Nissan Serena Gets A New Look, Features Autonomous Drive Tech

Twenty-five years after the original Serena hit the market, Nissan has unveiled the fifth generation of its boxy minivan.

Designed, in the automaker’s own words, “to cater from the family man or woman to the thrill-seeking weekend warrior”, the 2017 model features a reworked exterior highlighted by the brand’s V-motion grille, two-tier headlights, smoother waistline and two-tone body color.

Inside, it features a redesigned dashboard with thinner instrumental panel, slimmer instrument cluster, hollow-shaped headrests, built-in second row seatbelts, and more features that emphasize its spaciousness and lead to what the brand claims is the widest vehicle in its class.

Making its debut in the new Serena is Nissan’s autonomous driving technology. Dubbed the ProPilot, it allows the minivan to follow the vehicle ahead by maintaining a safe distance, and it’s smart enough to recognize lanes.

The automaker states that if the vehicle it is following changes lanes, the Serena will find another one and start following it on its own. Drivers, however, won’t be able to let the car drive on its own completely, as they will need to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times, or else an alarm goes off.

Some other safety features equipping the 2017 Nissan Serena include an emergency braking system, around view monitor, smart rearview mirror, lane departure warning, and park assist. It will go on sale in Japan in August at a starting price just below the 3 million Yen mark, which equals to $28,930 at today’s exchange rates.