Edmunds | Help Contact Editor Sign In | Follow Inside Line
The photo speaks volumes. The Nissan Quest has tiny buttons for the power sliding doors.
And not only is the button small, but you have to keep it pressed for a second or two for the door to start operating. It's not just a touch-and-it-opens affair.
My question: Why so small and hard to press?
Mike Monticello, Road Test Editor
Advertisement
Latest Poll
My next car will be:
Recent Posts
2012 Toyota Prius C: Introduction
May 22, 2012 9:05 PM
2012 Audi A8L: The Sound of No Hands Clapping
May 22, 2012 4:46 PM
2012 Volkswagen Beetle: Hello, Back There
May 22, 2012 3:49 PM
2012 BMW X3: Tuning the Driving Dynamics Control
May 22, 2012 12:44 PM
2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV: 1,000 Miles!
May 22, 2012 11:09 AM
Advertisement
Tip the Editors
Got a breaking news tip for the Inside Line editors?
Send it to tips@edmunds.com
Awards
Vehicles
Past Vehicles
Browse Archives
hybris says:
06:17 AM, 01/31/12
Smaller and harder target for kids maybe?
blueguydotcom says:
07:12 AM, 01/31/12
Probably to avoid accidentally bumping it only to have the door make an attempt to close while you're loading the vehicle. Yeah it won't crush anyone but it's most likely a design decision. They should highlight this design to make it clear they purposely it thinking about the customer.
mbm112 says:
07:20 AM, 01/31/12
I've never accidentally hit the power door buttons. Even with the larger buttons on the other vans, they're still recessed in that plastic surround.
nisslover says:
08:06 AM, 01/31/12
Im think to avoid accidental/intentional (unwanted by parents) operation by the kids that would be back there. A child is most like to jab the button rather than press and hold it.
blueguydotcom says:
09:20 AM, 01/31/12
Correction:
They should highlight this design to make it clear they purposely DID it thinking about the customer.
nefariousnigel says:
09:26 AM, 01/31/12
Maybe the consumers in the Japanese market the Quest was designed for don't have chubby, Fred Flinstone fingers coated in with Cinnabon residue?
Intentional or not, I imagine this button can get tiresome over 50,000 child hauling miles.
blueprint1 says:
10:06 AM, 01/31/12
Honda had it better in the 2nd gen Odyssey: a tug of the door handle replaced the buttons for the 2nd row occupants.
In any case, with kids, you use the child locks and the driver is in full control.
e30or says:
10:20 AM, 01/31/12
The button is a secondary control. Most people will just yank the door handle to get it moving.
But yeah, I think the idea that they designed it this way to avoid accidental door closings is correct. And it's harder for kids to press, which is a good thing. Anyone with kids knows they like to press buttons over and over, like power windows (up/down/up/down/up/down).
At least there IS a button.
billt9 says:
02:42 AM, 02/ 1/12
I believe the Sienna completely did away with the button.
Only the Odyssey, Quest, and Chrysler/Dodge retained the button.
I'd avoid the button, as it's not a clear interface to have one button for both open and close.