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MSRP: $24,690-32,990

2004 Nissan Quest news, pictures, and information

2004 Nissan Quest Minivan 'Breaks Out of the Box' With Revolutionary Styling, Innovative Features

The 2004 Nissan Quest is a revolutionary, category-redefining approach to the minivan – one that is about to reverse the long-held stereotypes about minivans and their drivers. Its all-new design elevates the traditional minivan strengths of safety features, functionality and utility wîth enhanced roominess, design innovation and technology, while adding the missing emotional elements of contemporary styling and a spirited, fun-to-drive personality.

The Quest has grown in size to be among the roomiest in the front-wheel drive minivan class and provides such user-focused enhancements as folding 2nd and 3rd row seats and the widest opening sliding doors in class (front-wheel drive minivan §egmènt). New safety features include the first North American application of the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System, and standard head curtain supplemental air bags to help protect 1st, 2nd and 3rd row outboard occupants in side-impact collisions.

Style is another key component of the new Quest, wîth both the dramatic, flowing exterior and 'urban loft' themed interior designed to address consumer concerns about traditional minivans' conservative imagery. And, as expected from the company behind the popular Nissan 350Z sports car, the new Quest offers responsive acceleration and handling from its standard 3.5-liter V6 engine and new 4-wheel independent suspension.

Quest is the first of four new vehicles scheduled to be assembled at Nissan's new $1.43 billion manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss.

'Minivans have always been a rational purchase decision, rather than an emotional one, but not anymore,' said Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. 'The most impressive thing about the new Quest, even wîth all its great design and engineering advances, is its exciting personality and attention to personal style.'

The new Quest went on sale at more than 1,100 Nissan dealers nationwide in July 2003 as a 2004 model.

Room For Innovation
With its long 124.0-inch wheelbase, 77.6-inch width and 67.3-inch front and rear track, the new Quest offers one of the largest interior volumes of any front-wheel drive minivan. Overall interior volume of 211.9 cubic feet, as well as ample cargo space behind the 2nd row seat and 3rd row seat are significantly improved over the previous generation Quest. Special attention was also paid to front seat dimensions, wîth first row shoulder room among the best in class (front-wheel drive minivan §egmènt).

Quest's sliding door openings measure 33.8 inches, over four inches longer than the nearest competitor (2003 models) and over six inches longer than the previous generation Quest. The wide doors combine wîth a 2nd row seat 'tip up' feature to address one of consumers most frequent complaints regarding current minivan designs – getting in and out of the 3rd row.

Another innovation that seeks to address owner dissatisfaction wîth current minivan designs is the Quest's new Fold_Away™ seats. Quest advances the folding seat concept by applying this feature to both the 2nd and 3rd row seats, wîth the 3rd row folding flat.

The unique folding operation does not require the owner to remove the 2nd and 3rd row seats in order to create a fully usable storage area. The 2nd row seats fold down and drop forward to the floor. The 3rd row easily folds and rotates into a storage well in the floor behind it.

'The result of our double row of folding seats is 'complete spontaneity' in how customers can use the interior of the 2004 Quest,' said McNabb. 'There's no longer the need to plan ahead in removing seats prior to going shopping. Owners may purchase a large or bulky item on a whim and should be able to transport it home by simply folding down the seats.'

The Quest also features spring-loaded retractable strikers (versus competitors' fixed striker designs) for the 3rd row seat for added flexibility in carrying wide objects and the new Quest's ample length and width allows for carrying of standard 4x8 plywood sheets on the floor wîth the rear door closed.

Another Quest innovation is the available SkyView™, a series of four glass roof windows for the 2nd and 3rd rows that (along wîth the front sunroof) help enhance the use of natural light throughout the vehicle.

A full-length rear overhead console, available wîth the SkyView, offers increased functionality while creating an aircraft-like interior environment wîth personal reading lamps and air vents. The rear overhead console includes heating and cooling vents, reading lamps and also houses the Quest's available DVD Entertainment System's dual color display screens.

Exterior Styling and Interior Design That Break Out of the Box
True to the design originated on Nissan's boldly original Next Generation Quest Concept, which was shown at North American auto shows in 2002, the new production Nissan Quest offers a highly expressive and distinctive appearance.

Designed by Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA) in San Diego, Calif., the Quest exterior is marked by an arching roofline that transitions seamlessly off of the A-pillar, a strong shoulder that adds dimension to the body sides, well-defined wheel forms that have a minimal gap wîth the tire sidewalls and a fluid gesture in the beltline that starts low off of the headlights and kicks up toward the rear of the vehicle.

'We wanted to avoid the anonymous box design that has become the norm in the minivan class,' said Tom Semple, president, NDA. 'We have accentuated the wheels, because Nissan is all about the driving, and pulled the sheet metal to the tires. The body is well positioned on the wheels and overall Quest has strong Nissan styling cues, such as in the grille design.'

The Quest interior, again following the theme set out by the Next Generation Quest Concept, creates a sense of a modern, 'urban loft' – a comfortable, open and inviting space for family and friends.

The interior's remarkable sense of openness comes from several design innovations, beginning up front wîth Quest's unique, low-height instrument panel that departs from the typical 'driver centric' concept to one of 'social space.' The new instrument panel layout utilizes a center-mounted instrument cluster wîth a standard 6.3-inch information display screen, an instrument panel-mounted transmission shifter lever and numerous storage compartments – including driver and passenger side lower instrument panel storage.

The designers also rethought the traditional minivan interior architecture, wîth the shape of the centralized control stack taking on the look and feel of a desk or table, and leaving ample legroom for driver and front passenger to easily turn around toward the rear of the Quest. It's a combination of design features that helps create an open feeling without increasing dimensions.

'There are always other driver distractions in a minivan so we wanted to make the driving environment simple but aesthetically pleasing, including the adoption of appealing, non-minivan-traditional colors and materials,' said Semple. 'We brought the controls close to the driver without limiting knee room, while the seats themselves have more furniture-like attributes in look, feel and texture.'

A Long List of Available Comfort and Convenience Equipment
The new Quest's expressive and distinctive interior also comes through in the high quality, luxurious feel and in the careful selection of standard and available equipment. Úp front, Quest offers an available 8-way power driver's seat wîth adjustable lumbar support, available driver's seat memory system (seat position, foot pedal position and outside mirror position) and heated front seats.

Also offered are available leather-appointed interior, §teering wheel-mounted audio controls, dual zone automatic temperature control for driver and front passenger, rear heating and air conditioning system, power front windows wîth one-touch auto up/down, a front overhead console wîth sunglasses holder and dual map lights, and a rear sonar system.

Eight cupholders, along wîth bottle holders/map pockets on each sliding door, offer flexibility and convenience for all passengers and also numerous storage bins and area.

A standard 150-watt AM/FM/CD audio system wîth eight speakers is offered, along wîth an available first-ever for the Ú.S. Bose®-developed audio system for the minivan in the §egmènt – a 265-watt 10-speaker audio system. All audio systems also feature 'dual media' capability (when equipped wîth rear audio controls), allowing rear passengers to use wireless or wired headphones for a different media source than what is played through the speakers.

Taking mobile technology to the next level is an available DVD Entertainment System wîth the option of one or two roof-mounted display screens. The system's DVD drive is located under the front passenger seat, oriented toward the driver, for ease of changing discs. Also offered is a DVD-based Nissan Navigation System wîth 7.0-inch color display.

A Focus on Safety
Safety is a particularly important part of the minivan purchase decision and the new 2004 Quest was developed wîth a strong focus on both active safety – through the responsive engine, suspension and braking technologies – and passive safety through a comprehensive set of passive restraint systems.

Standard safety equipment includes Zone Body construction wîth front and rear crushable zones and occupant zone, the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (which utilizes crash zone sensor and advanced occupant weight sensing capability to control front passenger air bag deployment).

Also standard are head curtain supplemental air bags to help protect 1st, 2nd and 3rd row outboard occupants in side-impact collisions and 3-point seat belts and height-adjustable head restraints for all seating positions. Available as an option are supplemental front-seat side-impact air bags for thorax protection.

Every new Quest also includes the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) child seat anchorage system and child safety rear door locks.

Nissan Driving Dynamics
Powering the new Quest is a standard 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine based on Nissan's VQ engine series, which was recently named one of Ward's Auto World magazine '10 Best Engines' for the ninth consecutive year. For use in the new Quest, the V6 is tuned to produce 240 horsepower and 242 lb-ft.

The engine design includes state-of-the-art design features as Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS), microfinished crankshaft and camshaft, molybdenum-coated pistons and sequential multi-point electronic fuel injection. The engines are assembled at Nissan's Decherd, Tenn. engine assembly facility.

The Quest engine is matched wîth either 4-speed or 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission wîth overdrive (transmission varies wîth model). A Traction Control System (TCS) is standard and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) is also available on select Quest models.

Another element that is often overlooked in the minivan §egmènt is responsive handling and ride comfort. Útilizing Nissan's advanced FF-L (for Front engine, Front-wheel drive, Large) platform, also found on the Nissan Altima, new 2003 Murano crossover SÚV and the all-new 2004 Maxima, the new Quest features a 4-wheel independent suspension wîth an advanced rear multi-link suspension and front and rear stabilizer bars.

The Quest is offered wîth 16x6.5 wheels and 225/65R16 tires on 3.5 S and 3.5 SL models or 17x6.5 aluminum-alloy wheels and 225/60R17 tires on the 3.5 SE model. A sensor-type Tire Pressure Monitor System is standard on all 2004 Quests.

Power-assisted rack-and-pinion §teering is standard, along wîth 4-wheel vented disc brakes wîth Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).

Three Well-Equipped Models
The 2004 Nissan Quest is offered in three well-equipped models – Quest 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE.

A number of options and packages are available on Quest, including a DVD Entertainment System (dual or single screen) wîth 7-inch color display screen; DVD navigation system wîth 7-inch color display screen.

Also offered is a Seat Package wîth 2nd row folding captains chairs and easy entry feature, 2nd row removable armrest covers, 3rd row flat-folding bench seat and 3-point seat belts (2nd and 3rd row); 3.5 S Úpgrade Package wîth 16-inch alloy wheels and rear sonar system; 3.5 SL Úpgrade Package wîth supplemental front-seat side-impact air bags, heated front seats and rear sonar system; 3.5 SL Leather Package wîth leather trimmed interior and 4-way power front passenger seat.

'The new Quest challenges convention in the minivan class, bringing a new level of style, performance and innovation to a category that hasn't evolved much since its creation nearly 20 years ago,' said McNabb. 'It's a minivan for people who might never have considered a minivan before – a multi-dimension vehicle for people wîth multi-dimensional lives.'

Source - Nissan
A re-badged version of the Mercury Villager until 2002, the Nissan Quest is a minivan produced by Nissan that would be more upscale in comparison to the offerings at the time. The Quest debuted during the '92 North American International Auto Show was a new model designed together by Ford and Nissan.. The Quest was produced by Ford Motors from 1993 until 2002 and Nissan took over production in 2004.

The first generation Quest was produced in 1993 until 1998 and featured seating for seven and had second row bench that could be removed to slide the rear seats forward. A successor to the Axxess; which sold in the U.S. in 1990 only and in Canada from 1990 until 1995, the Quest was made by Nissan to compete in the minivan segment. Replacing the rear-wheel drive Vanette which was discontinued in 1990, the Quest was powered by Nissan's 3.0 L VG30E SOHC engine which produced 151 hp and 182 lb/ft of torque. Before agreeing to use the VG30E in the Villager and the Quest, Ford required that Nissan implement some design changes, one of these being that the engine was to be modified to 'become a non-interference or free-running engine'. (This was there would be damage to the valves if the timing belt broke.) The addition of an oil level sensor and relocation of the oil filter assembly for better access were additional updates required by Ford.

The Nissan Quest was available as XE or GXE models and this generation was produced at Ford's Ohio Assembly plant in Avon Lake, Ohio. Due to manufacturing issues, Nissan arranged with Ford to assemble the minivans in North America and in turn they were alloyed to rebadge it and sell it under the Mercury brand as the Village. Numerous interior parts, including the power window controls, the radio and heater controls were adapted from Ford and were very similar to the Ford Aerostar. The minivan shared the modified version of the VG30E from the U11, and early J30 Maximas, along with the 4-speed automatic transmission from the Maxima. Unfortunately the Quest engine seems to have a crucial flaw in the crankshafts, as they break at the front stub. Around 1995 the diameter was increased from 25 to 27 mm. The Quest differs from the Villager with a different side trim, front and rear bumpers, taillights and grille. For 1994 the Quest received a driver's side airbag and the passenger airbag was added in 1996. Changes were made to the front and rear fascia's that same year along with the elimination of the motorized shoulder belts and headlights and tail lamps.

In 1999 the second generation of the Nissan Quest was unveiled as a re-branded version of the Mercury Villager. This generation lasted until 2002 and featured a few updates from the previous generation that included a more aerodynamic look, a longer wheelbase and a driver's side sliding door. The minivan also received a power boost through the 3.3 L VG33E SOHC engine which now produced 171 hp and featured 200 lb/ft of torque. The GXE was moved up as the base model as the XE trim was discontinued and two new trim levels were introduced to the Quest. The GLE was the new top of the line trim, and SE was the sport model. This Quest model became the first Nissan minivan to feature 4 doors since the '95 Nissan Axxess.

For 2001 the Quest received various updates which included front and rear styling and new alloy wheels on all models. The GXE received a rear stabilizer bar and the SE now featured acceleration-sensitive strut valving and a strut tower brace.

In 2004 the third generation of the Nissan Quest was debuted and unlike the prior two generations, this model wasn't a re-branded Mercury Villager but a brand new minivan. Uniquely styled, the 04 Quest featured a large moonroof and had all-new placement of the dashboard. Standard on the Quest SE and GLE models were all new interior gauges and fabrics and also a 130-watt sound system. The luxurious GLE models received an in-dash six-CD changer and a wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel. Replacing the floor-mounted model was an optional overhead family entertainment system, though it could still be specified for sunroof equipped SEs and GLEs. Pretensioners were given to front seatbelts.

Featuring more cargo space than the previous generation, the '01 Quest was slightly longer in length. For 02 Quest wasn't sold in Canada and wouldn't return until the third generation model in 2004. By the end of this second generation, both Toyota and Honda marketed solely long-wheelbase minivans. For the 2003 model year no Quest models were marketed.

The third generation of the Nissan Quest was redesigned for the 2004 model year following the '02 discontinuation of the Mercury Villager. Using previous-generation Nissan Altima and Maxima platform; FF-L, the Quest was slightly longer than the Chrysler long-wheelbase minivans. With this third generation, production was moved to a new plant in Canton, Mississippi. Also powered by the same 3.5 K VQ35DE engine from the Maxima and Altima, the Quest produced 240hp and features 242 lb/ft of torque.

The minivan sports a flat folding rear bench and two middle chairs that fold nearly flat into the floor in 2004. This generation also features an unusual moonroof glass arrangement and space for 2 DVD screens with aux input. The SE models features side front airbags, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), curtain airbags for all rows, dual power doors, power rear hatch, Traction Control, Bose audio with RDS and folding second row seats, rear backup sensors and dual climate control. For the 2007 model Nissan redesigned the dashboard and the front grille and also relocated the DVD player from under the front passenger seat to the IP stack.

Issuing a statement that it needed room at the Canton plant for production of a commercial vehicle the Quest didn't return for the 2010 model year. The fourth generation of the Quest was debuted in 2011 and production took place at the Shatai Kyushu plant in Japan. On a current platform shared with the Nissan Elgrand, the Quest is powered by Nissan's 3.5L VQ series engine with 260 hp. Trying to avoid the 'tall skinny' look of Japanese vans the USDM version has an extra full 5 inches of width, and front wheel drive is standard. Debuted at the 2010 Los Angeles International Auto Show, the Quest went on sale in North America as a 2011 model.

By Jessica Donaldson
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Arrow Right 2004 Nissan models
Nissan 350Z
Nissan Altima
Nissan Armada
Nissan Frontier
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Murano
Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Sentra
Nissan Titan
Nissan Xterra
2004 Nissan Concepts
Nissan Actic Concept
Nissan Dunehawk
Nissan Qashqai Concept

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Nissan: 2001-2010
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Nissan
Monthly Sales FiguresVolume
April 201380,003 
March 2013126,623 
February 201390,489 
January 201373,793 
December 201286,663 
November 201284,300 
October 201270,928 
September 201282,462 
August 201287,360 
July 201286,722 
June 201281,801 
May 201281,202 
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2005 Quest Image Right
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