Driving Impressions

Minivans have rarely been regarded as being fun vehicles to drive. (On the other hand, neither have SUVs, at least not on the highway.) However, Nissan has injected characteristics into the Quest to make it more of a driver's vehicle. For starters, Nissan's V6 is one of the nicest engines from any manufacturer. Quest gets essentially the same V6 used in the 350Z and Infiniti G35. Retuned slightly, it produces 240 horsepower with a decent torque curve. It provides enough power to let the Quest accelerate onto on-ramps and pass slower vehicles on two-lane highways at a respectable rate. The available five-speed automatic transmission provides good smooth shifts, more in line with luxury cars. Another aspect of a driver's car is good crisp steering. Quest delivers here as well with just the right amount of feedback to let the driver feel connected to the road, but not too tight for round town use. The suspension provides good handling for what is a big vehicle. No, it doesn't handle as well as the Maxima, but the Quest certainly feels much more stable in corners than a sport-utility.

Final Word

Can the Quest actually fulfill Nissan's quest to re-invent the minivan market? If you like the looks of this minivan and appreciate the versatility and design features of the interior take a long look at the 2004 Quest before opting for an SUV. If you enjoy driving you'll draw pleasure from owning this minivan as it delivers performance and handling to match its snazzy looks. The Quest is a Maxima in minivan clothing. In fact, sitting in the very back seats with the middle seats folded down there's tons of leg room and with a DVD entertainment system and leather seats it's much more comfy than being stuffed into the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car. In this set up the Quest could easily be described as the limousine of minivans.