offers a minivan approach in comparison to the Nissan Lafesta which is an MPV. The most popular version was the 2.3 L diesel engine version and it was unusual in that it had eight seats instead of the expected seven. Later versions had a multilink independent rear suspension, and were front-wheel drive or 4WD. Earlier versions were front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a live axle mounted on leaf springs.
The car was engineered by Nissan's Aichi Manufacturing Division and launched in 1991 as a compact passenger van, and it grew larger with each generation over the years.
It was also sold as the Suzuki Landy ( Japanese: スズキ・ランディ, Suzuki Randei). The Nissan Serena ( Japanese: 日産・セレナ, Nissan Serena) is a minivan manufactured by Nissan, joining the slightly larger Nissan Vanette. 2018 Nissan Serena Highway Star S-Hybrid (C27, Hong Kong)