1999 Nissan Quest
03/23/1998
Greg A. Godsell
Believe it or not the Quest has been with us since 1992. A joint venture between Ford and Nissan, the Quest (and the Mercury Villager) have been cult favorites of sorts in the mini-van market. Remade for 1999, the Nissan Quest sports a stylish new look and numerous all-around improvements.
The new Quest was styled by Nissan Design International in La Jolla, CA. The new shape retains some of the previous model's form, but moves in new directions. A fourth door has been added to bring the Quest up to prevailing standards. The rear end styling has been squared off. And the stylists have added an interesting styling curve to the hoodline. The styling changes are subtle but effective, giving the Villager a more sporting appearance similar to the GM mini-vans.
On the inside, the cargo space has increased 10.7 cubic feet to 135.7. While the wheelbase and vehicle height remains the same, the 1999 Quest is 4.9 inches longer and 1.2 inches wider than the model it replaces.
The original Quest was known for it's innovative features such as the Quest Trac seating system. The seats were mounted on a rail system that allowed the third seat to slide forwards and backwards with a minimal amount of effort. While conducting clinics on the new mini-van, Nissan encountered a paradox with respect to the size of the new Quest. Existing owners asked Nissan to both increase the cargo capacity and not increase the vehicle size. To solve this, Nissan has innovated once again with an adjustable cargo shelf inside the hatch.
The new Quest benefits from more power than the previous model. A 3.3-liter V6 replaces the 3.0-liter V-6. This new powerplant provides 170 hp, and 200 ft-lbs of torque. Where the engine promises more power, the suspension and rigidity refinements promise better handling and a quieter ride.
In 1999, there will be 3 Quest models available. Joining the GXE and GLE models will be a SE edition that features 16-inch wheels, a sport suspension and black on white instrumentation.
The new Quest is a refined, stylish mini-van that should serve as a viable alternative to the status quo in mini-vans. We look forward to testing a production model when they go on sale later this year.