Nissan Quest reviews

2006 Nissan Quest Interior Features

The Quest is not a typical minivan, and its cabin draws remarks from people climbing in for the first time. You don't get this with a Toyota Sienna or a Dodge Grand Caravan. Some of the Quest's interior schemes are downright wild, particularly the Rouge leather, with seats that look like they were made from baseball glove leather and a dash that looks and feels like the material on a basketball. It's bright, fun and will wake you up better than a grande cappuccino. Doors are trimmed in an alcantara-like cloth that feels nice to the touch, along with black vinyl and aluminum-colored plastic.

Most unusual is the instrument cluster centered on top of the dashboard instead of in its usual location ahead of the steering wheel. This move allowed the designers to make the top of the dashboard much lower for improved forward visibility and a feeling of spaciousness. It takes a little acclimatization as most of us are used to looking through the steering wheel for the instruments, but the Quest isn't the only vehicle on the market that takes this approach. Another advantage to this design is a small slot ahead of the steering wheel that's useful for holding directions, a map, a to-do list, or a photograph. Nor is the shifter where you'd expect it, instead mounted on top of an oval-shaped pod in the center dash area. The screen for the optional navigation system is located in this same pod, just to the right of the gauges.

The flat, oval-shaped pod that houses the climate and audio controls and shifter rises like a barrel from the center of the dash and is finished in a black material that's soft to the touch. The buttons and knobs for the climate controls are big, but seem more awkward to operate than a traditional design. Not so unusual is the functional but mundane steering wheel, similar to what's found in most Nissans. For 2006, the steering wheel gets illuminated controls when equipped with remote buttons for the audio system. The Quest's cabin may not be to everyone's taste, but it's innovative and sporty in appearance.

The SkyView roof features a pair of long, rectangular glass panels that appear from the inside as four glass panels over the rear seats. The glass panels cannot be opened or removed but can be covered by a sliding blind. They help make the rear seating area less claustrophobic by opening up the sky and letting passengers see trees, airplanes and mountain tops, adding to the airiness of the spacious cabin. Nissan chose opaque shades to slide over the glass panels, much better for blocking unwanted sunlight than the mesh covers used by some manufacturers. The SkyView package comes with a traditional power glass moonroof between driver and front passenger.

When equipped with the central roof console and DVD entertainment system with two monitors, you feel like you're seated in a first-class Learjet. This is one minivan where kids may fight to see who sits in the back seats.

The interior dimensions are enormous, making the Quest feel incredibly roomy. Yet rearward visibility is good from the rearview mirror and cleverly shaped outside mirrors, though the available sonar back-up system will help avoid small children, pets or tricycles below the line of vision.

The seats are an unusual design. Far less bulky than normal, they look like airline seats when viewed from the side. The second-row captain's chairs are a popular option and, in spite of their spartan appearance, are more comfortable and more supportive than the cushy seats in uplevel models of the Toyota Sienna. The arm rests are positioned at a comfortable angle on both sides of the second-row seats.

The third-row seats are a revelation. They're among the most comfortable we've experienced in any vehicle, and among the very few suitable for one or two adults. The third-row seatbacks recline for added comfort and there's a decent amount of legroom. We found them roomier and more