2017 Nissan Quest

The Nissan Quest catches the attention of many shoppers in the US thanks to its starting price of under $30k, but is it an all-rounder worthy of such regard? The truth is that the price of the Nissan Quest is about the only advantage it has over its rivals. Perhaps a new version would breathe life into the family hauler. Is it all bad? No. It actually has a few redeeming qualities. The standard 260-hp V6 allows for good performance, and it is quite entertaining to drive. Still, it has a lot of niggly bits to contend with, especially when you put it next to competitors that include the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna.

Rolling over unchanged from 2016, the Nissan Quest is a minivan that does not stir up much excitement based on its style alone - images of harried moms enroute to soccer practice are common. What it does have is a practical design that ties a boxy stature with modern visual elements. A horizontal grille and halogen headlights make up the face of entry-level specs, with xenon headlights on higher trims. The width of the rear is dominated by boomerang-shaped taillights and a rear roof spoiler seals the deal. A dual-opening sunroof and power-slide doors are also optionally available.

A power liftgate can also be had as an added option on all specs except the SL and the Platinum, that receive the feature as standard.

The new Nissan Quest lineup relies on a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine to get going. It produces 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a CVT transmission. It's smoother and a little quieter than you'd expect, but the performance leaves a lot to be desired. That being said, the Quest is a vehicle that pulls its weight and does not kick up too much of a fuss when you're trying to overtake. It manages the run from 0 to 60 mph in around 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of around 130 mph.

While no auto in this segment is truly fun to drive, the Quest is a minivan that does not make its size known from behind the wheel. It handles like a much smaller auto and the steering wheel isn't completely devoid of feeling, which is a win for a hauler in this category. Still, it approaches corners and acceleration with safety as a first priority, so do not expect much athleticism. One clear advantage that this van has is its expert ability to soak up bumps and imperfections on the road. The independent suspension does a wonderful job of delivering a cushy ride that may just surpass the competition. But that is about where it ends. The CVT failed to impress us despite its ability to bring fuel bills down. And, despite being able to overtake without the risk of immediate death, it is rather slow.

While nowhere near what you'd get from a smaller car, the Quest is on par with all of its counterparts in terms of gas mileage figures. It returned EPA estimates of 20/27/22 mpg. Both the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna have combined figures of 22 mpg.

Looking at the Nissan Quest van's dimensions from the outside, you'd assume that the interior offers an abundance of space, and you'd be right, but it is missing some practicality and comfort when we compare it to rivals. For example, the Honda Odyssey does not have as much space on the inside, but it is far more comfortable. Ingress and egress are more of a hassle than it needs to be because the doors don't slide back far enough and the van's lack of a second-row bench means that it loses out on the eight-seater capacity boasted by competitors. As for cargo capacity, the van has 37.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 63.4 cubes with the third-row seats folded. A total of 108.4 cubes are freed up with all seats folded, falling vastly behind the Sienna's 150 cubic feet. Flaws aside, it manages to make a good amount of room available up front and it is comfortable enough for longer journeys.

The entry spec is relatively bare-bones, but the list of features improves as you move up the trim levels. The S has a six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat, keyless entry, and push-button start. The SV adds three-zone climate control, a leather-clad steering wheel, and power-slide doors. It also enjoys the addition of a six-speaker sound system and a five-inch infotainment screen that enables Bluetooth. Added to the SL is leather upholstery along with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heating for the seats and a power liftgate. The Platinum welcomes an advanced climate control system and navigation, as well as an upgraded 13-speaker sound system.

The NHTSA hasn't reviewed the Nissan Quest for safety. However, the IIHS has, and the Nissan Quest's ratings aren't particularly impressive. The van earned scores of Poor and Average in small overlap and roof strength tests, respectively. The Platinum is the only spec worth mentioning in terms of safety features as it has blind-spot monitoring.

In terms of reliability, the family-hauler fares well, with not a single recall for the current model.

It delivers average performance in nearly every category, with perhaps its ride quality and fuel efficiency saving it from being a total write-off. The low-cost trim may do well to attract budget-focused shoppers, but that MSRP becomes slightly less attractive when you consider how much value it offers for that money. You might want to take one of its competitors, like the Kia Sedona or Toyota Sienna, for a test drive and see how they feel first. Both are similarly priced and boast far better ratings overall. Needless to say, the Quest isn't the best all-rounder minivan in the USA.