In Cars, Local News, Nissan, Spyshots / / November 6 2025 10:24 am

You’re looking at the elusive Nissan Serena C28 e-Power, recently spotted in Malaysia, as posted to the paultan.org Automotive/Car Discussion Group on Facebook, hinting at a possible release in the near future. Or at least we can hope. The sixth-generation MPV model has surely taken its own sweet time coming here – it was first unveiled in Japan way back in 2022.

We did get a bit of a false hope in early 2023 when a C28 test mule was seen along Genting Highlands, perhaps signaling an unusually early local debut (by Tan Chong standards, at least) but alas, we’ve heard no official word on it since. The current C27-generation Serena has been around in Malaysia since 2018, with a mild facelift arriving in 2022.

Our understanding is that there’s a bit of a barter trade between Nissan Malaysia and Thailand, with us supplying the old C27 for our neighbours, and then receiving the new C28 in return. The C27 – imported from Malaysia – was launched in Thailand in end-2024, priced at 1,469,000 baht (RM189k) and sold alongside the CKD C28 that goes for 1,690,000 baht (RM218k).

Whether the two-prong approach will be mirrored here is yet unknown, but if the answer is yes, it sure doesn’t bode well for the new C28 to be competitively priced. Locally, the C27 is priced between RM148,888 and RM163,888, so adding on another 15 or 20% (could well be more considering it will be a CBU-taxed model) would bring it close to the RM200k mark.

Still, it’s not without its strengths. The C28 Serena gets an upgraded version of Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system, now featuring a 98 PS/123 Nm 1.4 litre HR14DDe naturally-aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine that powers a single electric motor with 163 PS and 315 Nm of torque via a 1.77 kWh battery.

Like in the Kicks e-Power, there is no mechanical link between the engine and front wheels, so the electric motor is the only means of motivation for the Serena e-Power. In essence, it will drive like a true blue electric vehicle, but one that gets its juice from a petrol engine acting as a power generator. Long distance road trips will be a breeze, only requiring regular fill ups at the petrol station.

Whether that’s going to be a big enough advantage over extremely well priced electric MPVs from Chinese brands – plus the odd few PHEV models as well – remains to be seen. If you’re looking for a family MPV in Malaysia, would the Nissan Serena C28 e-Power be on your radar? Comment below!

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.