PERSONALLY, any vehicle with the name like “Highway Star” attached to them has got to be one mean machine.
Like a hot sporty ride that gets the adrenaline pumping as it blazes across the infinite road or that sleek beautiful head-turning showstopper of a motorcar that you can’t drag yourself away from.
Maybe its that Deep Purple song or simply how awesome the name sounds. Either way the last thing that usually comes to my mind, if I wasn’t familiar, is one of the most family-friendly vehicle in the market.
At least that’s the inclination I get whenever talk about Nissan’s most popular multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) comes up.
Its merely personal perception but I always found it amusing that the Japanese automaker would pair such a tough-yet-cool sounding badge to the Serena which itself already sounds so domesticated and feminine.
Now picture the seven-seater Serena with a variant named Shiro Premium Highway Star. Its a title that goes so hard that you have to wonder what sort of experience awaits you.
All will come to make sense with the new Serena e-Power (C28) even if it is deceptively not as obvious at first glance.
Nothing too drastic or out of the ordinary from its design, the sixth-generation seven-seater that runs on 16-inch wheels comes with a sportier V-Motion grille that’s accompanied by tri-projector LED headlights.
Giving it some degree of performance credibility is the redesigned front bumper with air curtains that act as airflow management around the front wheels.
At the rear are revised boomerang-style taillights, LED fog lamps and the familiar split-opening tailgate.
As the top premium variant, the Shiro Premium Highway Star is the only one that can be opted in Diamond Black and numerous two-tone setup that consists of a black roof and a body in either Turquoise Blue, Brilliant White or Dark Metal Grey.
Also unique to the variant are white quilted Nappa leather seats, LED-illuminated kick-plates, a powered tailgate, and a motorised 14-inch ceiling mounted monitor.
The benefit of the Shiro Premium Highway Star is that you get everything else available in the other variants (depending on their offering).
That ensures you’re getting the best-of-the-best of what the Serena brings to the table.
Such as two power-sliding doors, second-row tray tables, acoustic front windscreen, a 12.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12.3-inch instrument cluster, dual back-door, and dual-zone climate controls.
Similarly it is loaded with the entire works of safety equipment that are available to the Serena e-Power from Nissan’s six airbags, 360-degree Safety Shield and ProPILOT features.
The 360-degree Safety Shield suite is made up of Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning with Emergency Braking, a 360-degree camera system with moving object detection, Blind Spot Warning with Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Driver Alertness, High-Beam Assist and Lane Departure Warning with Intervention.
ProPilot on the other hand combines Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Lane Intervention and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention.
The Highway Star variants of the C28 also add on an aerodynamic front and rear bumper that expands the model marginally.
Such as its overall length expanding from 4,690mm to 4,765mm while its width is also increased from 1,695mm to 1,715mm.
Kerb weight is now also 1,799kg. What remains is the model’s height at 1,885mm.
A complete MPV as they come, the top spec choice of the Serena ensures you do not miss out on the best of what it has to offer – getting to where you need to be with the best comfort possible, fully entertained, and in the safest way possible.
Your only upkeep is probably keeping that sweet white interior clean which goes really well to add some premium-touch and variety to the mostly domesticated Serena.
Another thing to look out for is to not block the cooling vents, that is situated on the floor right behind the front seats, of the e-Power system.
Which brings us to the true undisputed star of the new Serena. The new e-Power system and everything to do with it is brings a whole new identity to the MPV.
Doing away with the yesteryear’s 2.0 litre S-Hybrid engine, this Serena houses a second generation e-Power system that consists of a 1.76kWh lithium-ion battery and a 1.4-litre three-cylinder engine that powers an EM57 motor.
The combination produces 163PS and 315Nm while allowing the MPV to achieve up to 1,000km on a full 52-litre tank.
Not only is the one here quieter and more powerful than the one found in the Kicks but its performance is superior to that of the previous C27 model’s noisier 2.0 litre S-Hybrid engine.
As a comparison, the Kicks e-Power pairs a 1.2-litre engine with a larger 2.06kWh battery to deliver 129PS and 280Nm of torque and up to 900km of range.
The old 2.0-litre S-Hybrid engine only delivers up to 150PS and 200Nm of torque, with its estimated range at 820km.
More than simply gaining a brand new hybrid powertrain, the new e-Power system gives the Serena a somewhat electric vehicle-like (EV) characteristics.
You even get an one-pedal drive operation via e-Pedal Step to go with its three driving modes of Standard, Eco and Sport; electronic parking brake with auto hold; walk away auto lock function; and approach auto unlock.
This makes the Serena perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to experience the silence and smoothness (in addition to the Serena’s Noise, Vibration, and Harshness or NVH proofing) of an EV without owning one.
To Nissan’s credit that says more about the potential and performance of the e-Power than simply being an updated powertrain.
Not simply done with just a new heart the C28’s also has the front portion of its MPV platform adopt the tunings, or basically appropriating the front part of the X-Trail’s platform.
Additionally the C28 adds 40kg of extra weight over the C27 to make it more grounded so to speak.
The result of this amalgamation introduces new drive dynamics to the Serena.
On top of your familiar traditional family MPV you can now engage the bends of winding roads with a lot more confidence and fun in the Serena.
Not something you would want to push the limits of but compared to the C27 it is a lot more planted and agile now.
With the maximum of comfort and technology a vehicle of its type and price can offer, in addition to smooth acceleration and some very satisfying steering control makes the Serena e-Power a true highway star.
SPECIFICATIONS
Serena e-Power Shiro Premium Highway Star
Engine: 1,433cc, HR14DDe 1.4-liter 3-cylinder DOHC naturally-aspirated
Battery: 1.77kWh, Lithium-ion
Maximum power: 163PS
Maximum torque: 315Nm
Transmission: Automatic Single Speed Gear Reduction
Acceleration (0-100kph): 10 seconds
Top speed: 160kph
Fuel economy: 18.5km per-litre
Features: White quilted Nappa leather seats, LED-illuminated kick-plates, powered tailgate, motorised 14-inch ceiling mounted monitor, 16-inch wheels, two power-sliding doors, second-row tray tables, acoustic front windscreen, a 12.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12.3-inch instrument cluster, dual back-door, dual-zone climate controls, six airbags, Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning with Emergency Braking, a 360-degree camera system with moving object detection, Blind Spot Warning with Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Driver Alertness, High-Beam Assist and Lane Departure Warning with Intervention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Lane Intervention and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention.
Suspension: Front MacPherson struts; rear Torsion Beam
Price (OTR without insurance): RM179,800
Our Ratings
Overall score 7.4
Styling 6
Comfort 8
Performance 7.5
Safety 8
Value 7.5
