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1999 |
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When Nissan unveiled the second-generation Quest minivan it was, well, different.
Because a minivan is predicated on getting the maximum amount of utility and people space as possible, minivans generally tend to look the same. It's the classic case of form following function.
The Nissan Quest didn't look at all like its competitors when it debuted in 2003. The styling, for a minivan, was way out as was the interior with its cracker barrel centre control stack that was innovative, but it overpowered the front part of the cabin.
The foldaway second and third row seats worked perfectly but reminded me of those new-style beach chairs with folding legs which are nifty but are not squarely in the mind-set of minivan buyers who are pretty conservative when it comes to things like the interior with captain's chairs and substantial benches.
Lots of cupholders and easy-to-remove seats are at the top of wish list here as is that must of musts, the ability to haul four-by-eight-foot sheets of plywood. I personally have never seen a friend or neighbour coming home with a stack of four-by-eight drywall, preferring to have RONA deliver it.
Nissan says urban lofts inspired the interior design and it is certainly big and breezy in there with the second and third row of seats folded away. A clever touch is the automatically folding headrests that flop forwward and tuck under as the seats are lowered into the floor.
Overall, Nissan has chosen to concentrate on enhancements for 2007 in areas like a new chrome roof rack what is now standard issue. There is a new grille design as well as revised front and rear lights. The topline SE also gets different taillights and fog lights.
The interior is also freshened with relocated gauges, revised information centre display and the DVD player now hides in the lower part of the centre stack which is still round but also has a glove box with eight litres of storage which must set some sort of minivan record.
In terms of interior materials, the cloths used are still beige and grey, but a few shades darker and a new "Chili" red/orange leather interior is optional. Wood-tone or metallic trim is standard depending on interior colour selected.
All versions have a standard folding centre tray with cupholders while the SE adds a centre console. If you go with the Nissan Navigation System, you can also opt for Nissan's "RearView" monitor which shows what you're backing up into on the seven-inch centre stack mounted LCD screen.
Power for the 2007 Quest remains Nissan's ubiquitous 3.5-litre V6 putting out 235 hp and 240 lb/ft of torque mated to a five-speed electronic automatic transmission driving the front wheels.
There are three basic price points for 2007 depending on the level of trim. The 3.5 S kicks things off at $32,498 or $34,498 for the optional DVD entertainment package. The mid-level 3.5 SL has a base price of $36,998 or $38,998 with the DVD, $39,098 with leather trim or $41,098 with both options. The topline 3.5 SE is priced at $46,998 or $49,948 with Nissan's "bird's eye" view DVD-based navigation system.
Car-like ride is expected in minivans of today as they are all unibody derived. The days of minivan shells grafted onto light pickup trucks are thankfully long behind us.
Ride in the Quest is more like a limo with its long wheelbase, but unlike limos, there's nothing cramped about the interior. It's almost big enough to get up and walk around in.
When you consider that a minivan empty is like being inside a big drum, wind, engine and tire noise can be an issue, especially over the long haul. Nissan engineers, like other minivan builders, worked thousands of hours to harness noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and it shows. The Quest, on cruise, rolls along with little to disturb you except for some sound from the outside mirrors.
Around town, the 3.5-litre V6 is known for its silkiness as much as its punch. If you need it, the horses are there. When it comes to parking, the Quest is about as large as they come so you learn to depend on the mirrors and the optional backup camera is a blessing especially in dark underground parking situations.
For travelling across the country, and I mean coast-to-coast, the Quest is just about perfect. There's room for everything and everyone you need for a great trip. For a vacation to Vancouver Island or Prince Edward Island, the Quest would be on the top of my list.
The Quest may not pop straight into mind when it comes to considering minivans, and that's too bad, because the 2007 Nissan Quest does all the right things. NISSAN QUEST MINIVAN 2007 AT A GLANCE
BODY STYLE: Full-size minivan.
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front-wheel-drive.
ENGINE: 3.6-litre DOHC V6 (335 hp, 340 lb/ft)
FUEL ECONOMY: Five-speed automatic, 12.9L/100 km (22 mpg) city; 8.5L/100 km (33 mpg) highway.
PRICE: 3.5 S, $32-498-$34,498; 3.5 SL, $36,998-$41,098; 3.5 SE, $46,998-$49,948.
WEBSITE: Nissan.ca
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