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By Jim MatejaChicago Tribune
October 15, 2006
A sports car maybe. But not a van, the vehicle you have to have when the family has grown to such proportions that the neighbors start to whisper when they see you toss a few kids in the trunk to fit everyone for the trip to the store. Minivans replaced station wagons as the machine you are sentenced to endure until the kids are grown, leave home and buy sports cars. So had to wonder why, only three years after it went on sale, that Nissan gave its Quest minivan an overhaul--top to bottom, front to rear, inside and out. Why put time and money into a machine whose sales were off 26 percent in the first nine months of this year, to 25,000 units? And just a few days ago, Nissan said it will move Quest production from its plant in Canton, Miss., back to Japan. Hardly a vote of confidence. Maybe Nissan is trying to win consumers running out to buy Honda Odyssey minivans as if they offer a rear seat full of cash as a no-cost option. Odyssey sales are up 4.3 percent through September, to nearly 140,000 units. And though Toyota Sienna van sales are down 1.3 percent, they still top 120,000 units for the year versus Quest's 24,900. Maybe that's why Quest got not only an overhaul, but also has been loaded with nifty features for 2007. Too bad eye-catching styling isn't one of them. If Quest is dressed in new sheet metal, Nissan got it at the thrift shop. The nose is short and stubby, the body long and paunchy. Nissan calls the look "distinctive." As distinctive as a long bus. And if you doubt that description, just plant your body in the driver's seat and look in the rearview mirror. That's when you realize that by the time you get to the third row, you've changed time zones. Makes it fun to park and to maneuver along the highway, where it seems as if the front end has to wait for the rear end to catch up at each turn. Not that having lots of space is bad, but those who enjoy all that room the most are those not forced to pilot the barge. At least the pilot benefits from the totally redesigned instrument panel, with gauges moved from the center of the dash to in front of the driver. The optional navigation screen is in the top of the dash. Quest is available in 3.5, 3.5S, 3.5SL and 3.5SE versions. We tested the 2007 3.5 SL. Great to have power sliding doors on both sides (optional on the left side) as well as a power liftgate in back. Press the key fob and either or both doors as well as the liftgate opens and closes. Saves lots of time and energy, especially if the arms are loaded with packages or kids. And it's easy to appreciate the magic of the second-row seats. Yank a couple levers and the backs fold and seats slide forward into the footwell to provide a flat floor for hauling or a wide aisle to the third row. Just how quick and easy it is to get the second-row seats to slip into the footwell, however, depends on how far back the driver and front passenger have their seats. May have to slide the front seats forward first. Another option is to pull another lever and remove the second row seats, though that means you have to store them until replaced. The third-row seats flip and fold into a deep storage well behind them to further increase cargo capacity. A nice touch is that when you pull the strap to lower the seat backs, the spring-loaded headrests automatically fold out of the way. Another nice touch is grocery bag holders on the backs of the front- and third-row seats. You also can attach nets to them to hold small items. Fixed sunroofs over second and third rows give the cabin an open and airy feel. Pull-shades keep the sun out when needed. Head and leg room is spacious in all three rows. Seats, though soft, could use longer bottoms for thigh support on trips. They also could use more lateral support in cornering, though not many folks drive a minivan as if it had a number painted on the door and sponsors names on each fender. There's serious storage space in the ceiling in a series of pouches, one of which holds the pull-down DVD screen. You also find stowage to the left of the driver and center in the dash as well as the center console that has a slide-open lid. Quest is powered by a 3.5-liter, 235-horsepower V-6 with sufficient oomph to perform most tasks van owners will demand. Mileage is nothing special at 18 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway. Ride is very soft but at the expense of pinpoint handling. You feel the lean in corners. The SL starts at $27,500 and includes such essentials as anti-lock brakes; traction control; air conditioning; power windows, doors and driver's seat; an in-dash CD changer with MP3 playback and auxiliary audio input; side-curtain air bags; and power pedals. But the power pedal control is low along the side of the driver's seat, so it's not easy to use with the door closed. The Skyview roof with the power sunroof upfront, fixed glass over the other two rows, is novel and appealing. But the package it comes in runs $3,200 because it includes Blue Tooth hands-free phone, satellite radio and back-up monitor so you can see what's behind on the navi screen. However, that requires you purchase the navi system at $3,000, though it throws in vehicle stability control. The power sliding door on the driver's side is most convenient, but it runs $650. Those second- and third-row folding seats are a blessing, but at $350. And the overhead DVD screen adds $4,050 with leather, heated seats and power passenger seat. But the control for the heated seats is next to the power pedal and, thus, hard to reach as well. So lots of goodies, but they cost lots of money. The $27,500 base price topped $39,500 with all the frills. 2007 Nissan Quest 3.5 SL Price as tested: $38,910* THE STICKER $27,500 Base $4,050 Premium package with leather seats, heated and power front seats with adjustable armrests, Bose audio system, DVD player with overhead screen and wireless headphones $3,200 Skyview glass panel roof package with power sunroof and fixed glass panels over second- and third-row seats, full-length overhead console, satellite radio, bluetooth hands-free phone, automatic headlights and dual-zone climate control $3,000 Navigation package including vehicle stability control and aluminum alloy wheels $650 Left-side power slide open door with puddle lamps $350 Fold-flat second- and third-row seats and auto folding headrests in third row $160 Floor mats *Add $605 for freight. THE NUMBERS Wheelbase: 124 inches Length: 204.1 inches Engine: 3.5-liter, 245-h.p. V-6 Transmission: 5-speed automatic CITY: 18 m.p.g. HIGHWAY: 25 m.p.g. PLUSES Massive interior with second- and third-row seats that fold flat Power sliding side doors, power liftgate. AWD available as option. MINUSES So long you feel like you are piloting a bus--especially when parking. Styling misfit. Short seat bottom cushions. An entry in a market segment on the decline. Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation and Tuesday and Thursday in Business. Hear him on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:22 p.m. Wednesdays and 11:22 a.m. Sundays. jmateja@tribune.com
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