As with Cherry Garcia ice cream or that Monkees CD tucked conveniently out of sight, minivans qualify as a guilty pleasure. While popular lore dictates only desperate soccer Mom housewives travel in these way-back machines, reality paints a more decisive picture.
Minivans are more than a passing fad. They've proven their staying power (like Mickey, Davy, Peter and Mike) and earned begrudging respect. As long as nuclear and blended families of some sort inhabit the planet, V-6-powered minivan sales and resales should hold up just fine.
While General Motors, Ford and Hyundai have recently exited the genre, Chrysler, Toyota, Kia, Volkswagen, Honda and Nissan minivans continue pounding the pavement.
Why have minivans not gone the way of the Edsel or Tony DeFranco and his harmonic family? Simple; sliding rear doors combined with oodles of space. Wider entries make transporting small folks and their gear or extra needs folks of any size much more manageable. Sliding power doors ease the pandemonium.
The 2011 model year signals the fourth generation makeover for Nissan's entry, the Quest. Little changes from the 2011 to 2012 model year save for satellite radio offered in more trims. During the third model year (2004-2009) Quest briefly introduced a funky pod-like center dash leaving shoppers uninspired. This Gen 4 attempt is more user friendly and quite dynamic. Nissan skipped the 2010 model year, jumping from 2009 straight to 2011. Fourth-generation models started arriving at dealerships early in the 2011 calendar year.
Quest architecture borrows underpinnings from Nissan's successful Altima and Maxima sedans; a good start. The turning radius is tight and nimble thanks in part to speed sensitive power steering. Its wheelbase is about six inches shorter than the third generation and overall length trimmed by approximately three. Quest ranks as one of the top performance-oriented minivans of the bunch.
Exterior wise, Quest's squared back end attempts to catch the buzz created by its smaller stable mate, the Nissan Cube. Its edgy looks resemble Ford's three-row Flex crossover (with four-standard side doors) rather then most minivan rivals. Gone from earlier generations are wavy side character lines, replaced with a straight-edge variety. Most minivans, Quest included, opt for traditional front-wheel drive. Chrysler dropped its all-wheel option a couple years back. One of the few automakers continuing to offer all-wheel drive is Toyota's Sienna.
Nissan offers four Quest trims (S, SV, SL, LE) with a wide pricing spectrum. All are powered by a capable 3.5-liter 260 horsepower V-6 engine connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Horsepower jumps 20 from Gen 3. Nissan does smooth-running CVT about as good as any automaker, helping tweak up fuel economy. Nissan's CVT effortlessly cycles through an infinite range of forward gear ratios with no 'catch' sensations sometimes felt with conventional five or six-speed automatic transmissions. The lack of a lurch helps distinguish Quest's smoother ride from most rivals. The Japan-built Quest generates a respectable 19 mpg city and 24 highway. City mileage increases by three from Gen. 3 while highway numbers remain neutral. Unleaded 87-octane petro fuels the Quest.
Only three factory option packages are offered. One popular option, the DVD rear entertainment system, is standard only in the top LE trim and optional in SL. Dual panel moonroofs are available in SL and top-level LE. An eight-inch in-dash navigation system is available as standard equipment only in LE.
Quest pricing remains relatively constant from 2011 to 2012. Entry S trims start at $27,750 in both model years and top-of-the-line LEs have the identical $41,320 price. Mid-level 2011 SV trims start at $30,900 while a 2011 SL checks in at $34,350. Both SV and SL incur a $150 increase in 2012. Our SV tester's bottom line finished at $32,240 with extras including $300 roof rails, $180 carpeted floor mats, a $60 cargo net and $800 destination charge. Comparatively speaking, Chrysler's Town & Country minivan starts at $30,260 in 2011 while an Odyssey from Honda checks in at $28,075.
Dual power side doors (manual sliding versions come standard in entry S) motor into action three ways: key fob buttons, dashboard buttons left of the steering column and by gently tugging exterior strap-like handles. Sliding doors incorporate power-down windows. Interior color choices include grey or beige. Quest provides easy front seat entry requiring no step-up motion. For back row travels, the entrance is lower than most rivals. Cloth seating comes with S and SV while up-level SL and LE opt for leatherette seating.
Seven-seat configuration is the maximum in all trims with captain's chairs occupying rows one and two and a three-person bench in back. Some rivals offer eight-passenger occupation with a second-row bench seat option. Theater-style seating situates row three a pinch higher than the middle row, which is a tad above row one. A retractable rearview concave mirror drops down from the front ceiling enabling drivers to spy upon activities in the back rows.
A permanently-mounted floor caddy with four cup holders (two accessible from row two) is between front captain's chairs with a lower pull-out storage tray and USB plug-in ports for portable electronics. The transmission shifter, mounted on the lower center dash, is an easy grab although drivers must reach around to monitor the smallish climate control buttons (and display window) immediately to its right. A separate audio window atop the center dash (doubling as a rear backup camera screen in some models) is an easier reach when not utilizing convenient secondary steering wheel controls. This music center has an additional iPod plug in port and shelf for positioning portable electronics. Satellite radio is available only in up level LE for 2011; SV and SL get tuned in during 2012.
To visit the back bench, Row two chairs slide forward while the back tilts. Quest's edgy exterior cues results in optimal head room in row three. If constant activity is predicted for this row, Quest deserves serious consideration. When not in use, the 70/30 seat backs easily fold flat with a tug of a pull strap accessible from the cargo area. With row three up or flat, huge under-floor storage space is available. Some minivan third rows flip and fold into the floor, negating this opportunity. Row two seats are not removable. While Chrysler discontinued swivel-n-go seating, popular stow-and-go seating (bucket-like seats folding into the floor) remains.
Cruise control is found on the leather-wrapped, manual tilt-and-telescope steering wheel. Electronic push start comes standard in all trims. The brake pedal must be pushed for the engine to turn over. Accessories activate if the start button is pushed without brake activation. The fuel-door pull latch is on the lower dash left of the steering column next to the hood release.
Rivals, including Chrysler, Dodge and Toyota, do a better job of hiding a narrow slide frame under the windows aft of the sliding doors. Quest's frame is out for all to see. Vertical profile side view mirrors provide excellent visibility. Narrow, band-like headlight housings flank a small, vertically-slated grille with circular Nissan logo front and center. Power lift gates, standard on SL and LE, are optional in S and SV. Either way when opened, Quest provides generous head clearance for those six-feet four inches and shorter.
At A Glance2011 Nissan QuestPrice as tested: $32,240
Wheelbase: 118.1
Overall Length: 200.8
Fuel Economy: 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway
Curb weight: 4,389 pounds
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Assembly: Kyushu, Japan.