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Nissan's minivan Quest
Innovative and high-tech, new family hauler is bigger, bolder
By Richard Russell
Thursday, October 9, 2003
The most recent result of Nissan's new product binge is the Quest. You might recognize the name - but that's all that will be familiar. Nissan jacked up the badge and replaced everything beneath. The 2004 Quest is bigger (it's the largest minivan in the segment by most measures), boasts 240 horsepower, has standard seating for seven and is loaded with innovation.
As has been the case with all new Nissan product over the past year or so - Altima, 350Z and Maxima - styling is outside the envelope. No more boxy, boring minivans for Nissan. The Quest is a bold, in-your-face design that positively shouts look at me - inside and out. There is nothing mini about this minivan. The Quest is BIG. You could probably fit the old model inside.
Built at Nissan's new $2.1 billion Mississippi assembly plant, the Quest comes in three flavours: S, SL and SE at $32,900, $36,600 and $43,400 respectively.
Instead of making the assembly process more difficult and confusing for the buyer, Nissan chose to equip each and every new Quest extensively. Standard equipment on all models includes air conditioning, electronic traction control, 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, power windows, locks and mirrors, plus keyless remote entry. Also included are heated front seats, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, a 150-watt, 8-speaker audio system, 16-inch wheels and tires, dual sliding doors, intermittent rear wiper, 7-passenger seating and height adjustable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support.
Much has been made of the term "soccer-mom" in a derogatory sense when describing minivans. Well, the truth is minivans are the most popular vehicles in the country for that very reason. They are family vehicles that can also lug a sheet of plywood. They can move material for a new deck back from the building supply store or they can ferry kids and their gear to the rink or field.
Recognizing this, Nissan made the new Quest larger and loaded it with a plethora of touches that families will appreciate. Items such as 10 cupholders, coin and cell phone storage, four 12-volt power outlets, grocery and handbag hooks, privacy glass, block heater, seatback map pockets, an overhead console with sunglasses holder, a large capacity coat hook and plenty of courtesy and reading lights.
The automaker didn't scrimp on the safety front either. Both dual front and side curtain airbags are standard on all models.
Nissan has joined the competition for most innovative seats. The Mazda MPV started the game of rear seats that fold flat into the floor, eliminating the need to remove them when carrying large objects. The Honda Odyssey and more recently the Toyota Sienna followed, each raising the bar a notch through further seating variations. But to gain maximum space, the second row seats of all these must be removed.
Nissan has not only made the third seat so it folds flat into a well in the floor, but in an industry first, second row seats also fold into the floor, providing a flat and huge cargo space without having to remove any seats! This did come with a slight penalty. There is no place to put the headrests, which must be removed before folding the seats. There is a bag to put them in but no place to put the bag. And tugging the third seat back up into position takes a bit more muscle than the competition. But getting into and out of that third seat is easier than other models thanks to the widest side doors in the field. Minivans are typically boxy vehicles and Nissan put much effort into trying to disguise this. But it went a bit overboard inside by placing all the information and controls in the centre of the vehicle. We're not a fan of this new trend, started by the Toyota Echo and more recently appearing in the Saturn ION. While trendy and different, it requires diverting your eyes from the road. Nissan did, however, place the speedometer slightly to the left of centre, which is better than the others. I would also be remiss if I didn't give Nissan a slap on the wrist for incorporating a note clip atop the steering wheel, which encourages driver distraction.
On the other side of the coin, kudos for a standard trip computer that incorporates a tire pressure monitoring system. While a couple of other manufacturers are starting to offer tire pressure warning systems, they consist of a light that warns when a tire is low. It is left up to you to discover which one and by how much. The system on the Quest displays the pressure in each individual tire - slick!
One of the industry's most rewarded and prolific engines is found in the Quest as well. Nissan's VQ series V6, recognized as one of the "10 Best Engines" by Ward's Auto World magazine for nine consecutive years, produces 240 horsepower in this installation. The DOHC, 24-valve engine is mated to a 4-speed automatic in the S and SL models, and a new 5-speed automatic in the top-line SE version. This terrific engine is challenged by a very big and heavy vehicle but manages to carry its head high, equaling one or two others in the segment, and easily outperforming the remainder.
The company is touting the Quest as the sports car of minivans. That it may be, but that's like being the best ballerina on the football team. This is a very large and heavy vehicle, with a suspension designed to provide a comfortable ride for seven people and/or a load of cargo. Tackling the twisties is not in its resume.
However, full brownie points to the engineers for making it as predictable and stable as it is. And ride quality is what will matter most to 99.9 per cent of Quest buyers.
Immediate competition:
Chevrolet Venture,
Dodge Caravan, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, Pontiac Montana, Toyota Sienna
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