Bread Van selection - Noah, Spada Stepwgn, Serena

[jonchi721]

@Kensh09 your post suggested you have not fixed what you want to get but you already made up your mind with serena. buying a car is a long term commitment. to most of us, this is the 2nd biggest financial decision after our houses. you have not considered evs suggested you are anticipating issues of charging as the population grows faster than the rate of new chargers and the issues of charging infrastructure building up. my thoughts was similar when i was deciding between noah, and serena. i ended up with toyota noah from borneo motors with the consideration of re-sale value, reliability, maintainability and operating cost. kindly note the re-sale value of toyota vehicles is number one in local and overseas if you wish to upgrade your vehicle. this is an important consideration for me the 10 year COE cycle that I have not chosen for EVs as it will be another of my handphones need tech refresh.  

[Mt88]

On 5/25/2026 at 7:56 PM, Kensh09 said:

I am considering Nissan Serena and Honda Stepwagen when my coe runs out in the near future. Currently prefer Serena for the following reasons:

1. More modern dashboard design
2. Dual tailgate (this is a big plus point as my current mpv I always need to park further from the wall to retrieve items) 
3. All windows are auto unlike Stepwagen which only driver side is auto
4. 360 cam
5. Intelligent Rear View Mirror
6. Cheaper than Stepwagen
7. Cheaper road tax

What I like about the Stepwagen

1. External boxy look and straight lines design 
2. Electric tailgate.
3. Full hidden 3rd row seats
4. Buttons at passenger to open sliding doors

Anyone care to share your thoughts or experience? Thank you.

1. Design, colour, and material are individual preference, no right or wrong.
2. To me, dual tailgate serena is a useless gimmick. In actual usage it is not any better in tight space close to the wall. The top opening still takes too much space and the whole tailgate is rather heavy and cumbersome which is more important to consider. In actual usage, anyone with lots of shopping bags are better off to open the auto sliding door and store their stuffs on the expansive/spacious second row of SW.
3. BTW, for Stepwgn one can set to open just enough on tight space. see: tight space memory auto tailgate
4. The hidden 3rd row seat SW gives cavernous extra luggage space when all seat is up. Storage wise, Space and utilities SW wins hands down. Noah/Voxy/Serena all loose out (I owned Voxy)
5. Button can be hook up to kick sensor to open and close the door, with extra cost
6. BTW, there are  3rd party accessories that can make all windows all on auto, with extra cost
7. 360 cam is available for android head unit (PI version), while KM SW version using Alpine head-unit, is not available yet.
8. Some people get their SW from KM within 2-3 bids with the lowest non guarantee bidding. You may want to try your luck if you have time to wait.
9. For Engine 190PS 315Nm, Driving dynamic, Solid chassis no creaking, Biggest usable interior Space, Driving distance 1000km per tank, and Fuel Efficiency (with actual brim to brim measurement and not by overclaimed paper spec) for Singapore 50-50 average 17-19km/l, SW win hands down over Noah/Voxy/Serena. 

 

Edited May 28 by Mt88

[Mt88]

Looks like Toyota hybrid is no longer a dependable car. Perhaps it has stoop low to save cost with low quality parts. One of the most important safety parts which is brake pump system on hybrid like Voxy, Noah, Corolla, Prius are failing after a while. It a common problem cited by Toyota Owners groups. The master brake needs replacement after 70K-80K and can cost around $ 3.5K to $5K. the tell tale sign is the pumping noise even without braking.

Not only that, local BM Noah does not come with side airbag curtain where it is standard for all Spada SW, and no option for original auto tailgate for BM Noah

 

Edited May 28 by Mt88

[jcmm]

On 5/25/2026 at 7:56 PM, Kensh09 said:

I am considering Nissan Serena and Honda Stepwagen when my coe runs out in the near future. Currently prefer Serena for the following reasons:

1. More modern dashboard design
2. Dual tailgate (this is a big plus point as my current mpv I always need to park further from the wall to retrieve items) 
3. All windows are auto unlike Stepwagen which only driver side is auto
4. 360 cam
5. Intelligent Rear View Mirror
6. Cheaper than Stepwagen
7. Cheaper road tax

What I like about the Stepwagen

1. External boxy look and straight lines design 
2. Electric tailgate.
3. Full hidden 3rd row seats
4. Buttons at passenger to open sliding doors

Anyone care to share your thoughts or experience? Thank you.

I am a Serena owner... the last batch 1.2 model. I like everything about this car except 1, 90% of the time, the car is charging and u can feel it while driving. Worse when stopping. After 3 yrs, I am currently looking out for SUV. All the best to your hunt for bread van. 

Edited May 29 by jcmm

[Terence2112]

Anybody notice that PIs are selling the Noah elegance trim? And I thought the Elegance trim is only unique to BM. 
 

and also, some PIs are offering 1.28% int while BM’s are above 2%. So what is the catch? Am quite confused 

[Spring]

On 5/29/2026 at 2:33 PM, Terence2112 said:

Anybody notice that PIs are selling the Noah elegance trim? And I thought the Elegance trim is only unique to BM. 
 

and also, some PIs are offering 1.28% int while BM’s are above 2%. So what is the catch? Am quite confused 

Family member bought a Freed from PI last December n was offered 1.08% loan. When he told me, I told him must be in house loan but I was wrong as it was offered by UOB. The ADs were offering rates of 2.28% to as high as 2.68% then. 
 

Till today, I don’t understand how n why UOB was giving a rate to PI which was half of that they offered to ADs? Even if the PI offered to forego his cut of the loan, it can’t be so much right?

[13177]

On 5/29/2026 at 10:26 AM, jcmm said:

I am a Serena owner... the last batch 1.2 model. I like everything about this car except 1, 90% of the time, the car is charging and u can feel it while driving. Worse when stopping. After 3 yrs, I am currently looking out for SUV. All the best to your hunt for bread van. 

How you feel the car is charging while driving?

Edited May 29 by 13177

[13177]

On 5/29/2026 at 7:18 PM, Spring said:

Family member bought a Freed from PI last December n was offered 1.08% loan. When he told me, I told him must be in house loan but I was wrong as it was offered by UOB. The ADs were offering rates of 2.28% to as high as 2.68% then. 
 

Till today, I don’t understand how n why UOB was giving a rate to PI which was half of that they offered to ADs? Even if the PI offered to forego his cut of the loan, it can’t be so much right?

I never see such a low car loan interest rate?! The lowest i seen was around 2%. 

[jcmm]

On 5/29/2026 at 9:34 PM, 13177 said:

How you feel the car is charging while driving?

I dunno how to describe..... u go test drive. 

[Daniu82]

On 5/29/2026 at 10:26 AM, jcmm said:

I am a Serena owner... the last batch 1.2 model. I like everything about this car except 1, 90% of the time, the car is charging and u can feel it while driving. Worse when stopping. After 3 yrs, I am currently looking out for SUV. All the best to your hunt for bread van. 

Meaning Serena is not a good car? What are the pros and cons of this car after driving it for 3 years? 

[Daniu82]

On 5/29/2026 at 7:18 PM, Spring said:

Family member bought a Freed from PI last December n was offered 1.08% loan. When he told me, I told him must be in house loan but I was wrong as it was offered by UOB. The ADs were offering rates of 2.28% to as high as 2.68% then. 
 

Till today, I don’t understand how n why UOB was giving a rate to PI which was half of that they offered to ADs? Even if the PI offered to forego his cut of the loan, it can’t be so much right?

Ya lor, why banks would offer PIs lower interest rates than ADs. 

[jcmm]

On 5/30/2026 at 7:58 PM, Daniu82 said:

Meaning Serena is not a good car? What are the pros and cons of this car after driving it for 3 years? 

I did mention I like the car except the charging...

Edited May 30 by jcmm

[Terence2112]

On 5/30/2026 at 7:59 PM, Daniu82 said:

Ya lor, why banks would offer PIs lower interest rates than ADs. 

Exactly, but seemed legitimate. The PI applied for me and it’s indeed 1.28%. Bank is UOB

[13177]

On 5/30/2026 at 5:39 PM, jcmm said:

I dunno how to describe..... u go test drive. 

I sat in a PHV Serena before, don't remember got feel the charging part or not?! Lol.

[jcmm]

On 5/30/2026 at 11:40 PM, 13177 said:

I sat in a PHV Serena before, don't remember got feel the charging part or not?! Lol.

They talked about it. I dunno about the latest 1.4.  

 

[Freeder]

Actcherry , Honda Odyssey Hybrid not bad.. Used 2024 units price still ok and slightly higher depre than those boxy MPVs…And drives much better then all of them…Interior also miles better..

[13177]

On 5/31/2026 at 3:11 PM, Freeder said:

Actcherry , Honda Odyssey Hybrid not bad.. Used 2024 units price still ok and slightly higher depre than those boxy MPVs…And drives much better then all of them…Interior also miles better..

Honda Odyssey definitely not bad. This MPV used to be quite popular on our road.

[Kensh09]

@jcmm Thx for the feedback. They have since changed to 1.4 engine. Gotto test drive to see if that remains the same.