My GT7 Log: Gran Turismo movie collaboration

The movie adaptation of Gran Turismo is hitting theaters this month and the producers had a special gift for all Gran Turismo 7 players; a 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 donned in the same livery as the one Jann Mardenborough used in the movie, which is based on real events.

Based on a true story, the Gran Turismo movie stars Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough, a gamer whose life changed when he gained the biggest break in his life; becoming a racing driver. It also stars David Harbour and Orlando Bloom, among many others, and it's directed by Neill Blomkamp.

The #23 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 is the one Jann drove in the upcoming movie. In the real world, this is the 2018MY Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, a racing spec version of the GT-R R35 made in compliance with FIA GT3 regulations. While it carries over the racing mechanicals as the GT-R GT3 predecessors, the 2018 model year features a dry sump oil system that allows the powerplant to sit lower by 5.9 inches for a better center of gravity. It has improved weight distribution, repositioned cooling systems, improved body stability, stiffer front body rigidity, and an improved racing suspension system.

Players who booted up the GT7 game following the recent patch can obtain Jann Mardenborough's #23 GT-R NISMO GT3 by selecting the Gran Turismo movie banner. After watching the movie trailer, you'll receive the car free of charge. 

There's also an online time trial as well where you can drive the said hero car at the Red Bull Ring, one of the racetracks you'll see in the movie. A total of 3,250,000 credits can be won if you hit the ultra-difficult Gold target time. The collaboration ends on 9/27/2023 at 2359 UTC.

Having obtained the hero car from the Gran Turismo movie, the question is, what should I do with it now that I'm expressing so much hype for this movie. With that, let's drive Jann's GT-R NISMO GT3 on the racetrack that he said in the movie that he raced this track a thousand times in the game.

Let's take the GT-R NISMO GT3, donned in GT movie livery, at the Le Mans 24-hour track, just to get the thrilling experience of what's like to be in Jann Mardenborough's racing shoes. Send in the tape.

I managed to set a 4m11.118s lap time around the Le Mans 24-hour track in the GT-R NISMO GT3 that was driven by the movie's main character. Although not as quick as what he'll do in the movie, I strongly believe that the hype is real and I'm willing to watch the Gran Turismo movie at my heart's desire.

The Gran Turismo movie hits theaters this August 25th. If you're preparing for the movie, this would be your chance to add the GT-R NISMO GT3, donned in GT movie livery, to your car collection at no expense for a limited time. If you've enjoyed the game most of the time, I hope you'll enjoy the Gran Turismo movie as well. If Jann can make it to the top, anyone can.

Be a driver, drive hard, and stay focused.

Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 NISMO

Last year, the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 was launched and it's known to be the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made in the midst of its new normal. Although it's still a Heisei-era Z-car underneath, the improvements really made the RZ34 the Z car fit for the Reiwa era.

2024 Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO

2024 Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO interior

Those who demand more from the RZ34 got what they wanted; the most complete RZ34 ever made; the all-new Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO.

Starting at 9,200,400 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the RZ34 Fairlady Z NISMO morphed the RZ34 you're familiar with into the ultimate road-legal track weapon that tries its very best to impersonate the racing machines that donned the RZ34 attire such as the Super GT racing machine and the Formula Drift one popularized by Chris Forsberg.

Although it looks and feels just like the RZ34 Fairlady Z, the NISMO version juiced the RZ34 with NISMO-exclusive aerodynamic upgrades and specially-made RAYS 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, the RECARO sports seats, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a specially-made instrumental panel, and a drive mode selector truly differentiate the Z NISMO from the regular Z.

Get your popcorn ready because here comes the main course of the RZ34 Fairlady Z NISMO: the performance. The 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine that powers it got juiced with additional 20PS of power, making it 420PS. It's the most powerful Z-car ever made. Whilst the added power comes with a painful price; it's mated exclusively with a revised 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters, which is a total turn-off for speedo boys behind the wheel even when it's set to SPORT+. Fuel economy is around 9.2km/L based on WLTC Mode standards.

Complaining about the gearbox while praising the added power output, the driving pleasure never felt even more addictive thanks to its NISMO-tuned chassis, improved torsional rigidity of the body, and other improvements. Whether you're out on a track day or in a middle of a drifting pleasure, rest assured that the sport-tuned dynamics the RZ34 NISMO possesses will not be overlooked. In fact, you'll find plenty of reasons to enjoy it.

While the ultra-expensive pricetag and the automatic gearbox are a total turn-off, the added power and sport-tuned dynamics made the Fairlady Z NISMO RZ34 the complete version of what's known to be the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made in the midst of its new normal. With such performance and exclusivity, it's okay to express some burning jealousy when you see one because, truth be told, we just want one. That's Plan Z for you, Gen Z boys and girls.

Available Colors: NISMO Stealth Grey/Super Black 2-tone, Carmine Red/Super Black 2-tone, Brilliant Silver/Super Black 2-tone, Prism White/Super Black 2-tone, and Midnight Black.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

My FH5 Log: "WE MAKE DRIFTS"

Aside from the junk cars and the AMG GT Black Series offered in the FH5 Upgrade Heroes update, there are two additional Formula Drift cars as well with one a new version of the familiar drift car driven by Chris Forsberg, and the other driven by one of the Donut Media boys for PROSPEC class.

First up is the #64 Forsberg Racing Nissan Z that I won as the overall prize in the Upgrade Heroes playlist. Used in the 2023 season of Formula Drift Pro Championship, it's based on the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z but with the 3.8L V6 Twin Turbo engine from the Nissan GT-R stuffed in it and juiced to produce a thousand horsepower.

Lastly, the #51 Donut Media Nissan 240SX drift car that I've obtained has mingled through the Donut Media Low Car story's Bumper 2 Bumper segment. It's a Nissan Silvia S14A jammed with an LQ9 engine, it's been driven by Donut Media's Adam Knapik for the PROSPEC class.

Normally, I would rather compare these two drift cars to see which one is the best but sadly, that would be pointless to compare drift cars because they're focused mostly on drifting rather than doing laps. Luckily, I had a brainwave...

First off, I decided to give the #64 Forsberg Racing Nissan Z a little exhibition drift in my own version of a certain classic track from a certain classic racing game I can't mention. Okay, it's my version of GT2's Motor Sports Land and if anyone's interested, I'll tell you the share code, it's 147 528 997.

Next up, I took the #51 Donut Media Nissan 240SX drift car on a little timewarp to Ancient Rome with a 10-lap drift track created by Forza player "l Wizzle l". Credit to the owner, as always.

As I said, if anyone's interested in this Ancient Rome drift track created by a certain Forza player, here's the share code: 175 263 128

These drift cars really know how to make a statement...

Enjoy your new rides!

My FH5 Log: "WE WON JUNK CARS AGAIN, WE DRIVE A LOT"

The collaboration between Forza Horizon 5 and Donut Media continues with the Upgrade Heroes series update where players gained full access to the Horizon Test Track feature, originally accessible only to the Donut Media Horizon Story last December 2022, as well as the recent swarm of, you guessed it, JUNK CARS! LOTS AND LOTS OF JUNK CARS!

The highlight of the recent barrage of JUNK CARS is the arrival of the Donut Media Nissan 350Z (Fairlady Z) cars as featured in the Donut Media Hi Low segment. In case you don't know, the Donut Media boys ran the Hi Low segment where they buy two identical used cars and then modify them with a specified budget. 

Nolan's Z33 costs $20,000 worth of cheap modifications while James' Z33 costs $50,000 worth of "really nice" modifications. Both of these modified cars were booted with new coilovers, wheels, tires, new car paint, and some turbochargers. In typical project car fashion, both cars break down, but hey, long story short.

Both of these Donut Media Z33 cars can be won just by clearing both Hi Car and Low Car Horizon Stories. You can even keep your very own Z33 Fairlady Z after the finale as well as other prize cars in store for both stories.

Rather than comparing these two Donut Media Z33s just to determine "does more expensive really mean more better", I decided to let these cars enjoy themselves at the Horizon Badlands against the competition, just to experience the "MO POWA BABEH" mantra both Donut-modified Z33s had. (cue guitar riff noise)

MO POWA BABEH! Guess these Donut Z33s didn't break down just like what James and Nolan experienced it during their little experiment.

The Donut-modified Nissan Z33 Fairlady Zs weren't the only junk cars in store in the Upgrade Heroes update. A trio of junk cars made a comeback in Forza Horizon 5 such as the Syclone, the Typhoon, and the SL65 AMG Black Series.

First up, the GMC Syclone that I won from the Storm Season Playlist. Based on the GMC Sonoma pickup truck, the Syclone has a turbocharged 4.3L V6 engine equipped with a Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler. It develops 280HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated with a 4-speed automatic. 0-60mph takes about 5.3 seconds and based on a Car & Driver test, it does a quarter-mile run in 14.1 seconds at 93 mph.

Next up is the GMC Typhoon that I won from the Dry Season Playlist. Based on the Jimmy SUV, the Typhoon features the same specs as its Sonoma-based Syclone pickup truck. It has a turbocharged 4.3L V6 engine equipped with a Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler. It develops 280HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated with a 4-speed automatic.

Lastly, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series that I won from the Hot Season Playlist. Using the R230 SL65 AMG as its basis, the Black Series is an upgraded version of the said model which comes with an improved version of a 6.0L V12 twin-turbo engine mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS five-speed automatic transmission. With the engine developing 661HP of power, it is the most powerful V12-powered AMG vehicle ever. 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and top speed limited to 199mph. Aside from its raw power, the Black Series is 250kg lighter than the regular SL65 because of the use of light carbon fiber composite (CFRP) parts and replacing the foldable hardtop roof with a fixed roof.

Having gotten to know the recent swarm of junk cars, let's thrash them across the Horizon Badlands, and see if these clunkers got any chance of surviving these punishing courses...

Wow, these junk cars managed to survive. I guess immortality is their middle name.

As the Donut boys would say, "WE BUY JUNK CARS, WE PAY A LOT. DEPENDING ON THE YEAR THO". Judging by the recent swarm of junk cars looks like we're going to be sticking around with a potential next wave of junk cars until the final series update of FH5 before the transition to the 2023 Forza Motorsport game coming this October.

Could this day get any worse for me as the Horizon Mexico adventure is nearing its twilight? Ah, junk cars...

Nissan GT-R (2024MY Minor Change)

The Nissan GT-R continues to age in its half-decade tenure but there's no sign of slowing things down even in the midst of the new normal as the 2024 model year showcased the peak of Japan's motoring superpower.

2024 Nissan GT-R

2024 Nissan GT-R interior

Priced at 13,750,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the Nissan GT-R R35 has gained another minor change for the 2024 model year, and this latest minor change showcased the prime of its legendary tenure since its 2007 launch.

Beginning with the exterior design, the front view ditched the previous facelift's V-motion grille in favor of a much smaller front grille as well as a boxy air intake to give the latest facelift a sharper presence in its fit of peak. It also sports new foglamps that are shaped like the Arena logo, similar to the ones found on the current Toyota Noah and the Kia K8. At the back, it gained a revised rear bumper as well.

The interior is pretty much the same as the previous facelift so there's not much of a surprise behind the wheel.

2024 Nissan GT-R NISMO

The engine specs remained the same. In the normal GT-R, the VR38DETT 3.8L Twin Turbo V6 engine produces 570PS of power and 637Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed double-clutch gearbox. Fuel economy is still 7.8km/L.

In what was known to be the "King of GT-Rs", the GT-R NISMO, meanwhile, the same engine, upgraded by NISMO, produces 600PS of power.

The dynamics have been slightly improved for the recent facelift with the normal GT-R features improved downforce, cooling, and drag reduction while the NISMO version benefits from its racy dynamics from its motorsport knowhow while gaining a new front LSD to improve its handling ability, not to mention the extensive use of carbon-fiber materials. 

The NISMO version gets even better with the Special Edition packed with a carbon fiber bonnet and 20-inch RAYS wheels to slightly enhance its dynamics. Either way, they're still standard-issue to drive on the road and track.

The Nissan GT-R has reached the peak of its tenure and with this latest minor change, it's a clear sign that says "It ain't over until it's really over". That's it and that's all. 

This is the big score and whether you're on the subtle GT-R or the obvious GT-R NISMO, this could be your last chance to wield Japan's motoring superpower in the midst of the new normal.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

2nd Gen Mitsubishi eK Space (2024 facelift) and Delica Mini

The second-generation Mitsubishi eK Space has received a facelift to keep itself fresh and apart from that, its rugged sibling, the Delica Mini, joins the party, giving customers various ways and means to enjoy the traffic-friendly kei minivans Mitsubishi offered.

2024 Mitsubishi Delica Mini

2024 Mitsubishi eK Space

For the 2024 model year, the second-generation Mitsubishi eK Space is now updated with a heavily revised front view that is proven to be more stylish than its pre-facelifted model. The first-ever Delica Mini, meanwhile, is the rugged version of the eK Space that serves as the replacement for the now-axed eK X Space. With its rugged styling and the DELICA lettering etched on the front and back, the Delica Mini showcases its outdoorsy vibe fit for a quiet Sunday drive into the woods.

2024 Mitsubishi Delica Mini interior

2024 Mitsubishi eK Space interior

The interior looks pretty much the same as the pre-facelift model but it's got a new sat-nav offered as an available extra and that's pretty much about it. For more expensive models, you can expect some noticeable stuff you may find, well, noticeable, such as the back table at the back of the front seats, keyless entry, touch panel aircon, and others, not to mention the waterproof sheet fabric which is ideal when you accidentally spilled something. The Delica Mini inherits most of the interior features from the eK Space so you can expect the same stuff from it.

Either way, they are tall enough to let occupants stretch themselves on the inside and offer generous rear legroom and ample spacing fit for all kinds of stuff to do. Honest work.

2024 Mitsubishi Delica Mini

2024 Mitsubishi eK Space

Both the facelifted eK Space and the Delica Mini are equipped with the same BR06 three-cylinder DOHC 12V ECI engine bolted with a tiny electric motor and a CVT gearbox. Thanks to some slight improvements, the fuel economy is around 20.9kmpl based on WLTC Mode standards. The Delica Mini is offered exclusively with the turbocharged variant of the same engine producing 64PS of power output and 19.2kmpl of fuel economy.

In kei car tradition, both the eK Space and the Delica Mini are no sweat to drive thanks to their compact sizing, less complicated suspension setup, and available 4WD, not to mention a wide range of safety tech from e-Assist to MI-PILOT, making them true city class cars for everyday use.

The facelifted eK Space and the first-ever Delica Mini are now ready to take on the new normal for simple people looking to find new hobbies out of these kei minivans. Like it or not, these traffic-friendly kei minivans are ready to get the job done, no rush at all.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

My FH5 Log: Hood Safari

The Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Wilds Takeover update brought back the first-generation Nissan Safari SUV and it's yours took keep when you hit 20 points at the Hot Season Playlist. Since I already got my hands on the first-generation Safari, it's time to reintroduce this JDM offroader before hitting the hood.

The first-generation Nissan Safari was launched in the summer of 1980 as the direct competitor to Toyota's Land Cruiser. It was offered with a choice of an SUV and pickup truck configurations and it was powered by a choice of a 3.3L SD33 diesel engine and a PF40 4.0L petrol engine. Although built in Japan, the Safari was later built in Spain in 1983, the same year the diesel variant gained a turbo upgrade that boosted the power output to 120PS.

With the quick introduction done, it's time to take the Safari 160 for a wild ride at the hood while taking on other offroaders from the hood. What happens in the hood, stays in the hood, dog. Send in the tape.

I was going to say it's ready to take on this week's Rally Adventure but I'll just let the Safari stay in the hood. Hood Safari!

Enjoy your new ride!

My FH5 Log: Gen Z

At long last, the car bearing the new Nissan logo has arrived in the world of Forza as the Japanese Automotive series update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes the modern take on one of the most iconic Nissan sports cars ever made.

Everybody thought it may never come to the party but here it is, the RZ34 Fairlady Z has joined the battle!

Obtained from the Japanese Automotive series update Wet Season playlist, Forza fanatics have finally got the chance to drive the RZ34 in the streets of Horizon Mexico. It's about time they featured it and now that I've got it, it's time to have a deep dive into the new Z.

RZ34, what is it then? Despite its new looks, it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era, but because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled it as RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. Like the Z Proto, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z features various design touches inspired by previous generations. 

Under the hood, the RZ34 runs on the same 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine as the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. 

In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering.

As expected, the electric power steering gave the RZ34 a driving feel compared to the old Z34. When you take it through the bends, it feels somewhat bulky to drive and your arms are feeling the tension when cornering. It packs so much grip while gunning for lap times but for having fun, it's all about getting hooked to the new Fairlady Z until you are fully satisfied and you'll find many ways to enjoy it. I'm glad I got hooked on this new Z.

Speaking of which, it's time to find out just how much progression the RZ34 gained and with that, it's ready to take on Horizon Mexico's hill climb against the 370Z NISMO, the most powerful naturally-aspirated Z ever made. It's old versus new as this clash will determine how much this Fairlady Z evolved from Z34 to RZ34. Roll the tape.

After their touge run, here are the results;

370Z NISMO (Z34) - 3m29.576s

Z (RZ34) - 3m28.091s

Only just! With 50HP more power than the old 370Z NISMO, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z barely defeated the old one by nearly a second and a half. Guess it's barely an evolution for the new one because of its close result against its predecessor.

So, the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z really is the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made. Despite the electric power steering drama that caused some understeer at the bends, the added power from its turbocharged engine and Z-centric bits made the RZ34 the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made, and in the age of the new normal, it's ready to drive like there's no tomorrow because pretty soon, it won't be for this one. This new Z earned the right to bear the new Nissan badge.

Just wait 'till you drive it.

My GT7 Log: Z vs GR Supra

The Nissan Fairlady Z and the Toyota GR Supra, are two iconic Japanese sports cars revamped for the Reiwa era. The former is a heavily revised version of the Z34 predecessor while the latter is basically a BMW underneath.

Both of these JDM sports cars, well, one of them's a proper JDM sports car anyway (see Nissan), are the coolest cars to come out from the Reiwa era, and in the world of Gran Turismo 7, they're a blast to drive. Having enjoyed these two legends reborn to this era of the new normal, the question now is, which one is the best?

Before that, let's commence the pecking order to get to know about those reborn JDM legends of the Reiwa era.

Beginning with the GR Supra, everybody knows that this is the forefather of the Reiwa era JDM sportscars and the revival of one of the most iconic sportscars from Japan, although it's basically a BMW Z4 G29 underneath.

With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.

In the spring of 2020, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant was boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS power output. In addition, the updated GR Supra features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning.

What about the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z? Although the design matches the Z Proto concept, it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era. Still, because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled this Fairlady Z as the RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. 

With every nook and cranny from past models plastered to the RZ34, the engine that powers it is all about returning from its roots. It's a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine lifted from the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering.

With the pecking order done, it's time to find out which of these two is the best and with that, I went to Daytona to find the answer to this question. Using the Road Course for my little experiment, the Z and the GR Supra are flexing their samurai muscles as they hack and slash their way through Daytona's treacherous corners. Like a dragon, you say? Let's find out as I'm rolling the tape.

After a lap in Daytona with these high-blooded samurais, here are the results.

Nissan Z Performance '23 - 2m10.030s

Toyota GR Supra RZ '20 - 2m07.647s

It's a shocking result. The RZ34 Fairlady Z may have more power than the GR Supra but it's the weight that the GR Supra stands out. With its higher torque output, lightweight bodywork, and near-perfect weight distribution, it seems that the GR Supra trumped the Z by less than three seconds.

I may have to call this an upset but it's too obvious for this. It's like a samurai getting crushed by a German MMA fighter but whatever.

Even with the Nissan Fairlady Z's latest evolution, it turns out it's not enough to outlast a physical challenge against the Toyota GR Supra by a wide margin. Despite the outcome, these two samurais had enjoyed the time of their lives. 

Such rivalry deserves a lot of respect and as sports cars are becoming an endangered species, rest assured that these last samurais are going all-out to let their blades shine and slash their way like it's their last.

The Z and the Supra... As the times prepare to erase them both, they're ready to fight to the very end. That's Japanese grit for you.

Nissan Serena C28

The Nissan Serena is now on its sixth generation and it's ready to tackle against the newest versions of the Toyota Noah/Voxy and Honda StepWGN minivans with its revised design, interior, and fuel-efficient powertrain worth scratching their roofs. Time to have a peek at the new model.

2023 Nissan Serena

Priced at 2,768,700 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the all-new, sixth-generation, Nissan Serena can be somewhat costlier to own than the new Toyota Noah but cheaper to own than the new Honda StepWGN by comparison, meaning this is the second choice of the three new Japanese minivans launched in 2022. For a minivan that is right on the money in today's economy, there's so much to talk about it, starting with its new design.

2023 Nissan Serena

2023 Nissan Serena

2023 Nissan Serena AUTECH

While retaining the boxy design from its predecessors, the new design features a dramatic but radical front face some would call controversial, probably because of the updated expression of Nissan's V-Motion grille. In the normal versions, it looks right but on the high-end Highway Star and e-POWER Luxion versions, the front grille's enlarged to make a huge statement, even with its optional Front Dynamic Pack on. The AUTECH variant, meanwhile, is a massive dark blue showoff in both urban and rural environments. Whichever Serena you're on, the new design made a huge impression, albeit with divided results.

2023 Nissan Serena interior

2023 Nissan Serena interior

Amid the polarizing exterior, the new interior is something the new Serena C28's worth proud of; the spacing that will upset the competition in its class. Sure, the driver's view is totally minimalized while the instrumental panel's digitalized a la Nissan Note, the gear lever was replaced by a set of buttons, and the aircon features touch panels, which is worth a challenge for those wearing gloves, but in terms of passenger space, this is the most family-friendly Serena ever built.

Whether it's a six-seater or an eight-seater, the best-in-class interior and boot space are what made the Serena C28 ahead of the curve. With the two-way tailgate that can be opened either the whole door or the rear window as well as the Hands-Free Auto Slide Door carried over from the C27 predecessor, it's still the most practical Serena ever built for modern Japanese families.

2023 Nissan Serena

Asked about performance, the Nissan Serena C28 is powered by two powertrains. Starting with the 2.0L MR20DD petrol engine, it produces 150PS of power and 200Nm of torque. Mated to a CVT gearbox, it delivers a 13kmpl combined fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. The e-POWER variants, meanwhile, saw a size increase to its petrol engine that powers the electric motor from the C27's 1.2L to the new model's HR14DDe 1.4L engine. With the new 1.4L petrol engine powering the 120kW EM57 electric motor, it delivers up to 20.6km/L combined fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. Although not as fuel-efficient as the Noah, it beats the StepWGN e:HEV by a razor-thin margin. Because this is e-POWER, it has a little kick on that thing when you put your foot down.

While the suspension setup is the most enjoyable to drive for a minivan thanks to its rear multilink suspension, the Nissan Serena C28 is, by all means, the safest Serena ever built because of its ProPilot 2.0 carried from the Skyline V37. ProPilot 2.0 uses a wide array of sensors capable of hands-free driving while cruising in a single lane, although drivers still need to keep their eyes on the road. It's reminiscent of Tesla's Autopilot in various ways but you get the point. With the ProPilot 2.0 coupled with noteworthy advanced driving aids around it, it's the most technologically-advanced Serena you'll ever drive.

With its questionable looks, best-in-class interior space, the enlarged e-POWER powertrain, the most advanced safety features fitted to a minivan like this, and decent value for money, the Nissan Serena C28 truly is a Japanese minivan adapted for the new normal. As a decent rival to the newest versions of the Toyota Noah/Voxy and the Honda StepWGN, the Nissan Serena C28 is a tour de force in the minivan market with a little drama. Is this the best Japanese minivan you would like to drive?

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.