Family transport doesn't have to mean compromise, and the Serena is Nissan's argument for why. This S Hybrid wears gloss black with the kind of showroom shine that makes a minivan look like it wants to be there, chrome grille catching light against clean, angular headlamps that trade the old boxy Serena look for something considerably sharper.

Open the door and the ceiling mounted entertainment screen tells you exactly who this car was built for, long family trips where the back rows need their own distraction, their own comfort, their own reason not to ask "are we there yet" every ten minutes. The cabin trades leather flash for practical, well laid dash ergonomics, a properly sized touchscreen, and the kind of soft touch materials that hold up to years of school runs and grocery hauls.

Under the hood, the hybrid setup pairs a smooth four cylinder petrol engine with electric assist, giving it noticeably better fuel economy than a straight petrol equivalent without asking the owner to learn a new way of driving. It is the quiet, sensible option for anyone shuttling a full house around Nairobi and counting every shilling at the pump.

At just over 106,000 kilometers, this one has plenty of life left in it, and the kind of low key confidence that comes from a car built to be used, not admired from a distance.