What is it?
2011 Nissan Quest
What's special about it?
Rumor had it that the Nissan Quest would come back from its two-year hiatus as a radically different kind of minivan. Nissan was mum on particulars, but the automaker let it slip months ago that the redesigned 2011 Quest would be built in Kyushu, Japan, instead of Canton, Mississippi, like its predecessor. So it was only natural to assume that the new van would be slightly more in step with the preferences of the Japanese home market — which is to say, smaller.
Now the wraps have come off the 2011 Nissan Quest at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. While the new minivan is indeed smaller than the 2009 Quest (which had a humongous 124-inch wheelbase), it has almost exactly the same footprint as the dominant players in the minivan class — the 2011 Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
Like its forbear, the redesigned 2011 Nissan Quest rides on an extended-length version of Nissan's current D-segment platform architecture already used on the Altima, Maxima and Murano. It has a 118.2-inch wheelbase — about 7 inches longer than the Murano's — along with a 68.1-inch track and overall length of 200.1 inches.
Unlike the Odyssey and Sienna, the 2011 Nissan Quest is strictly a seven-passenger minivan, as there's no bench option in the second row. You can fold the 60/40-split third-row seat flat with a single pull of a strap (or power it down on the higher trim levels). The reclining and fore-and-aft-adjustable second-row captain's chairs fold as well, but as in most other minivans, you'll need to remove them for really big hauling assignments. Maximum cargo volume is 148 cubic feet — right in step with the Honda and Toyota.
Previous Nissan Quests stood out for their one-of-a-kind styling, and once again, there's no way you'll lose track of the Quest in a parking lot. This time, though, the Quest draws heavily from the design of Nissan's Japanese-market minivans and has a taller, boxier look than other U.S.-market vans. Nissan says the 2011 Quest is meant to look as if it's "carved from one solid piece of sculptor's stone," and further notes that the shape offers aerodynamic benefits — the base Quest S has a 0.32 coefficient of drag. A double sunroof is available if you'd like to let more light into your stone-shaped van.
For motivation, the 2011 Nissan Quest resorts to an obvious source — Nissan's VQ-Series 3.5-liter V6, which is rated at 235 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 240 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine needs premium fuel to return these numbers, and even then, they're still less than what the Sienna (266 hp, 245 lb-ft) and Odyssey (248 hp, 250 lb-ft) offer from their identically sized V6 engines. The Quest, though, uses Nissan's continuously variable transmission (CVT), which we've enjoyed in the Maxima and Murano. Nissan estimates the front-drive Quest will earn 16 city and 24 highway mpg ratings from the EPA — again short of the Odyssey (19/28) and Sienna (18/24).
As you'd expect, Nissan is offering a wide array of comfort and safety features on its new minivan. Key items include a jumbo 11-inch screen for the rear entertainment system, as well as a tri-zone climate control system with the Plasmacluster air purifier and grape polyphenol filter introduced on the Infiniti M37/M50. In addition, the tire-pressure monitoring system includes a horn alert to let you know when you've achieved the correct pressure when you're adding air to the tires.
Nissan will offer the 2011 Quest in S, SV, SL and LE trim levels. The base S model offers all the basic minivan features, along with keyless start. The SV adds desirable features like a back-up camera, automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a USB input. The SL adds the power-fold feature for the third row along with leather upholstery, while the high-line LE heaps on the luxury with a navigation system, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a rear entertainment system, the Plasmacluster purifier, a blind spot warning system and low-beam xenon headlights.
Inside Line says: The 2011 Nissan Quest might not beat the Odyssey and Sienna at their own game, but it brings a few unique features to the table and, for sure, one-of-a-kind styling. — Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Add A Comment »
2k2se says:
02:37 AM, 12/06/2010
I owned a 2000 Sienna and a 2008 Odyssey even though I loved the quirky bits on the old Quest (full-length sunroof anyone?). The interior of the old Quest was horrible though, IMHO. Living in Japan for the last year may have changed the way I perceive the exterior of this van, but I love everything about it. The exterior is distinctive and modern without being shaped like a melted razor and the wrap-around back window is a nice element. Looks like they nailed the interior too, but I'll reserve judgement until I can touch the surfaces.
Might be shopping time at Nissan if the next assignment puts us back in the CONUS...
ballerdc says:
08:06 AM, 11/24/2010
correction: I meant thought the Oddy would look weird on the EXTERIOR
ballerdc says:
08:05 AM, 11/24/2010
The interior is nice... Thank God no center instrument cluster this time. It looks more like an Infiniti interior than a Nissan. Better than the Oddy and Sienna on the interior. The exterior however looks weird and from head on, it looks to much like the ugly Sienna. Thought the Oddy would look wierd on the interior too, until I saw it in person. It's very handsome.
uofmg35 says:
10:50 AM, 11/23/2010
Inside Line has the engine numbers wrong. According to Nissan website, the engine output is 253 hp (not 235 hp), and 236 lb-ft of torque. Totally adequate and competitive.
I personally think this is the best looking minivan out right now (although that's not saying much!). It looks great with the wrap around side windows trimmed in chrome and the aggressive front grill/headlamp treatment. For a minivan, it looks really good. The interior looks much more luxurious then the Honda and Toyota. Love the piping on the leather seats, and the generous amount of wood trim on the dash.
Quest starts $27,750, which is in line with Odyssey starting at $27,800 but a bit higher then the Sienna V-6 at $25,700. Not sure how the features line up.
It won't outsell the Odyssey, Sienna, Caravan, or Town & Country, which all sell about 9000/month. But it should slot in above the Sedona and Routan, which only sell like 1500/month.
ford_flexer says:
12:44 PM, 11/20/2010
I think the Japanese automakers are taking over the minivan market,becuase now all the american automakers have left is chrysler and they are kind of barely hanging on, i remeber when gm rolled out a whole fleet of minivans(chevy-Uplander,pontiac-montana,buick-tereza, and the saturn-relay) and of course for ford there was the Freestar and Windstar. i think that ford is bringing somekind of minivan called Grand C-max and maybe Grand S-max not so sure what Gm bringing.
yatesjo says:
06:01 PM, 11/19/2010
The Nissan comes with interesting looks and features, but honestly they still haven't gotten their heads around the American minivan market. The style is very Japanese... not a bad thing to me per say, but that is subjective and a lot of people will disagree. The interior looks nice, but so does the Sienna and but when you get close enough to touch you realize how disastrously Toyota flubbed it.. The video system has a real big screen compared to Toyota/Honda's gimmicky split wide screens.
How hard is it for Nissan to do a split fold, magic 3rd seat? The old Quest had a awkward and heavy single fold seat that paled in comparison to anyone else. This one folds forward (which makes higher lift height to put things in, but also provides a nice hidden bin) and they don't show the second row folding either. Cargo volumes must come from the high ceiling.
Finally the drive train is pathetic. Least power and least mileage? Nissan needs to spend some serious quality time engineering a new engine... Toyota, Honda, Chrysler and even Kia have vastly superior performance in their current or upcoming models.
I suspect that Nissan has resigned themselves to being 3rd string players in the US minivan market and just seek to provide a unique niche for people intent on being oddballs. They don't compete on price (assuming this one is as overprices as the previous model), performance or even utility features, so be odd and settle for a small corner of the market.
bmesc says:
09:36 AM, 11/19/2010
I am completely torn by this. I own a '07 Quest, like it and have no problems at all with it. I have been anxiously awaiting the debut of this new version (which, ant14, I believe is made in Japan, not Miss.,), but, to me, I just can't bring myself to say I like the looks of it. I want to own one more minivan, as my kids are still young and they are the best vehicles for them, but I dread driving a Honda or Toyota because they are so common. I'm attracted to Nissan products because Nissan always seems to produce vehicles just a little bit off center, i.e., different from all the rest, yet, again, to me, this boxy design seems uninspired.
It is incredible that the only comments I have seen so far are either love it or hate it. I don't love it, but the problem with minivans, if you are a minivan owner, you can't actually let yourself hate the design because you have little choice. You have to rate it relative to other minivans. Ultimately, the body design is a formality; it's what inside that counts. BTW, I have always gotten very positive comments about my '07, especially when they see the inside. People are clearly impressed.
I hope they will have seats of the same quality as I have seen in the Japanese version (Elgrand). I have seen photos of an Elgrand with rear captain seats that have a folding leg rest and deeper cushioning.
My big hope is that when I actually see it in person, and sit in it, that it will look much better than the photos I've seen. The newest photos do appear to make it look better than the dark preview photos Nissan released, but I think I'll need to actually see it in person. If not a new Quest, I don't know. Maybe I will change my mind and go for a SUV.
blackdynamite0 says:
06:42 AM, 11/19/2010
This van blows!
It's super square, and has got a bone-ugly face. The engine only takes premium wine, and gives you back league-worst EPA. It has less power than Sienna and Chrysler (Wasn't this rumored to offer 300HP from the VQ engine?).
The seats fold flat, but don't tumble forward. It only offers a CVT, which the public hasn't warmed to. And it doesn't offer a bench in the second row. It fairly reeks of cost cutting.
Is there anything this van CAN DO WELL vs. the competition?
BD
vkmaxima says:
08:19 PM, 11/18/2010
I don't know what you people are talking about. The Toyota Sienna is BEYOND ugly and comparison to this, the Nissan Quest out-beats the Toyota Sienna. The Honda Odyssey is really nice, I saw it at the O.C. Auto Show and it is beautiful. I can't wait to see the Quest at the LA Auto Show.
As for horsepower I don't know whether this is faster than the Odyssey or Sienna. Last generation Quest was only .5 away from the Sienna so lets see how fast the new Quest will be.
Other than that this van is HOT, I like the new look, but I also miss the old design. We all know when it comes to designs Nissan always comes out with abstract and unique designs. That's what makes them differnt from other car makers. I own a 2005 Maxima and I still get comments on how great it looks. People don't believe me when I say that this model came out in 2004.
Overall I LOVE the new Nissan Quest!
tib2006 says:
07:35 PM, 11/18/2010
This minivan is sawwweeeettt. Its not that I have any need for a such vehicle given that I am single with no kids, but if I had to buy one, I think this one would fit the bill. The dual power sliding doors? Radical. Too bad they didn't make last action hero when they had this van, than they could have used the power sliding door to make the guy pop out with the gatling gun. What I am not so sure of is that they would be able to make a clean getaway, 235 horses is just a bit weak in the minivan crowd now. Come on Nissan, the Murano makes 265! Even the Dodge makes 16 more @ a solid 251. While I hardly think minivan buyers are in the horsepower race, I think with good looks needs to come muscle under the hood, whether its a van or a sports car. Other than needing a little shot of testosterone, Nissan really got this one right with the throw back boxy stying. If nothing else, its more distinctive than the Sienna and the Odyssey. I don't think it will beat either at their own game, but it won't go out without a fight.