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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Sunday December 24, 2006 - A13 2007 Nissan Quest 3.5 SE By Rob Beintema OAKVILLE BEAVER SPECIAL If you want a tough challenge, try designing a minivan. Especially in the face of a shrinking market and consumers who are increasingly reluctant to be pegged as `minivan moms and dads'. The basic two-box formula is easy. Chrysler perfected it. It's putting your own personal stamp on the product that's hard. Ford has given up. GM's tried everything from early dustbuster-styled weirdness to the latest SUV flavouring. And the Japanese and Korean companies have had some success with their own takes on this basic mode of family transportation. Nissan, since dropping the former sharedwith-Ford and smallish Quest/Villager model, has definitely chosen to go its own way with a minivan that boasts performance heart and product individuality with its unique design. "When Quest was introduced, it redefined the segment with its emphasis on combining car-like performance, innovative style, sporty appearance and exceptional practicality and versatility," said Ian Forsyth, director of marketing for Nissan Canada. Well, maybe not that exceptional, since just three years after the debut of its latest generation model in mid-2003, the Nissan Quest minivan has already undergone a major transformation for the 2007 model year. "The enhancements for 2007," Forsyth added, "which represent one of the largest mid-cycle investments in Nissan history, make the Quest more flexible and accommodating than ever - keeping pace with the evolving needs and desires of minivan users." Those enhancements include cosmetic changes to the exterior, a re-worked interior and added available features including a Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System and an in-dash CD6 with MP3 playback and auxiliary audio input. The heart of the Quest is basically unchanged. Bolted to the Quest's FF-L platform (Front-engine, Front-wheel drive, Large), a foundation that is shared with Altima, the Murano crossover SUV and the Maxima sedan, is the standard 3.5-litre DOHC 24valve V6 engine. Based on Nissan's VQ35 engine series, which has been named one of `The 10 Best Engines' by Ward's magazine for 12 straight years, this is the same motor you'll find in everything from the Maxima to the 350Z. Goose the gas pedal and you'll hear traces of that Z sports car moan and feel, although in this incarnation, the 3.5-litre V6 has been tuned to produce 235 hp and 240 lbft torque. That power also gives the Quest a 3500 lb towing capacity. Fuel economy is rated at 12.9L/8.5L/100km (city/hwy). The motor is matched with a standard 5speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with overdrive. There's a wider gear ratio for 2007 to improve acceleration performance. A Traction Control System (TCS) is also standard, bolstered by Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) on the top trim 3.5 SE model. For 2007, the outside packaging has been tweaked with a new Nissan-signature grille up front, a more angular and aggressive new front bumper fascia and redesigned rear combination taillights in back. The roof rack has been squared-off and refinished in satin while the door handles return to classic chrome, instead of body colour. The 2007 Quest stands on all-new the new `Chili' colour in my leather-appoint pricing in this ultimate SE test version comwheels, including the base wheel covers and SE tester, similar in flavour to something plete with power sliding doors, power liftthe 16-inch and 17-inch aluminum-alloy from Ford's King Ranch lineup, proved very gate, RearView Camera with Rear Sonar System and a long list of other luxo items. rims. And there's one new exterior color - handsome. The Quest starts with a more modest Maybe I just admire any attempt at indiChestnut - among the total of eight colours viduality but the Quest's quirkiness always $32,498 MSRP for an already well-appointed in Quest's palette. The biggest changes are on the inside. The strikes a chord with me, especially when base model and climbs from there with a wide Quest was never meant for the fashion faint combined with the airy and upscale SkyView array of options and content spread over three of heart but the 2007 model backs away from glass-paneled roof, which lights the interior trim levels 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE. "With the new 2007 Quest, we're staying some of the wonky weirdness. The instru- with roof-mounted glass panels above the ahead of the segment, while becoming more 2nd and 3rd rows. ment gauge cluster package returns from the A full-length rear overhead console comes accessible to a wider audience," said Forsyth. centre stack to more traditional placement standard with the SkyView glass-paneled "It's a synergy of style and flexibility that is behind the steering wheel, where God and roof, adding personal reading lights and air unmatched by any other minivan on the man always intended it to be. A revised, available centre-mounted 7.0- vents and an available DVD Mobile market." The new 2007 Quest made its inch color information display screen can Entertainment System with single or dual Canadian debut at last year's 2006 Toronto Auto Show and made an early appearance at also host a DVD-based Nissan Navigation 8.0-inch fold-down color display screens. But we're well on the way to almost $50K Nissan dealers last spring 2006. System. In addition, the new instrument panel features a revised www.brettons.com · www.brettons.com · www.brettons.com · www.brettons.com · www.brettons.com · www.brettons.com · www.brettons.com Human Machine Interface (HMI) design for the available dual-zone HVAC controls, a sunglass holder and lower centre storage compartment. The right side of the instrument panel includes a new, larger glove compartment. Customers can now opt for a fixed center console between the front seats with a large storage box and a hidden lower compartment. Quest models without the fixed center console feature a front row folding tray table. And the interior has been retouched with a new look, in either a faux wood style or THIS IS THE ONE! brushed metallic finish, along with You pay what we pay! That's right... chrome bezels surrounding gauges You pay the invoice price of the vehicle. and other trim pieces. No gimmicks! From now until Dec. 31st you can It's roomy inside the Quest. buy your Kia for cash at dealer invoice cost! In addition to this opportunity, our With its long wheelbase and 6000L lending institutions have given us (211.9 cu.ft) of interior space, the "NO PAYMENTS TIL MAY!" Quest boasts one of the largest Hurry for best interior volumes of any frontselection on in stock vehicles! wheel drive minivan. There's easy access through the sliding door openings that measure 858mm THE KIA LINE UP (33.8 inches), the longest in class. Quest's 2nd row seats fold down and drop forward to the floor. The 3rd row, which has been totally rethought for 2007, folds more easily into storage well with new-for2007 integrated auto-folding headrests and spring assist for easier operation. The seats themselves are a `furniture-style' design, supposedly 1239 PLAINS RD. EAST 905-639-2306 reflecting the design concept of an TOTAL CARE OWNERSHIP COVERAGE urban loft. Just look like fat guy seats to me. 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