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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  Big Disappointment - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Buy another Van - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought loaded SE with nav, dvd, etc...Looked at 04 Sienna and Town and Country and decided on the Quest based on features, room and price. Since taking delivery we have had multiple problems...rattles, steering column lockup(could not put the car in park), Shifter nob fell off, skyroof leak (we are now on our 4th panel), front seatbacks came out of seat. Has been in the shop for 8 days so far. I have become good friends with rental car agency. I would highly recommend paying the extra money for the Toyota until Nissan has worked out the numerous bugs in this car. I am going to Nissan Consumer Affairs with this car given all the problems in just three month

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  Good but could be better - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Mikecinti - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Van rides great, nice peppy engine, lots of storage space, handles great for a mini van. Plastic storage area that is attached to back of drivers seat has been replaced twice (woman at service desk said its cheap-not exactly what I want to hear after spending 28,000+$). Something wrong with the front brakes, at highway speeds steering wheel shakes (have to take that in), DVD and auto doors are great. Screen needs to be brighter. Love the center counsle, great visability for a van. Wiper controls are hard to work, have to take your eye off the road to use them (for intermit/and rear)

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  Total junk - 2005 Nissan Quest
  By rfw - April 11 - 1:00 am

  Traded this thing off after less than 2 years. Ill summarize: Airbag recall (took 2 trips and still didnt operate correctly); burned-out tailight; interior map lights and overhead A/C vents constantly fall out; high-speed shimmy that cant be fixed; rear & side doors squeak and rattle; window motor burned out; oxygen sensor went out; A/C wont shut off sometimes; DVD player went out, and the final straw: the transmission hung in 2nd gear until I restarted it. Run away, if you even get close to one.

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  Decent...but no Odyssey or Sienna. - 2000 Nissan Quest
  By F23A4 - April 8 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Quest new in 2000 and chose it specifically due to the features:price ratio. At the time it was very unusual to see minivan with sport tuned suspension, HR rated tires, power moonroof and a standard TV/VCP unit. Given the demand for the Odyssey and Sienna, we were able to acquire our Quest for several thousand below MSRP. That said, its been in the shop more times than any vehicle weve ever owned. Summary:the brakes are in need of constant servicing, replacement headlight bulbs have burned out the wiring several times, radio display ceased, the passenger side pwr window needed to be repaired twice, its now in the shop for a trans rebuild & were on our second TV/VCP unit.

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  THE HAZARDS OF THIS VAN! - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By TENNESSEENONNA - April 8 - 10:00 am

  RE: NEW VAN! AFTER PURCHING THE FIRST VAN, IT BROKE DOWN- DEALERSHIP COULDNT FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT SO-GOT A DIFFERENT ONE- HAS BEEN BREAKING DOWN WITHOUT ANYONE BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFE WAY TO TRAVEL WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN!!! NOW I HATE TO SEE MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VAN! AM TERRIBLY WORRIED! THIS IS SO UNSAFE! LOOKS GREAT, AND IS GREAT TO DRIVE- UNLESS IT IS ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTA-W/O POWER OR AT THE DEALERSHIP & THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT! AFTER HAVING 2 OF THESE VANS WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS - DANGEROUS PROBLEMS I AM SORRY THAT BOTH OF MY CHILDREN BOUGHT THEM! AND WISH THEY HAD STAYED WITH THE TRIED AND TRUE AMERICAN VERSIONS! WHAT NOW??

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  Wish Id Waited for 2007... - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Nissan Lover - April 4 - 6:36 am

  Sleek look, powerful, smooth--and handles like a sportscar (not kidding)... Too bad they ruined it with the instrument pod... Its such a quiet ride---until you turn on the heater or air conditioner... Even with the blower in the "1" position--the cabin fills with noise! I must not be the only one with this complaint-- because Nissan listened, and has redesigned the dash in the new 2007... I only wish I had waited--because there isnt a better powertrain out there...

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  Underrated but Exceptional - 2013 Nissan Quest
  By aa0526 - April 3 - 7:41 am

  Ours is only the base S. We were not looking for a Quest. We were eyeing the Sedona, Sienna or GC for over 6 months. I was already preapproved etc. but just was not convinced about the reliability issue of the three - plus, the high price but low feature content of the Sienna. Walked in a dealership - test drove a Quest and was blown away. Comments about high price, limited cargo room were simply not true. The year end clearance made the price very competitive. Plus, the cargo and passenger room? The van is very spacious. You get a PERMANENT 3rd row storage - since the seats fold forward plus, the regular 3rd row storage - for a total of 37 cubic feet!

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  Was gonna buy a Honda..... - 2015 Nissan Quest
  By jim - March 26 - 12:37 pm

  Fold flat seats without removing second row seats was key in purchase decision of my 2015 SL Quest. Just have 2,000 miles on it now. I traded a 2011 Chrysler Town & Country--- fold flat seats without removing second row---but folding third and second row was kinda pain in the back. With Quest, after folding seats, I still have a cargo/grocery hold area--nice! Has overall less cargo room than Odessy or T&C but folds much easier and unless you haul loose peanuts and need every square inch, the space is plenty for my wife to use as a weekend garage sale cargo van. CVT transmission shifts smooth (I know--no gears) and has good power and passing capability. Gear shift lever blocks view of radio on/off knob and some other controls. Would like to see power outlet for cell phone chargers in second row, multiple info on display (outside temp, ave MPG and distance to empty would be one combo I would use) and remote start option. Havent seen 27 MPG; 20-22 average is what I get. Checked customer reviews on Honda, Toyota, KIA, Town & Country---that made me decide for the Nissan. I definitely needed a van for 7 people as I have 9 grandchildren and 6 children. All said; very happy.

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  New van for the grandkids - 2008 Nissan Quest
  By ronosa - March 26 - 10:26 am

  We have 6 grandkids so Mamaw decided she wanted a new minivan. We got the Quest. I love the features, the ease of operating the features particularly the electric sliding door and power liftgate. The front and rear air is a real blessing and I love the fact the antenna is in the rear glass. I wish satellite radio had been included instead of an add on. The only thing is the trip feature says we are only getting about 19.3 per gallon at the moment. I hope its lying. This is the only thing I would not like about this van. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

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  A minvan for todays family - 2004 Nissan Quest
  By Chris N. #1 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  We have looked for a minivan with certain features and this one has it all. The exterior styling is fantastic, making you feel like you are driving a sport car instead of the typical minivan mom vehicle. The interior design is wonderful done and very spacious with plenty of leg room.