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 NISSAN
QUEST
If you're in the market for an older Nissan Quest minivan, remember two words: motorized belts.
They were standard for the first few years of the Quest's life in
Canada, from 1993-95. Let me tell you, in past tests I had my neck
pinched more than once by a beltwhich automatically slid into place
whether I was ready or not.
Then in '96 the motorized belts were gone. Instead, the '96 Quest came
with standard dual airbags and height adjustable front safety belts.
That change called for a whole new instrument panel and a number of
other important upgrades to the Quest-100 refinement in all. In short,
while for 1996 Nissan didn't entirely remake its Quest minivan, there
was enough new about it to make '96 and newer Quests my recommendation
in the used market over the older version. (FYI: the Quest got a
complete makeover for the '99 model year.)
Note, however, that in '96
the basics of the Quest's award-winning interior design were carried over. However, among those 100 refinements,
the tiny sound system controls were replaced by big, easy to use buttons
and knobs that could be operated while wearing thick winter gloves.
There were also larger vents that improved air circulation. Also, the
'96 Quest came standard with solar glass (replacing tinted glass) that
filters out ultraviolet rays-good for both your skin and the upholstery.
Standard equipment on all Quests from '96 included seven-passenger
seating, AM/FM stereo cassette, air conditioning, full instruments, tilt
steering and even a 12-volt power socket. Better equipped GXE models had
adds anti-lock braking, rear air conditioning, power windows, door locks
and heated mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, roof rack, a second
rear 12-volt socket, alloy wheels, rear cargo net and even audio
controls built into the steering wheel.
When shopping for a used Quest, do not overlook the versatility of the
Quest's seating aft of the driver and front passenger. Up to 23
combinations of seating and cargo space are possible. The second and
third row seatbacks were even designed as table tops, complete with
cup-holders. Or you can remove the middle seat altogether and slide the
third bench all the way forward for cargo-hauling. However, until its
recent remake, the Quest had only one sliding side door on the side.
All Quests up to '99 were powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 mated to a
four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. Rated at
151 horsepower, the V6 which drives the front wheels provides adequate
but not startling power.
Through the years owners have rated this minivan above average to
excellent for quality. Owner surveys done by the Canadian Automobile
Association and Consumer Reports both report generally trouble-free
experiences. So while the Quest might have less interior room than some
larger rivals, it's a reliable alternative to the traditional family
station wagon.
(FYI: For those not aware of it, the Quest and Mercury Villager were a
joint project of Nissan and Ford. Nissan did most of the design and
engineering work, Ford the assembly and the vans that rolled off the
line were shared (the Villager had slightly different styling cues).
Ford of Canada stopped selling the Villager a couple of years ago, but
the Quest remains a staple of the Nissan lineup.
CURRENT RED BOOK PRICING (avg. retail): Nissan Quest GXE
1998-$24,600 ($30,898 original MSRP)
1997-$21,450 ($30,898)
1996-$18,750 ($30,598)
1995-$16,225 ($29,598)
1994-$12,600 ($27,290)
1993-$9,725 ($25,911)
BUYER'S ALERTS: Some transmission shift problems have been traced
to
units not filled with Nissanmatic "C" transmission fluid (TSB
94-100,
Nov. '94; ATRATB9002006, Feb. '90), so make sure all the recommended
fluids are being used. Also, automatic transmissions that will not shift
into reverse may suffer from a defective rear control valve (96-009B,
Sept. '96; 96-110, Dec. '96; 96-009B, Sept. '96). Look for rear
hatches that do not fully open (96-073, July '96); sliding doors that
rattle or are difficult to close (96-033, July '96); engine knock after
cold starts (96-064, June '96); rear hatch actuators that are
inoperative or noisy (96-002, Jan. '96); rattles from the second seat
(95108, Nov. '95); a crunching or scraping noise from the front end that
might indicate the need for a new stabilizer bar and bushings (95096,
October '95); a coolant leak from the cylinder head front that may
be traced to a threaded plug in the front, not the head gasket (95087,
Sept. '95); water leaks in the sunroof (95071, July '95); an AC
compressor leak or noise (95057, June '95); tail/brake lights that work
intermittently because the socket may be loose from the plastic
connector (95073, Aug. '95); a rattle in either front door that may
indicate a guard beam spot weld breaking loose (94026, March '94).
Also note a recall for the third row bench seat latch (96-070A, Aug.
'96).
(Note: technical service bulletins from Alldata Corp.)
THE VERDICT: A generally reliable alternative to the traditional
family
station wagon.
CHECK THE SPECS 1996 NISSAN QUEST GXE
Market segment: minivan.
Typical market competition: Mercury Villager, Honda Odyssey, Dodge
Caravan/Plymouth Voyager, Toyota Previa, Mazda MPV, Volkswagen EuroVan,
GMC Safari/Chevrolet Astro, Pontiac Trans Sport/Chevrolet Lumina, Ford
Windstar, Ford Aerostar.
Engine: (front-engine/front-wheel drive) 3.0-litre V6 with two valves
per cylinder operated by single overhead camshaft (SOHC); electronic
fuel injection; 151 hp at 4,800 rpm; torque rated at 174 lbs-ft at 4,400
rpm.
Transmission: four-speed electronically controlled automatic.
Steering: rack-and-pinion, power-assist.
Brakes: power-assisted front disc/rear drum with standard anti-lock
system (ABS).
Tires: 205/75R15.
Fuel economy: 12.9 city/9.0 hwy. (litres/100 km) or 22/31 mpg.
Wheelbase: 2,850 mm (112.2 in).
Curb weight: 1,798 kg (3,964 lbs).
Safety: dual airbags standard; ABS standard; built-in child seat
available; good to very good crash test rating; good to excellent injury
claims rating.
Performance in 0-100 km/h: 11.6 seconds (est.)
Pros
* Just behind the then-Honda Odyssey in car-like ride and handling
* Many family features
* Smart, award-winning interior design
Cons
* Sluggish acceleration, like most minivans
* Just one driver's side sliding door
* Like Odyssey and MPV, cargo space a premium with full passenger load
OVERALL SCORE: 7.5 (out of 10)
ROAD TEST REPORT CARD for 1996 Nissan Quest GXE
Access: B+
Driving position: B+
Instruments/Controls: B-
Visibility: B
Climate Control: B-
Steering: B
Brakes: C+
Handling: B
Acceleration: C
Engine: B
Transmission: B
Interior space: C+
Trunk/Cargo: C+
Noise/Vibration/Harshness: B
DURABILITY/RELIABILITY REPORT CARD for
Overall: B
Mechanical: B
Hardware/Body/Paint/Trim: B
SAFETY REPORT CARD
Anti-lock braking: yes
Airbags (driver/passenger): yes/yes (recent years)
Traction control: no
Driver/Passenger Front Crash Protection (0-5 stars with five stars the
best): four stars/three stars
INSURANCE HISTORY
Theft claim cost rating: better than average
Collision cost rating: average
Comprehensive cost rating: better than average
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