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The engine response was a pleasant surprise and would have made the short and narrow vehicle a delight to drive. That is, until you turn the steering wheel. The steering is much too light, feeling totally disconnected from the front wheels. It’s probably been set for easy parking-lot maneuvers, but feels extremely disconcerting out on the open road. There is heavy understeer, but not so excessive as to give you nightmares. The Serena is one of those rare vehicles whose height exceeds its width. Given that, the body roll is well-controlled, and there was no sailboat swaying motion. The ride is also quite compliant, absorbing road imperfections with no fuss. Even if you sit in the third row for a few hours, your butt and back should still be in good shape. As for stopping, the front discs and rear drums are equipped with ABS and EBD. The brake pedal is firm and responsive. It’s amusing how quickly we begin to take some features for granted. Devices like rear air conditioning and a VCD player would have been a winning hand some time ago, but now they’re only good as an opening gambit. For its part, the Serena Q-RV counters with its manageable exterior dimensions and roomy cabin. The responsive drivetrain and pleasant ride are its hidden aces. Overall, it’s a fine effort from Nissan—an efficient, more compact package that can seat eight comfortably. With tighter steering and less understeer, this could be the best of the current lot. Life is certainly getting better for traveling families. motioncars.com would like to thank Nissan Motors Philippines Incorporated for providing the Nissan Q-RV R Limited A/T for this road test.
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