EDMUNDS.COM 2004 NISSAN QUEST
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| Editors'' Review |
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
With its non-traditional styling, innovative features and silky-smooth V6 engine, this all-new Quest provides a stylish alternative to the perennial class leader from Honda.
Pros
Flat-folding rear seats, several trim levels to choose from, head airbag protection for all occupants, smooth 240-horse V6, comfortable ride.
Cons
Third-row seat isn''t split-folding, can''t get a second-row bench seat, not as big as some of its competitors.
What''s New for 2004
The 2004 Quest is an all-new minivan from Nissan that features distinctive styling, innovative features and a powerful V6.
Overview
Introduction:
Minivans that don''t look like minivans, SUVs that drive like cars -- gone are the days when we called a spade, a spade. The 2004 Nissan Quest is one of the latest vehicles to blur the classification lines. At the initial unveiling of the Quest, Nissan''s spokespeople used words like "sexy," "sophisticated" and "stylish" to describe the Quest. Although it''s a departure from the traditional bread boxes one often sees lined up in front of elementary schools in the afternoon, whether the Quest really qualifies as sexy is still a point of contention. Regardless of what image it conveys on the outside, the Quest is designed for family-friendliness on the inside. For starters, it claims the widest opening rear sliding doors, as well as flat-folding seats for both the second and third rows -- a segment "must-have" these days. Possible disadvantages include the requirement that owners remove and stow all five headrests prior to lowering the seats into place and the fact that the third-row seat only folds as a one-piece bench, which makes it a bit heavy to maneuver and limits the available seating configurations for larger families. Smaller families who use the rearmost bench on an occasional basis will get along just fine. Interesting design features abound in Nissan''s new minivan. The center-mounted instrument cluster built below the 6.3-inch information display screen is circular in design and provides stereo and climate controls right at your fingertips. There''s a front overhead console with a sunglasses holder and dual maplights, and an available full-length rear overhead console to assist rear passengers with additional storage bins, lighting and air vents, but no lower center console between the second-row chairs. The requisite eight cupholders are dispersed throughout the interior, as well as a bottle holder integrated into the door bin on each sliding door. Four 12-volt power points are also located throughout the cabin, ready to power Game Boys aplenty. The eight-way adjustable driver seat can be upgraded to eight-way power, or all the way to include a driver-seat memory system with seat, pedal and outside mirror memory positions, plus heated front seats. Both driver and front passenger get power one-touch up/down windows. Dual-zone automatic climate control is optional, while a rear heating and air conditioning system is standard. Also standard are side curtain airbags to protect the heads of those in the front and rear. Luxury options include leather upholstery, a rear DVD entertainment system and a DVD-based navigation system. For power, Quest drivers have Nissan''s award-winning 3.5-liter V6 engine at their service -- it''s rated for 240 horsepower in this application. And since the Quest is built on the same platform as the Altima, Maxima and Murano, that means a smooth ride and better-than-average handling for a minivan. Priced to compete with minivan titans like the Honda Odyssey and ''04 Toyota Sienna, the Quest should definitely be on your test-drive list if you''re shopping for a minivan this year.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The Quest comes in three trim levels -- 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE. The base model comes standard with 16-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, auto up/down front windows, cruise control, remote keyless entry, front and side curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitoring system and an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo. The midlevel SL adds alloy wheels, a passenger-side power-sliding door, an eight-way power driver seat, steering wheel and rear-seat audio controls, a power rear liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and power adjustable pedals. Top-of-the-line SEs are further upgraded with 17-inch wheels, leather seating, dual power sliding doors, automatic headlights, a power front passenger seat and a 10-speaker Bose audio system with an in-dash CD changer. Available options include a rear sonar parking system, a rear DVD entertainment system and a DVD-based navigation system.
Powertrains and Performance:
Under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 engine tuned to produce 240 horsepower. Two transmissions are available -- a four-speed automatic on the base S and midlevel SL and a five-speed auto on high-line SE models. Although the five-speed tranny provides better acceleration, the four-speed''s lower gearing allows it to achieve slightly better fuel economy: EPA estimates are 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway with the four-speed and 18 city/25 highway with the five-speed.
Safety:
Four-wheel antilock brakes, full-length side curtain airbags, BrakeAssist (BA), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and traction control come standard on all Quests. Nissan''s vehicle dynamic control (VDC) stability system comes standard on SE models along with side-impact airbags for front occupants; the airbags are optional on the midlevel SL.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
Quest provides seating for seven passengers. Nissan''s minivan offers the segment''s widest-opening rear sliding doors in the segment, as well as flat-folding seats for both the second and third rows. The second-row captain''s chairs (no second-row bench is available) tip up to allow easier entry and exit for third-row passengers. Maximum cargo capacity measures 149 cubic feet on S and SL models (144 on the SE). Interesting features include a center-mounted instrument cluster built below a 6.3-inch information display screen. The design is certainly cutting edge for a minivan, but the sheer number of buttons hinders functionality and ease of use. There''s a front overhead console and an available full-length rear overhead console. Four 12-volt power points are also located throughout the cabin. The Quest also receives Nissan''s new Skyview windows -- fixed rectangular openings cut into the Quest''s roof to give the rear seating area an open feel.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
While the standard V6 engine feels plenty powerful around town and on the highway, the five-speed automatic makes a noticeable difference in how that power is delivered and is a worthwhile upgrade. Built on the same platform as Nissan''s Altima, Maxima and Murano, the Quest delivers a comfortable ride and is surefooted around corners.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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