2011 Nissan Quest — First Drive

Nissan continues its search for success in the minivan market with the all-new Quest.

The last time Nissan overhauled its Quest minivan was 2004. It was designed and built in the United States for the American consumer, which meant that it was large, roomy and shaped like a breadbox on wheels. Plus, the interior featured a strange stumplike center stack that was just awful. While that Quest wasn't pretty, it was your typical minivan at the time.

Today, however, the minivan market is making a comeback. All of the major players have undergone major redesigns over the past few years. And they are all looking pretty good. But none of the transformations have been more drastic than that of the Quest. This time the all-new 2011 Nissan Quest is designed and built in Japan. The looks are better and the interior is much nicer.

Bing Images: 2011 Nissan Quest

Will this total overhaul be enough for the Quest to compete with the new Toyota Sienna and redesigned Honda Odyssey, the minivan segment's two heavy hitters? The jury is still out.

Model Lineup

The 2011 Nissan Quest is offered in four trims: S, SV, SL and LE. Standard equipment on the $27,750 S includes cloth upholstery, 6-way adjustable front seats, keyless access and starting, AM/FM stereo with 6-disc CD changer, auxiliary input jack, manual sliding side doors and P225/65R16 tires on steel wheels. The $30,900 SV adds 3-zone automatic climate control, 4.3-inch color dash display, USB connection, rearview monitor, Bluetooth connectivity, front center console, fog lights and alloy wheels. The $34,350 SL gets leather upholstery, heated outside mirrors, universal garage-door opener, power rear liftgate, roof rails, automatic headlights, quick-release fold-flat third-row seat and P235/55R18 tires. The loaded $41,350 LE has a navigation system with a 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive, a 13-speaker Bose sound system, memory for the driver's seat and outside mirrors, second- and third-row sun shades, power third-row seat, rear DVD entertainment system, Blind Spot Warning System, xenon headlights and a 120-volt outlet.

Safety features include dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags, three-row curtain side airbags with rollover sensor, active front head restraints, tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, traction control and electronic stability control.

Compare: Nissan Quest vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Chrysler Town & Country

Under the Hood
The 2011 Nissan Quest offers front-wheel drive and only one engine, a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 253 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Quest's EPA fuel-economy ratings are estimated at 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway.