by "someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
Published 03/02/2017 at 08:00
by "someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
Published 03/02/2017 at 08:00
Tags: Vantasy
STARS: 1
Full disclosure: Nissan wanted me to review this van so bad they sold it to Hertz even though it’s been discontinued. Hertz rented it to someone who drug the back wheel across a drive through pole before they even took the blue plastic off the chrome. His kids left half a Happy Meal and supplies for a bead bracelet in the back to try and make up for it though, so there’s that.
The Quest is still probably the best looking minivan out there, even though it was first introduced in 2011 and appears to be discontinued (only 2016 models show on Nissan’s website). It’s the only minivan you can buy new in the U.S. that’s built in Japan. It gets the VQ 3.5 L V6 with 260HP. It has Nissan seats. So lots of potential. But how does it stack up against the competition?
Exterior: 7/10
The outside of the Quest has all the JDMness that could be mustered into a family-hauler package. It still looks fresh given it was introduced in 2011, but that may be down to the fact that they are a rare sight on the road. The test vehicle did seem to have remarkably thin door skins - so thin that closing the door would cause a ripple effect that even a bowl of Jello would be concerned about. Keyless entry/start is a nice touch, and fob is compact in your pocket. Unlock buttons on both front doors plus the trunk is nice, but a single button for lock/unlock is confusing, since unlocking is two presses, locking is one. Chimes once when unlocking, twice when locking but I ended up screwing it up repeatedly. Placement of buttons on the rear door handles for the power sliding doors is great as the kid-friendly level of the buttons on our Town and Country has led to some near misses. Rear hatch provides great access, but would be difficult to close for folks who aren’t tall (I’m 5’10” and noticed it being high).
Interior: 6/10
The inside of the Quest is nicely set up, the dashboard is well laid out, and the seats are comfy, even if you have a long drive. Noise levels are lower than in our Chrysler. Lots of nice cubbies and storage places, there’s a nice little shelf under the stereo that’s great for holding your cellphone. Hilariously sized 90's cupholders pop out of the dash for when you want to relive your grunge days. Fake wood accents on the front dash, and a leather wheel wrap look better than they should in acres of plastic best suited to a Versa Note. Steering wheel is nice, and controls are well laid out. Shifter is awkwardly placed though, and restricts access to the HVAC controls. It’s also ridiculously easy to select low on the CVT, rather than drive.
The second row gets captain’s chairs similar to the front row, with tilt/slide access to the back row. A removable center console in the back has storage and cupholders. There’s some nice little hooks on the front row seats for holding bags or other items. The third row is not as cushy a place to be, but the kids didn’t seem to mind, though the seatbelt was a long reach back for them. For cargo duty the Quest does have a pseudo fold-flat floor – the second and third row chairs fold flat and there is a false floor in the trunk at the same level. While this provides a nice underfloor storage area in the rear and a long load area, it does restrict cargo space and the height of items that can be carried compared to the Chrysler.
Only three seats (the captain’s chairs and the rear passenger position) have LATCH anchors for car seats, which is problematic, as placing a car seat means you lose the tilt/slide access to the rear seats and have to remove the second row console.
Toys: (6/10)
Power sliding doors! Multi-zone climate control! XM Radio with Bluetooth and backup camera. That is all.
Handling/Ride: (6/10)
It’s a van. Holds the road well, steers well, but seems like it might be a bit more of a handful at the limit then the Town and Country we have. Could be down to tires though.
Brakes: (6/10)
For a 4500lb van, the brakes do alright. Pedal feel is good and stops are predictable.
Safety: (3/10)
All modern safety features (airbags, traction control, ABS) are present, but gets a poor rating in a small overlap collision from the IIHS. LATCH locations aren’t optimal either.
Engine: (5/10 due to limited access)
It’s a VQ 3.5 L V6, with all that entails. Hood should be bolted shut like a 4C since it appears no parts can be serviced without dropping the engine.
Transmission (1/10):
The CVT transmission in the Quest is awful. The Quest only gives up a couple of ponies on the Pentastar, but you’d never know that from the way the Quest accelerates. Feels like it has 150 HP, rather than 260. Only slightly better mileage than the T&C we have at home with the Pentastar and 6-speed.
Audio (6/10):
Stereo is easy enough to use with a large screen and good layout. Not going to blow you away, but definitely serviceable.
Value (2/10):
At an MSRP of $30,540, the Quest SV would be competing with some of the higher Pacifica trim levels after incentives – and that’s a much newer design. EPA 27 MPG highway is laughable – I averaged a shade under 20 MPG, mostly highway driving over a week.
Overall: 48/100
Translation: You – with the new kid – you’re getting a minivan and it will be a Chrysler.
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
03/02/2017 at 08:13, STARS: 0
Your in FL this week? The Suburban we have this week avgs 22mpg.
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
03/02/2017 at 08:22, STARS: 1
We have a 2012 Quest my agreements/disagreements:
The exterior is an awseome JDMlooking spaceship
The dash, specifically the transmission selcector, is crap. I’ve knocked it into neutral a number of times trying to adjust the heat, based on FLorida, you may not have had to try that. Enjoy your nice weather before all the ice menlts and florida sinks.
I believe it has 4 LATCH seat, the r4ear center has it as well, which is dumb cuz who would want the kids in the back so close. All I can imagine is endless ridfes of daddy their touching me
The V6 has pretty good power and more acceleration than I expected from a van. I thnk we’re averaging about 22 mpg
The sliding doors and the CVT are its only redeeming. It annoys the shit out of me that I cannot just pull the drivers inside door handle and get out of the car. I have to unlock the door first.
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
03/02/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 2
Despite the fact that it’s due for a new platform, the 7-year-old Odyssey is far better. And the Sienna is better still but you have to get the upper trims (LE, LE+) to have a decent seating position.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
03/02/2017 at 09:35, STARS: 1
That’s two of you that said the styling is a plus.... I just don’t see it. I think it is far and away the least attractive minivan out there, especially with those tiny wheels and tires. I’m truly surprised anyone actually likes the styling. I always assumed folks that drive these got them for a screaming deal, but I guess there are folks out there that like the looks.
I’m glad for you though, I thought they were a consolation vehicle, but if folks like them, then good deal. Not my preference, but that’s okay, I can appreciate someone else enjoying them. Thank you two for shedding light on the situation. Now I won’t look with sadness upon the folks driving around town in these for now I know that they may actually like them.
I’m a Pacifica owner BTW, and right now, they are the best looking vans out there, but the Honda and the Kia are also great looking vans. Sienna, eh, it’s okay, but it needs a bigger wheel/tire combo as well. It’s saving grace is it is offered in AWD. Something the Pacifica could really use.
Holy torque-steer and wheelspin Batman. Tough to beat the stomp and go ability of the Audis. If only they made a minivan....
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/02/2017 at 09:41, STARS: 0
Definitely ran into the HVAC issue, luckily this one had the automatic climate control. Would be awful if you had to engage defrost frequently or something like that.
I really hated the CVT. I drive our T&C like I stole it, and the Quest barely got better mileage. The T&C could surprise some folks at a stoplight - I seriously doubt the Quest could. Could just be that I have a heavy foot, but I prefer the real gears.
Agree on the door pull thing - it is ridiculous. Lots of little annoyances like that with the Quest.
Hmm you might be right on the center LATCH in the rear. No way though could you get two latch seats together in those two positions though.
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/02/2017 at 09:45, STARS: 0
Agree with this - if you need Japanese, go with the Sienna or Odyssey. But even though FCA and its dealers suck, they’ve been building vans forever and do it well. I’d be having a hard look at a Pacifica if I was replacing our T&C.
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/02/2017 at 09:47, STARS: 0
Just left Monday. Yeah I never pulled more than 19.9 MPG according to the dashboard. That’s pretty amazing mileage out of a battle tank.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
03/02/2017 at 12:21, STARS: 1
Not really a player in the minivan market, but am I the only one who thinks the Sienna looks really good – especially in the XLE or SE Sport trim levels? Pretty sleek I’d say…and that Quest is starting to look awfully dated?
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/02/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 1
Well the Sienna’s been around since 2010, so the Quest is actually newer. The higher trim levels are nice, but a buddy had a 4 banger base model. It was as unfortunate as it sounds.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
03/02/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 1
Yeah, part of me wants to laugh at the thought of a sport trimmed minivan…and also that this sport trim is nothing but plastic cladding and as sporty as a Camry is grounded to the ground. But as far as visual aesthetics and JDMing all the things go, it’s a pretty good looking minivan. Also surprising that it hasn’t changed significantly since 2010 – curious what the next gen will look like with their current styling. If they follow the Avalon and Camry probably won’t be too bad…but if they go Prius, yikes.
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/02/2017 at 12:57, STARS: 0
Mohawk on wheels wouldn’t surprise me at all.
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/02/2017 at 13:05, STARS: 1
The wheels and tires are hilariously small. I think you’re right about them being a consolation vehicle, even for Hertz. Probably Nissan was blowing them out, and with the Caravan being discontinued it was an easy decision. I like the look of them, but would I give up our 50K mile 2013 Town and Country in a straight trade after a week? No way.
FWD overpowered vans are good times. It’s fun ending up 3 lanes to the right when you mat the gas.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
03/02/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 0
Yeah that Fwd adjustment has taken a while. I’ve been in AWD or RWD for my last 5 vehicles, so it’s a bit different. Plenty of power, but must be wielded responsibly.
"GE90man" (ge90man)
03/02/2017 at 17:17, STARS: 1
one thing that really bugs me with the quest are its rear taillights. when the rear running lights are on, it’s just a single bulb, and it looks really bad, among tons of other styling features on the car
"mazda616" (mazda616)
03/26/2017 at 22:55, STARS: 0
Interesting review.
We’re renting from Hertz this fall and selected a “Nissan Quest or similar”, so I expect one of these, a Kia Sedona, or a Grand Caravan.
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
03/27/2017 at 12:33, STARS: 0
The Caravans should be exiting the fleet over the next few months, with the Quests going shortly after. I’d expect a Sedona or Pacifica in the fall. The Quest is more than adequate for a week, it is nice and comfy, I just couldn’t live with it long term.
"mazda616" (mazda616)
03/27/2017 at 14:08, STARS: 0
I’m hoping for Sedona just so I can see how it compares to the big players.