1994 Nissan Serena review from Australia and New Zealand

Split in radiator hose.

Drivers seat has started to wear.

Side sliding door jammed shut and couldn't be opened.

This car has been totally reliable since the day I bought it.

Because its performance is so predictable, the one motoring "problem" I had (eg. radiator hose split) was immediately noticeable because the temperature gauge suddenly moved for the first time in three years.

The sliding door jamming shut could be explained by transporting children about who don't shut door firmly, but like to get what we call the "magnetic door closing" feature to do it for them.

There are several things I particularly like about the Nissan Serena and which attracted me to it in the first case:

It has eight seat-belts, so is a very easily used "people mover", which converts back into a four or six seater easily, depending on your needs.

The back three seats clip up out of the way in seconds, leaving lots of room in the back like a van, without the hassle of removing bench seats to do so, as in vans we were looking at when buying this car.

The very large side mirrors and the "backing" mirror which shows the rear bumper are excellent for parking - this car is fantastic for parking in town, as you can squeeze into really tight parallel parks easily, because with the side mirrors, you can see right down to the wheels of the car each side, and with the back mirror you can go right back without having to "tippy-tap" the car behind.

You are surprisingly high up in the traffic, although the Serena's look like a pint-sized van, the driver's seat puts you in the same position as fellow motorists in big 4wd monsters. This is great when in lines of traffic, as you can see what is happening ahead of you and don't feel "boxed in".

I find on the open road that it easily sits at 120kph and still has plenty of oomph and stability on the road to overtake at speeds of 140kph when you chop it back to 4th gear. (Mine is a manual). Takes most hills in its stride easily in 3rd or even 4th gear. So long as you don't try to race around corners, because it does have a little body roll if you try to take things fast - so don't!

The manual gear box is very positive, and the clutch is nice and easy.

Only niggle with gearing - when driving at 100kph plus, it can feel like it wants a 6th gear to change into.

And being a "people mover" have had to put up with rude friends calling it a "loser cruiser" or such like - but they are all just jealous. There is heaps of them around now, so it just blends in with the crowd now.

Also, because of it's "small" size, fits easily into most garages that "taller/bigger" vans/4wd types won't (another reason we bought it - oh yes, the mirrors automatically flatten against the sides of the car if you need them to, great for getting through smaller garage doors).

A medium sized 'van' with a big heart. Great family wagon, excellent for mums that have to transport kids and all their friends too.

Petrol economy? Haven't really noticed it any better or worse than any other car I've had. Would not call it a "gas guzzler" - guess it just depends on the way you drive it. May help that mine is a manual.