Overview & Reviews
The Nissan Quest has typically had a supporting role in the minivan market. The first two generations, in particular, were rather anonymous and subpar. The more recent third-generation Quest made a huge leap ahead in terms of styling and performance, though it, too, never really caught on with the public.
The newest and latest fourth-generation Nissan Quest, however, is the most competitive model yet. Its bold styling, interior refinement and smooth V6/continuously variable transmission (CVT) place it firmly in the discussion among the leaders of the pack: the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
Current Nissan Quest
The Nissan Quest minivan is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 making 260 horsepower, put to the ground through a CVT. There are four trim levels: S, SV, SL and LE.
The base S is sparsely equipped for a minivan, but still offers an auxiliary audio jack and a few other niceties. The SV adds a wealth of other items such as alloy wheels, power-sliding doors and high-tech items like Bluetooth and an iPod interface. The SL trim is more luxurious thanks to its leather upholstery and one-touch folding third-row seats, while the top-trim LE gains a navigation system and an advanced "Around View" parking camera, while offering an optional panoramic moonroof spanning nearly the length of the roof. The kids will be thankful that a DVD entertainment system is available on all but the base S.
Inside, the Quest's controls are logically grouped on the center stack and easily navigable. Interior materials are the best you'll find in a minivan, with the leather-appointed cabins in the range-topping trims feeling especially premium and luxurious. On the downside, the Quest's standard second-row captain's chairs eliminate the option for an eighth passenger. And although the Quest's seats fold neatly into the floor, this design results in about 40 cubic feet less cargo capacity than other mainstream minivans.
Overall, though, the Quest is a legitimate, if commonly overlooked, choice for a minivan. Thanks to its compliant ride, composed handling and smooth power delivery, it should serve families quite well.
Used Nissan Quest Models
The current, fourth-generation Nissan Quest was introduced for 2011. There have been no significant changes since then.
The third-generation Nissan Quest was produced from 2004-'09 (there was no Quest for the 2010 model year). At its debut, it shook up the minivan world with its avant-garde body styling, unique cabin design and a marketing campaign that did its best to disassociate the van from its soccer mom image. The Quest's pillar-style center stack was certainly distinctive, but the multitude of similar buttons made operating often-used functions a hassle. Thankfully, the busy center stack was replaced by a much more user-friendly layout in a 2007 refresh.
All Quests of this generation were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 235 hp, and power was sent to the front wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. Four trim levels were available -- the base 3.5, 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE -- each with an increasing number of features and conveniences. Oddly enough, none of these trim levels included rear seats -- forcing customers to pay extra for a seat package that included second-row captain's chairs and a flat-folding rear bench.
This Quest had a few things in its favor, including a roomy interior and handling that was a cut above most other minivan competitors. However, downsides were numerous, including a third-row seat that wasn't split, a relative lack of cargo capacity and limited availability of stability control. Overall, minivan shoppers would be better served by other top choices in this segment.
The second generation of the Nissan Quest debuted for 1999. Offered in base GXE, midlevel SE and leather-lined GLE trims, this Quest featured a 3.3-liter V6 with 170 hp, as well as a unique sliding (but not removable) third-row seat that could be stowed right behind the front seats -- after the second-row seats were taken out. The van's questionable ergonomics, iffy build quality and poor crash test scores, however, made for a last-place finish in an Edmunds minivan comparison test. The model run continued through the 2002 model year, but there was no Quest sold for the 2003 model year.
Introduced in 1993 and sold through 1998, the first-generation Nissan Quest had a 151-hp 3.0-liter V6. Base XE and uplevel GXE trims were offered and seven-passenger seating was standard. The biggest change for this generation occurred in 1996 when a minor face-lift yielded a new grille, bumpers, headlights, taillights and dashboard.
The first two generations of the Quest were rather anonymous and subpar. It might also be helpful during the shopping process to know that these Quests were also nearly identical to the Mercury Villager from the same time period. With either variant, however, minivan shoppers are still advised to consider better-ranking minivans first.
User Reviews:
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Wonderful! - 2005 Nissan Quest
By David - April 29 - 4:30 pmI dont care what any of the "big auto folks" say, this minivan is fantastic!! I havent had any of the problems that have supposedly plagued it. I think some folks just had a little "buyers remorse" when they started having to make the payment. The exterior design sets it apart from other minivans...very sleek, and futuristic. The interior is very spacious with TONS of storage everywhere. And yes, I even like the gauge cluster in the middle...its different, and I like different. Great get up and go, and extremely quiet! And definitely spend the extra $ and get the Bose sound system...nothing like turning the kids heads on the road like a booming minivan!!
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Worst vehicle I have ever owned - 2004 Nissan Quest
By mastiffmom1 - April 26 - 12:27 amMy Quest has 60,000 miles on it and the dvd player has been replaced twice. The vents fall out of the ceiling constantly, the passenger visor falls out of the ceiling occasionally, when making a left hand turn with the headlights ALL the lights in van come on. The radio antenna has been replaced. The screen that displays everything stopped working. It rattles and shakes, it just sounds sometimes like it is going to fall apart. Worst of all at about 30,000 miles the paint started chipping off. Nissan fixed the little areas as they occurred, 5 days after the warranty ended the chipping started in other areas. ..Funny I saw a quest this weekend for sale with the paint falling off too
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Best for the price - 2007 Nissan Quest
By mike - April 22 - 9:30 amI looked at all the 2007 vans and drove most. Absolutely the best for the money and better than most regardless of price.
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Dont Buy 05 Nissan Quest - 2005 Nissan Quest
By MidgeA - April 17 - 8:33 pmNumerous, numerous, numerous quality issue problems! Van has been in shop for one month of the four that we have owned it. Would not recommend this van. Having to file Lemon Law suit.
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mine - 2000 Nissan Quest
By soupbone38 - April 17 - 2:00 amthis van rocks! best cheap van out there!
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AWSOME - 2004 Nissan Quest
By GONSO - April 13 - 2:00 amI LOVE THIS MINIVAN!!! IT IS SO FUN TO DRIVE.
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A vehicle unlike any other - 2004 Nissan Quest
By jdiffy - April 9 - 10:00 amIve owned this 2004 Quest for several months now and have nothing but praise for this vehicle. The center console takes a few days to get used to but actually feels like it belongs centrally located. After reading several website reviews on this vehicle, I think some members testdriving these cehicles need to own the van before speaking. This is SERIOUS departure from the norm in design, but it all works well in the end. Some reviewers seem to have a problem with the new design of this van. I am not one of these people.
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A Great Family Van - 2004 Nissan Quest
By KDeVoogd - April 2 - 10:00 amOverall my wife and I really like the vehicle. Family travel is much improved since we opted for the DVD entertainment system. The navigation system is nice but not used enough to justify the 2K price tag. We love the interior space. It is easy to move around in. Engine performance has been great, but gas mileage is no where near the sticker values. The best weve one on long hauls is 22 mpg. (expect 17-18 mpg avg.) We have had some intermitant trouble with the electronics in the transmission. Nissan claims that no problem exists, but at times the van will not accelerate past 30mph. This is usually remedied by turning the vehichle off and restarting.
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Something breaks every month - 2006 Nissan Quest
By LostACustomer - March 30 - 6:03 pmDont buy this piece of junk unless you want to spend 2 trips a month. I traded it for a Toyota Sieanna and couldnt be happier. Things that went wrong were: - cranks forever - loss of power annually - powered sliding door keeps reversing and still isnt fixed. - vibrations at fwy speeds - gas gauge shows empty after a fill- up twice - passenger air bag shows off even when adult sits there - replaced radio keypad twice - lights falling out of ceiling - door panels coming off - glove compartment warped - shifter replaced - radio antenna weak - headrests are too far from your head so you can get a serious whiplash if you are rear-ended.
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Lemon??? - 2008 Nissan Quest
By kehaunani - March 30 - 1:56 pmWell within the first year and a half, I had to take van back to dealer for quite a few fixes. There was a missing piece in the braking component, they replaced it, they had to replace the seals for the sliding door and hatch, the visors broke off just by opening them, they were replaced. My van was bogging while driving,check engine light came on with that,car had to be towed back to dealership, they had to change out the cylynoids. The a/c came on when it felt like it.they changed two major components for the a/c. went to p/u van after a/c repair, van would not start. end result, could not lemon law. didnt have 3x for the same problem.traded van in for a 2009 altima.wish me luck! :(
