Nissan

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Quest

Family Friendliness:

Recommended: Yes

Specifications apply to SL model.

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By Keith Buglewicz

Nissan has had a tough time cracking the minivan nut. While Honda, Toyota and of course Chrysler have dominated with their vans, the Nissan Quest has unintentionally played the role of the anti-establishment alternative, scooping up buyers who maybe needed a van, but didn't want to succumb to the everyone-else-has-one feel of the big three. Problem is, minivan buyers aren't exactly an anti-establishment crowd, and Nissan stepped out of the minivan market after the 2009 model year.

That'll change at the end of January, 2011, when Nissan jumps back in with the all-new 2011 Nissan Quest. Except this time, Nissan seems to be embracing a smaller role in the market. Sales targets are modest, and rather than go head-to-head with Toyota, Honda and Chrysler, Nissan is offering up a mix of clever cargo management, distinct styling, a and a luxurious and sporty driving experience. After spending a day driving the 2011 Nissan Quest around San Diego, I think Nissan may be on to something.

What's New

The 2011 Nissan Quest is all new this year, based loosely on the same mechanical architecture as the Nissan Altima, Murano and Maxima. Its 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine and continuously variable automatic transmission are familiar to current Nissan owners, but the Quest's chassis was pulled and stretched like taffy. The 2011 Nissan Quest is between 2.6 and 3.6 inches taller than the Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, but it's also narrower than all three. Inside, Nissan's emphasis is on luxury surroundings. The dash looks like it was pulled straight from the company's Infiniti luxury brand, and nearly all the surfaces have a high-quality feel.

The 2011 Nissan Quest offers a unique take on cargo hauling compared to its rivals. Behind the third row is a storage area that can hold up to 11.4 cu.-ft. of cargo under a hard cover. Lift the covers up, and you have 35.1 cu.-ft. of space. That's par-for-the-course capacity, but the neat bit is that the Quest's third row folds forward, rather than back into the cargo well. That means you always have that extra 11.4 cu.-ft. of storage, regardless of how you have the seats configured. The second row seats also fold forward, which not only makes it easy to maximize the Quest's cargo room, but eliminates the need to remove heavy second-row seats.

Models

The 2011 Nissan Quest is available in four models. The bottom-rung S costs $28,550 (including an $800 destination charge), and comes standard with front, side and curtain airbags, stability control, an audio system with an in-dash 6-CD changer, and keyless entry with pushbutton ignition. Step up to the $31,700 SV and you get power sliding doors, aluminum wheels, three-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, a 4.3-inch color monitor with rear-view camera, and Bluetooth phone integration. The even classier $35,150 SL adds leather, bigger wheels and tires, a power liftgate, pushbutton fold-flat third row seats, and heated front seats. The all-out luxury LE adds Nissan's exceptionally comprehensive navigation system, memory driver's seat, DVD entertainment system, climate control with a foul-odor sensor, 120-volt power and audio/video input, and a blind spot warning system. It also has a luxury price tag: $42,150.

First Impression

You can't help but notice the 2011 Nissan Quest's powerful front end styling when you first see the van. Love or hate the polarizing design, there's no mistaking the thick chrome band, unusually shaped headlights and plunging grille. The rest of the van is also striking, with a sharply cut-off rear end that strongly resembles the Ford Flex. With its added height, there won't be any problem finding a Quest in a parking lot full of Odysseys and Siennas, that's for sure.

From behind the wheel -- especially in upscale LE trim -- the Quest may just be the most luxurious minivan on the road today. The dash design isn't nearly as controversial as the front end, and Nissan has taken the time to select high quality materials nearly everywhere, the lone exception being the cheap-feeling headliner. Still, the soft-touch padding on the dash, the thickly padded door-mounted armrest and the attention to detail in the design say "luxury sedan" more than "Cheerio-strewn kid hauler."

The luxury impression holds when you start the engine and pull away. The V-6 is powerful, and the CVT is exceptionally well matched, delivering maximum power quickly, but also allowing subdued highway cruising. Minivans are often noisy on the road, owing to the echo-chamber architecture, but the Quest is genuinely silent at highway speeds. In fact, the Quest has the potential to be an excellent road tripper. Not only is it quiet, but the optional DVD screen is big (11.0 inches) but doesn't block your rear view when it's down, the ride is comfortable but secure, and the three-layer padding on the seats offer exceptional comfort and support. Second and third row passengers have plenty of headroom, and comfortable seats to sit in, too. In the second row there's a center console with cupholders and extra storage; remove it quickly and easily to create a passthrough to the rear. Rear passengers can even get their own sliding sunroof. Tall third row passengers might complain about legroom though, especially if the second-row seats are in their rearmost position.

So the 2011 Nissan Quest certainly feels up to the challenge of hauling kids from place to place, but what about stuff? Here things get complicated, and it depends on what you haul, how big it is, and how frequently you do it. If you only occasionally fold your van's seats for bags of mulch, a few cases of diapers, or an oversized school project, then the Quest's quick and clever fold-down mechanism will be a godsend. On the other hand, if you're the type that likes to go antiquing on the weekends, are always buying the biggest TV you can get, or otherwise need every last inch of vertical space in your vehicle, then there might be a problem. The 2011 Nissan Quest's seats fold quickly, but by folding forward, they eat up cargo space. The Quest's cargo volume maxes out at 108.4 cu.-ft., which doesn't include the extra storage under the floor. By comparison, the Chrysler Town & Country boasts 143.8 cu.-ft., and thanks to its Stow 'n Go seating -- which folds the second-row into the floor -- you don't have to remove any seats in it, either. The primary difference is height: The Quest's cargo area is 40 inches tall, while the Town & Country's is a little more than 46 inches.

Family Friendliness

The 2011 Nissan Quest hits the major family friendliness points with plenty of passenger room, safety features and of course sliding doors. However, the Quest also offers clever touches that enhance its family friendliness. First, obviously, is the always-available covered storage area in the rear. With enough space for a stroller, baby bag, purse, backpacks or other items, the hard covers mean that you still have lots of floor space for groceries, and their 200-lb. weight limit means you'll probably never break them. There's also the advantage of not rearranging your load just because you overdid it at Costco. Aside from that, there are little touches, like the single-touch button on the sliding door handle. One push and the doors glide open, all without fumbling for a key fob or trying to yank the handle when your hands are full. Then there's the Quest's Easy Fill Tire Alert, which uses the tire-pressure monitoring system to honk the horn when you've reached the proper tire pressure.

On the other hand, the Quest gives up a little to its competition. In addition to the cargo space, the Quest can only seat seven, while the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna can seat eight. In addition, the Quest only has three LATCH points in comparison to the Chrysler Town & Country's four, and the new Honda Odyssey's five LATCH locations. Finally, there's the step-in height. The Quest's higher floor means that little ones have an extra step to climb before they get to their seats.

Conclusion

While all minivan manufacturers offer up leather seats and premium features, the 2011 Nissan Quest is the only one that actually feels like a luxury vehicle. Its smooth and quiet highway ride, plush seats and upscale interior decor combine to make it feel more like a luxury sedan. Yet it can still haul seven people, plus a lot of stuff. If "only" seven seats won't hem you in, and the diminished cargo space isn't a problem, then there's no reason not to Recommend the 2011 Nissan Quest.

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