The minivan is far from dead because no other vehicle offers its sheer roominess and user-friendly nature.
The futuristic "space bubble" styling of the Nissan Quest minivan takes some sting from the minivan's "soccer mom" image (slur?), although the Quest's distinctive arching roofline allows somewhat of a whale-like appearance. It certainly doesn't have the mainstream styling of rivals from Chrysler, Honda, Kia or Toyota.
2008 Minivans
Likes: Distinctive styling. Roomy. Lively acceleration. Carlike handling. Smooth ride. Easy entry/exit.
Dislikes: Cumbersome in tight quarters. Third seat mainly for kids. Fixed side door windows. Deeply set gauges.
Large outside door handles are easily grasped, and so are inside ones. A long 124-inch wheelbase allows the widest-opening sliding doors in the minivan segment, and the Quest is nearly as easy to enter or leave as with a car.
That's a definite asset when contending with groceries, small children and child seats. In fact, the Quest has a lower step into the interior than any minivan in its class. Sliding side door windows are inoperable, but that could be a safety feature when hauling kids.
This Nissan comes (don't get cross-eyed) as the base $24,630 3.5, $25,330 3.5 S, mid-range $29,230 3.5 SL -- and top-line $34,330 3.5 SE.
All have a smooth, sophisticated 3.5-liter dual-overhead-camshaft V-6 with 235 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. The quiet V-6 shoots power through a responsive five-speed automatic transmission that upshifts deftly and downshifts quickly with no lurches.
Acceleration is lively in town and strong on highways, with a good 65-75 mph passing time.
Steering is positive, and road grip is fine, partly because the Quest makes good use of the sporty Nissan Altima sedan's upgraded suspension components. However, the front-wheel-drive Quest's size makes it less carlike to drive than some competitors, and its size makes it cumbersome to maneuver in tight quarters. The ride is smooth, although occasionally a bit soft. The brake pedal also is soft, although it has a linear action. Anti-lock all-disc brakes have a brake assist feature for sure, consistently smooth stops.
Estimated city fuel economy is nothing to phone home about at 16 mpg, although that's typical for a heavy (4,293-pound) minivan. The highway figure is respectable at 24 mpg. Premium-grade fuel is recommended.
The Quest has quite a price spread, but that shouldn't leave the impression that the base 3.5 Quest is bare bones. Rather, it's fairly well-equipped, with such items as front/rear air conditioning with rear controls, tilt wheel, cruise control, AM/FM/CD player and power mirrors, front windows and door locks, with remote keyless entry.
The 3.5 S adds a passenger-side power sliding door and power liftgate. Move to the 3.5 SL and added are dual-zone automatic climate controls, power driver's seat, adjustable pedals, better sound system, driver-side power sliding door -- and a rear-obstacle detection system with a rearview dashboard camera. That system is a desirable S option because it's impossible for a driver to see directly behind him.
The 3.5 SE adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, power front passenger seat, premium sound system, power sunroof, "SkyView" glass roof panels over second- and third-row seats for a brighter interior, and wider tires on 17-inch (up from 16-inch) wheels. The sunroof and SkyView panels are a $1,500 option for the 3.5 SL.
Safety features for all versions include front-side and curtain-side air bags and traction control. The 3.5 SE adds an anti-skid system.
A key option for all versions is folding, but nonremovable, second-row bucket seats and a third-row bench seat best suited to children.
However, the first and second rows provide plenty of room and large, comfortable seats. A wide aisle makes the third-row seat easily reached, and it's also comfortable.
Nissan offers the usual minivan options, which mostly come in packages. Items include a $2,150 dual-screen DVD entertainment system and a $1,600 navigation system.
The Quest's quiet, upscale interior no longer has a space-age design because that scared off some minivan buyers, which are a generally conservative lot.
Gauges are set too deeply for a quick read in direct sunlight, but the Quest has easily used audio and climate controls on a horizontally biased surface that, thankfully, aren't absorbed by the navigation system. The shift lever juts from the center of the dashboard so it doesn't get in the way.
The interior has numerous strategically placed cupholders and storage areas, and long grab handles are handily put at the front of the sliding door openings. Headrests for third-row seats fold down so they don't obstruct vision when not being used.
The cargo opening is low and wide, and the cargo area has a deep bin when the third seat is in place. The liftgate has a hefty interior pull-down grip, even with the power feature.
The Quest always has been for those who want a practical minivan that's not as much of a mainstream model as rivals.
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