National Survey Shows In-Car DVD Players Make Traveling More Enjoyable, Safer - MS - "But Not For Driver"

GARDENA, Calif.--Feb. 2, 20045, 2004--The awards season is upon us, and Americans are abuzz about a hot new category: best movie for in-vehicle viewing on a road trip. The recently released "Quest for the Perfect Road Trip" survey -- sponsored by Nissan North America, maker of the Quest minivan -- reveals adults' top DVD picks and the type of entertainment Americans are watching in their mobile theatres.

Disney and Pixar's "Finding Nemo" topped the list of recently released movies that adults and children most like to watch during a car trip. Other top picks for best road trip DVDs for adults and children are the following:

Top DVD picks for adults:               Top DVD picks for kids:

1. Finding Nemo                         1. Finding Nemo
2. Seabiscuit                           2. SpongeBob SquarePants
3. Lord of the Rings                    3. Sesame Street
4. Pirates of the Caribbean             4. Rugrats
5. Mystic River                         5. Bob the Builder

Nearly 90 percent of adults say in-car DVD players -- now found in 15 percent of all new cars and offered in every single new minivan on the market -- are an effective way to keep kids entertained.

"Traveling with my kids could get quite ugly before -- now, road trips are actually enjoyable for everyone. We've probably reduced the 'are we there yet' factor by 80 percent," said mom and Nissan Quest minivan owner, Lisa Berry.

The survey shows that movies do more than just entertain. Over half of all American adults surveyed say in-car entertainment systems help reduce behavior problems like fighting, seat-kicking, crying and restlessness by nearly 50 percent.

In addition, parents reflected on their own childhood road trip experiences, and the majority wished their parents had an in-vehicle DVD option when they were growing up. Half of respondents believe they would have fought less with their siblings during car trips if they had DVD players in their vehicles.

"In-car entertainment has become a huge trend, especially for families with small children, and it's a good thing," said Fred Suckow, Nissan's director of marketing. "When used properly, it keeps passengers happy, should reduce distractions and helps to lower driver stress."

Nissan offers flip-down LCD screens and DVD systems in several of its models, including the Quest, Murano, Armada and Titan. And there's a good reason: a third of adults surveyed said a DVD option is a feature they will look for the next time they buy a car, and about one in ten respondents currently have some kind of video system (DVD or VHS) in their vehicle.

When asked to vote for in-car movie preferences, nearly half of adults surveyed prefer comedy to other genres, such as romantic comedies or dramas. Half of those polled indicated that a cartoon is the type of movie that children most like to watch; however, 44 percent would prefer children to watch educational movies.

The nationwide survey was conducted by StrategyOne, on behalf of Nissan North America. The survey included telephone interviews of 1000 American adults, 18 years of age or older.