2011 Nissan Quest LE Review

After a one-year hiatus the Quest is back in an all new body that can at least now be described using similar terms like divisive; which is to say more than 5 percent of the population doesn’t hate it.

We don’t often dedicate much space to design critiques in reviews here at AutoGuide, mostly because it’s just too subjective to waste words on. The Quest’s originality does, however, deserve a few comments. The pug nose isn’t the best example of how Nissan could have stylized the front of the vehicle, but tremendous credit is due for not shying away from a boxy utilitarian design, with just enough brightwork to make luxury SUV buyers take a second look. But what really adds luxury punch to this people mover are the windows. Glass seems to cover nearly half of the van, with blacked-out pillars and a curved rear section – a design cue adapted from the Cube.

With both hits and misses (370Z to Juke), Nissan doesn’t shy away from letting its design team take the reigns. And in cases like this, we’re glad.

Having had some initial seat time behind the wheel of the new Quest a few months back we arranged a proper, more thorough test, complete with a lengthy road trip, and my two small kids.

Installing child seats is a cinch, with two captain’s chairs in the second row. Oddly, Nissan doesn’t offer a second row bench option, meaning the Quest is a 7-seater at best. We say at-best because you won’t find ample space for adolescents and above in the 3rd row. It’s adequate back there, but not like the Odyssey.

When it comes to space behind the third row Nissan takes a different approach to cargo than minivan rivals. Rather than have the third row seat fold down into the cargo well, it flips forward, creating a large flat surface, while sturdy panels cover the well making space for items below and on top. One complaint we discovered, however, is that there’s no way to keep the boards in the up position, meaning that they’ll fall on your hands or head while you’re trying to load items in the hole. Some simple hooks or Velcro would solve this. When compared to segment rivals, this layout means that Nissan’s cargo space doesn’t measure up on paper, but when you consider competitors calculate their figures by removing rows of seats (something almost no one does, and if they do it’s only in rare circumstances), the Quest isn’t far off.

When activating the power sliding doors and the rear liftgate an audible warning is sounded, much like what you’d expect from a reversing truck. While a nice safety feature, with Nissan using the same sound for both, that tone is also unnerving. That may sound hyper-critical, but try standing under the rear liftgate while your spouse closes one of the side doors. The sense of impending doom when you expect a giant mechanical slab the size of a garage door to hit you on the head is enough to make you flinch, again, and again, and again.

At least there’s enough space to fit under the big hatch – even at 6 feet tall – which is more than we can say for the Odyssey.

Driving the Quests is both enjoyable and at times a little annoying. It is huge, so it’s nice that there’s a rear view monitor included on all but the base model. Changing lanes with so much behind you may require some getting used to for those new to the minivan segment. There is a blind sport warning system to help, but it comes only on the top trim model and isn’t even offered as an option on the rest of the range – a serious oversight as we have to think this safety feature would be an easy up-sell for any salesman worth his commission check. Absent is a reverse sensor system with audible warnings.

The CVT transmission, which we found surprisingly nice during our first drive of the Quest, proved less ideal during a prolonged test. While it does deliver an incredibly smooth driving sensation, adding to the Quest’s already near-luxury characteristics, the lack of a consistent throttle response during day-to-day use proves irritating. Somewhat simulating the characteristics of a traditional automatic, apply throttle and the CVT delivers a bit of power, but then immediately fades off as though a gear shift has occurred. In order to maintain the same rate of acceleration, more and more pressure on the gas pedal is required.

Our top-trim LE test model came complete with all the goodies you’d expect including a power driver’s seat (standard on all models), plus Tri-zone climate control, USB and iPod hookups, Bluetooth and a back-up camera (standard on the $30,90 SV trim). Plus there’s full leather, 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate, heated front seats and a quick-release 3rd row, which all comes on the $34,350 SL trim. Add on to that navigation, a 13-speaker audio system, 4-way power passenger seat, an 8-inch display screen, Hid headlights, blind spot warning and a DVD entertainment system for a total of $41,350. It even gets 2nd and 3rd row sunshades, which again sounds like something trivial, but means parents don’t have to buy ugly or flimsy aftermarket ones.

Attractive, with a smooth ride and premium interior, the Quest is perhaps the most attractive minivan to luxury buyers who might otherwise opt for an SUV that doesn’t quite meet their people-moving needs. Apart from some complaints about what it does and doesn’t have on some trim levels and that CVT transmission, if there is a reason to not recommend the Quest it’s because what it doesn’t do. The numerous family-friendly innovations found in the Odyssey are lacking here.

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