The Nissan Quest is a minivan that was marketed by Nissan from the 1993 to 2017 model years. The successor for the Japanese-designed Nissan Van and Nissan Axxess, the Quest was the first Japanese-brand minivan developed specifically for the North American market. In a joint venture with Ford Motor Company, the Quest was manufactured alongside the Mercury Villager (the first Mercury-brand minivan)
For its first two generations (under the Nissan-Ford joint venture), the Quest shared the Ford VX54 platform with the Villager, with Nissan contributing the powertrain for both vehicles (derived from the Nissan Maxima); the Quest/Villager shared design commonality with neither the Ford Aerostar nor the Ford Windstar.
For the third generation (during which the joint venture was ended), Nissan moved to the Nissan FF-L platform, growing in size and adopting chassis commonality with the Maxima. For its fourth generation, the Quest moved to the Nissan D platform, becoming a widened variant of the Nissan Elgrand minivan developed specifically for the United States and China.
Under the Nissan-Ford joint venture, the first two generations of the Quest were manufactured by Ford at its Ohio Assembly facility (Avon Lake, Ohio). The third generation was manufactured entirely by Nissan, who assembled the vehicle at its Canton, Mississippi facility. For the final generation, the Quest was assembled alongside the Elgrand at Nissan Shatai (Kanda, Fukuoka). Following the decline of minivan sales in North America, Nissan ended sales of the Quest after the 2017 model year.
Background In 1987, Ford and Nissan entered a joint agreement to develop an all-new vehicle to compete in the minivan segment scheduled for 1991. While Ford was on the verge of commencing development of a front-wheel drive minivan (which ultimately became the Ford Windstar), the agreement allowed for a large degree of cost-sharing between two manufacturers in an effort to fill a mutual gap in their product lines. Ford had no minivan for its Mercury division and Nissan was struggling to adapt its compact vehicles for the American market.
Development officially began later that year under the codename VX54, with the final designs being chosen in 1989. The shared model line was designed by Nissan Design International in La Jolla, California (later Nissan Design America). As Ford proceeded with its Aerostar replacement, its version was to be sold through the Mercury division (whose Tracer subcompact was assembled by Mazda). For Nissan, the joint venture was a project to expand American-sourced content for its American-assembled vehicles; launching with 140 new suppliers, the domestic parts content was initially 75% (intending to increase to 90%).
Prototypes went into initial testing in 1990 at Ford and Nissan test tracks, later real-world testing throughout 1991, with development concluding at the end of that year.
Under the joint venture, Nissan would contribute the powertrain and major body stampings (through its Nissan Smyrna (NMMC) plant), shipping the components to Ford for final assembly at Ohio Assembly. The first Nissan Quest rolled off the production line on April 14, 1992, at the Avon, Ohio plant. Parts content was initially sourced from Japan to accommodate the launch of NMMC assembly, which began in June 1992 on the main body stampings, with engine assembly beginning in August 1992.
First generation (V40; 1993)
The Nissan Quest was introduced at the 1992 Detroit Auto Show as a 1993 model. Unusually, the design patents for the model line were filed by Nissan design chief Thomas H. Semple on March 5, 1992 (two months after its introduction). Prior to the launch of the model line, Nissan had sold two domestically-designed minivans in the United States: the 1987–1990 Nissan Van and the 1990-only Nissan Axxess (1990–1995 in Canada). Launched in mid-August 1992, Nissan would sell 1,358 examples during its first full month on the market.
For a short time, the Quest was sold in Japan at Nissan Bluebird Store locations, retaining its left-hand drive configuration, but sales were limited and cancelled after the facelifted version was released in 1996.
In line with Ford using the Taurus model line to develop its Aerostar replacement (originally speculated as a redesigned version), the Nissan-Ford joint venture was adapted from the Nissan Maxima midsize sedan (a model line which had dropped its station wagon for 1989). Though officially designated the Ford VX54 platform, the model line was assigned the V40 chassis code by Nissan. Along with using front-wheel drive, the VX54 chassis benchmarked the Chrysler minivans, using a nearly identical 112.2 inch wheelbase (0.1 inch shorter than the standard-wheelbase Voyager/Caravan), and similar suspension configuration (front MacPherson struts, leaf-sprung beam axle). However, the Quest was nearly 12 inches longer (approximately 1 inch longer than the extended-length Aerostar).
Both the Quest and the Villager were powered by the Nissan VG30E 3.0 L V6, producing and torque. Before they agreed to utilize the engine in the joint venture, Ford requested Nissan make several design changes to the VG30E. Along with the addition of an oil level sensor and the relocation of the oil filter assembly (for improved access), Ford requested that the engine become a non-interference design: if the timing belt were to fail, the pistons would not be able to contact any open valves in the cylinders (preventing catastrophic engine failure). The V6 engine was paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, also sourced from the Maxima.
In following with other Nissan lines, the Quest was marketed in a standard XE trim and a deluxe GXE trim.
While the Quest shared essentially its entire body with the Mercury Villager, several details differentiated the two model lines. In place of the Mercury lightbar grille (though the headlamp clusters were shared), the Quest was fitted with a single-slot body-color grille (in the style of the 1992 Altima); the front bumper was designed with different air intakes than the Villager. The rear liftgate was styled differently between the two models; along with Nissan not using red trim between the taillamps, the reverse lights were mounted slightly lower (bordering the license plate). On the standard Quest XE trim, the exterior was monochromatic (contrasting with the gray body moldings of the Villager GS); in reverse of the Villager LS, the deluxe Quest GXE came with a monochromatic exterior and optional two-tone paint. The interior design was shared between the two model lines. To reduce production costs, many interior parts were sourced from Ford, with both models sharing the same dashboard (including the radio, heater controls, and power window and lock switches; the Quest also shared its instrument panel with the Villager. For 1994, a driver-side airbag was introduced, as both model lines sourced the steering wheel from the Nissan Altima (replacing the previous Maxima-sourced wheel).
1996 model update For 1996, the Quest underwent a mid-cycle model update. While the powertrain remained unchanged, the body saw several exterior changes, with the grille reflecting the redesign of the Maxima and a larger lower grille intake; taillamps were no longer monochromatic.
To accommodate the adoption of dual airbags, several changes were made to the interior. The glovebox was relocated to knee level, as the passenger airbag eliminated its high-mounted location. While the instrument cluster was carried over, the center of the dashboard was redesigned to adopt new climate controls and a double-DIN radio unit (both sourced from Ford). In a change welcomed by consumers, 3-point seatbelts were added to the front seats (as dual airbags negated the requirement of motorized shoulder belts).
Seating configuration The Nissan Quest and Mercury Villager were both 7-passenger vehicles, with the seating configuration dependent on trim. The base XE trim was offered with a 2-passenger middle bench seat; the upgraded GXE trim was offered with either a middle bench seat or optional twin bucket seats. In a segment innovation, the third-row bench seat was placed on tracks; if the second row of seats was removed, it could be folded up and slid against the front seats to maximize cargo space. As an alternative, seatbacks were able to be folded flat (with each seatback also configured as a tabletop).
While largely intended to remain as a permanent part of the vehicle, the third-row seat was removable (involving the use of tools). While reducing the necessity of removing and storing rear seats, the system was not adopted by other manufacturers as simpler alternatives became available.
Second generation (V41; 1999)
The second-generation Nissan Quest was released for the 1999 model year, again serving as the design counterpart of the Mercury Villager. Intended as a substantial evolution of the first generation, the 1999 model again shared the VX54 chassis on an unchanged 112.2-inch wheelbase, though growing an inch wider and nearly 5 inches longer. Dual sliding doors made their return (last seen on the 1990 Axxess), becoming a standard feature (making it the first model line in the segment to adopt them entirely, preceding the Honda Odyssey by one month).
The Nissan-Ford joint venture that produced the vehicles remained the same. The major body stampings and drivetrain components were built by Nissan and shipped to Ford (who supplied multiple secondary components) for final assembly. Internally designated V41, the second generation was developed by Nissan Design America between 1993 and 1995. In addition to giving the model line an updated design, Nissan sought to build on the car-like handling of the model line; following its 1993 introduction, the Quest had become one of the smaller vehicles in its segment. Nissan again supplied the powertrain, switching to the 3.3 L VG33E V6 (shared with the Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier), increasing output by 20 hp.
Though every external body panel was changed, the exterior saw an evolutionary update to its styling; along with the introduction of a driver-side sliding door, the B-pillar became body-colored. The XE trim was discontinued and replaced by the GXE as the base model (adopting its two-passenger bench seat). Two new trim levels were added, the sport-oriented SE (cloth or leather interior) or luxury GLE (leather interior). The interior (again shared with the Villager) took on a much sportier appearance with the dashboard design with Ford-sourced switches and controls (as before, the Quest was not offered with the optional digital instrument panel used by the Villager). The third-row sliding bench seat made its return; to add cargo space behind the rear seat, a removable parcel shelf was added, effectively creating two-tier storage.
For 2000, minor functional changes were made to the model line. The GLE adopted the rear stabilizer bar of the sportier SE, while the interior saw minor trim upgrades. On non-GXE trims, an optional rear-seat video entertainment system (fitted between the front seats).
During 2000, Ford and Nissan chose to wind down their production agreement, with the second-generation Quest/Villager being replaced separately.
2001 update
For 2001, the second-generation Quest underwent a mid-cycle revision. While the Villager saw only detail changes made to its exterior, the Quest saw a redesign of its entire front fascia; along with fairing in the front bumper, the grille was restyled in line with the Altima (the Nissan emblem was moved to the hood). The rear stabilizer bar was made standard on all models, with the SE receiving upgrades to its suspension; GLE vehicles were fitted with 16-inch wheels.