The 2016 Nissan Quest minivan is different things to different people but in all things, it meets all the needs a family expects of a minivan. The minivan is a one stylish, roomy and safe people hauler that might pass as cool in some quarters. You will notice that the Quest is very huge; in fact it is just a few inches shy of the Cadillac Escalade’s size.
However, despite the huge size it is disappointing that the vehicle accommodates just 7 passengers unlike many of its competitors which accommodate 8 passengers. Apart from the size, Nissan designers have excelled in crafting a look that makes it stand out from the competition.
The minivan steps out of the familiar forms and shapes of a traditional minivan and adopts a bolder styling. Read along to find out more;
2016 Nissan Quest Exterior
The new Quest stands more upright and looks boxier than before. If you look at it closely, you will see the faint resemblance with the Ford Flex. Its new nose looks lower and smaller courtesy of the enlarged air inlets.
The rear fascia has been restyled to improve its aerodynamics. It has been hooked up with large taillights which standout from the competition. Dimension wise, the 5-door van is 200.8 inches long, 77.6 inches wide and stands at a height of 71.5 inches. Its wheelbase spans 118.1 inches.
The Quest will be offered in 4 trim levels, they are; S, SV, SL and Platinum. The base S trim rides on 16-inch steel wheels. The SV comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, power sliding doors and roof rails. Moving up to the SL, you will find 18-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, automatic headlights and a power lift-gate. The top-of-the-range Platinum trims comes with bi-xenon headlights and a dual-panel sunroof as a standalone extra feature.
2016 Nissan Quest Interior
Nissan has crafted an interior that is comfortable, resourceful and aesthetically pleasing. Nissan designers have designed a sweeping dash that blends well into the door panels as well as cleverly grouped center stack controls which are within the driver’s reach.
The cabin of the Quest is designed to accommodate 7 passengers, a passenger less than its competitor models like the Sienna, Sedona and Odyssey. The second row features captain chairs which are separated by a removable center console. Its third row is a bench which accommodates three passengers. The captain chairs are very comfortable and feature sliding and reclining functionalities. The third row seats have a 60-/40 split-folding capability and can fold forward and flat to expand the cargo space. In contrast, the Sienna and Odyssey require you to physically remove the second-row seats.
The Quest however offers less cargo capacity than the Sienna and Odyssey. The base S trim comes with keyless ignition and entry, a 2-zone air conditioning, cruise control and height adjustable driver’s seat. It also features a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a 4-speaker audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and a CD player. Its cabin is upholstered in a quality cloth.
Going up, the SV trim adds a rear privacy glass, a rearview camera, a leather wrapped steering wheel with audio control buttons, a 3-zone climate control and Bluetooth connectivity. It also features a 5-inch display screen for its 6-speaker audio system which is also integrated with a USB port, satellite radio and a media player interface. The SV trim has an optional leather package which adds leather upholstery, an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, a leather wrapped shifter and heated front seats.
The SL trim adds an auto dimming rear-view mirror, a quick release for folding the third row seats and a sunroof. It also adds a DVD Entertainment System Package which features a 7-inch touch-screen with an in-dash DVD player. There is also a rear DVD entertainment system with an 11-inch monitor. This package is offered as an option on the SV trim. The SL also features a 120 V power outlet, an auxiliary audio/video input jack and a 13-speaker sound system.
The top-of-the range Platinum trim includes SL features and adds blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera, rear cross-traffic alert, a 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, driver memory functions, 2nd and 3rd row sunshades and a navigation system. It also gets the 13-speaker Bose audio system, an 8-inch touch-screen as well as the DVD Entertainment Package. A dual-panel sunroof is offered as a standalone option.
Engine Specs and Performance
Under the hood, the 2016 Nissan Quest is powered by a 3.5 L, V-6 engine which comes good with 260 hp at 6,000 rpm and 240 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine is paired to a CVT system that channels power to the front wheels.
The Engine is EPA rated to return 20 mpg city, 27 mpg on highway and 23 mpg on combined drives. These fuel economy numbers are the best in the minivan class. Its acceleration from 0-60 mph of 8.5 seconds is an average performance for a V-6 powered minivan. A well equipped 2016 Nissan Quest can tow as much as 3,500 pounds. All trim levels have an option for a Class II trailer package.
Price and release date
The base 2016 Nissan Quest has an starting MSRP of $ 27,400 inclusive of an $ 885 destination charge, SL trim level have starting MSRP of $ 34,110. A fully loaded Platinum trim will set you back around $ 46,000. The Quest is already on sale in Nissan dealerships.
Competition
The 2016 Nissan Quest will contend with the new models of the 2016 Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona, Dodge Grand Caravan and the new Chrysler Pacifica.
