Nissan Quest Moves Closer To Becoming A 'Family Room on Wheels'

Name: 2023 Hyundai Palisade - Review by Thom Cannel
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11 November 1998
Nissan Quest Moves Closer To Becoming A 'Family Room on Wheels'
              Passengers in All-New 1999 Quest Can Watch Movies,
                  Play Video Games while 'Enjoying the Ride'

    GARDENA, Calif., Nov. 11 -- Which household amenities can be
found in most family rooms across America today?  Televisions, videocassette
players and video games come to mind, along with great shelf space,
comfortable seats and large windows.
    These features and many more are now available in the all-new, four-door
1999 Nissan Quest minivan  --  making it a family room on wheels.  Of course,
this family room has a 170 horsepower engine (and 3,500-pound towing
capacity), providing even the busiest parents with enough zip to keep pace
with their kids' hectic schedules.
    Customers who buy or lease a 1999 Nissan Quest before February 1, 1999,
have the option of receiving an "EZ Fit" entertainment console* at no cost.
The console, produced by Audiovox Corp., consists of a five-inch liquid
crystal display (LCD) television and videocassette player (VCP).  It has a
retail value of $995, installed.
    The Audiovox EZ Fit entertainment console also includes a wireless remote
control, 4-inch built-in speaker, built-in antenna, two-headphone jacks, two
audio/video input jacks for games or a camcorder and an integrated drink
holder.  The entertainment console bolts to the floor between the driver and
front passenger's seats.  The TV/VCP unit will be shipped directly to new
Quest owners, along with a certificate for a free installation.
    "The minivan has become the family room of the '90s," said Brad Bradshaw,
vice president of marketing for Nissan Division.  "Offering a state-of-the-art
entertainment console as a free option for our Quest customers is another way
we are trying to enhance the overall enjoyment of owning a Nissan."
    The second-generation Quest reflects an innovative design approach taken
by the Design Context Lab (DCL)  --  the group responsible for giving the
Quest its makeover  --  at Nissan Design International (NDI) in La Jolla,
Calif.  Rather than taking the usual tact of studying raw numbers and industry
trends, DCL members "got inside" owners' heads.  They observed firsthand
everything from what people put in their cupholders to what they hang from
rearview mirrors.  This unconventional research led to NDI's "inside out"
design concept used in developing the new Quest from the interior out.
    "With the Quest, we wanted to create an exceptionally friendly, welcoming
atmosphere, which is part of what we think distinguishes the new Quest from
the competition who simply emphasize utility," said NDI President Jerry
Hirshberg.
    To achieve this, the Quest interior was increased nearly 10 cubic feet by
lengthening the exterior 4.9 inches  --  without sacrificing the carlike ride
and handling achieved with the current wheelbase.  In addition, the 1999 Quest
contains several new "family friendly" features and available options such as:

    *  The multi-adjustable Quest Smart Shelf, which separates the rear cargo
area into two compartments and allows owners to separate heavier and more
delicate items such as a baby stroller and groceries more easily.
    *  The QUEST TRAC(R) flexible seating system, refined this year to offer a
new third-row "limousine" seating position.
    *  Memory driver's seat and outside mirror.
    *  Dual-zone multi-media audio system.
    *  Like any well-designed family room, there are many storage areas
throughout the Quest cabin -- up to 31 to house cassettes, coins, credit
cards, cups and CDs.

    "The new Quest is a pure, honest expression of what owners love most about
their minivans," Hirshberg said.  "But, that's not surprising.  After all,
minivan owners helped us design it."
    Because minivan owners are also concerned about safety, Nissan is
supporting the Quest launch with a major public service campaign in
partnership with the authors of the best-selling What to Expect(TM) parenting
books.  Called "Quest for Safety," the campaign includes a free booklet, The
What to Expect Guide to Car Seat Safety, which is available through
pediatricians' offices and Nissan dealers nationwide, or by calling the Nissan
Quest for Safety Helpline at 1-800-955-4500.  To date, more than a quarter of
a million copies already have been distributed.
    In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering,
manufacturing, sales, consumer and corporate financing, and industrial and
textile equipment.  More information on the 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti
dealerships across North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti
vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissan-usa.com and http://www.nissan-na.com.
    Audiovox Corporation (Amex: VOX), through its fully owned operating
subsidiaries, is an international leader in the marketing of cellular
telephones, auto sound, vehicle security, mobile video systems, Family Radio
Services (FRS) and home and portable stereo systems.

    *  May not be available in all states.