In the wake of the newly released 2011 Toyota Sienna and redesigned Honda Odyssey, Nissan is working on the next iteration of its Quest minivan. Details are still sparse, but we do know that the Quest will debut at the L.A. auto show in November and goes on sale in early 2011.
The Quest’s new nose looks somewhat like that of the 2011 Odyssey, and its broad grille and skinny headlights give it a sharper front-end appearance than the outgoing van. The side glass is lined in chrome, while blacked-out B-, C-, and D-pillars give the razor-straight roof a cantilevered look. The rear glass and liftgate appear nearly vertical, which should maximize usable space in the van’s cargo area. Inside, the switchgear and gauges have been updated, and a redesigned dashboard is more upscale, replacing cheap-looking plastic with large swaths of wood trim. We can also see that Nissan’s latest infotainment system sits in the center stack. We’ll need to see the Quest in person to know for sure, but these teaser images seem to show a minivan that has matured and wears its distinctive features better than the previous generation, which just looked weird.
Indeed, the outgoing Quest was too quirky for many buyers when first introduced in 2004; by 2007, Nissan engineers had redesigned it with a more conventional interior. Even so, the Quest was never a strong seller. It finished fourth out of five entries in our most recent minivan comparo, struggling in part due to its still-awkward interior ergonomics.
Thanks to: Car and Driver