2004 Nissan Quest - Review / Road Test
Viewed head-on, it's not immediately apparent that the Nissan Quest is any different than other minivans on the market. It has a big grill that bears a family resemblance to the sporty Maxima. Move slightly to the right or left, however, and it becomes apparent that the designers have tried hard to make the Quest look different from a traditional minivan. Gone are the slab sides and flat roof. Click for a larger 2004 Nissan Quest picture Instead, the Quest gets bold fender flares that run along the sides with shoulders and curve up as the lines blend to the rear. The result is a vehicle with curvaceous character lines that does not look nearly as big as it is in reality. The Nissan Quest has dual sliding side doors, as expected, but they are four inches longer than in any other minivan. This provides better access, especially to the third row of seats. Due to the hip design of the Quest, the slot for the door runners is in the middle of the bodywork rather than being disguised along the lower edge of the side windows as has become the norm. One of the most controversial design aspects of the Nissan Quest is the cockpit. The instrument cluster is centered on top of the dashboard instead of its usual location ahead of the steering wheel. This move has allowed the designers to make the top of the dashboard much lower for improved forward visibility and a Click for a larger 2004 Nissan Quest picture feeling of spaciousness. A minor touch but one that can be appreciated is a small slot located ahead of the steering wheel for holding a photograph or map or notes.