The 2012 Nissan Quest is a respectable minivan. If there is something that can hinder the new Quest from standing out, that is the stiff competition. It has good style for the exterior and the interior as well as a strong engine.
You may go home with another minivan but that does not mean that the Quest is not worth considering.
Specifications
| Vehicle Type: Minivan | Base Price: $25,990.00 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity: 20 gallons (75L) | MPG: 19 city / 24 hwy |
| Length: 200.8 in. (510 cm) | Wheel Base: 118.1 in. (300 cm) |
| Height: 71.5 in. (181.6 cm) | Width: 77.6 in. (197.1 cm) |
| Curb Weight: 4371 lbs (1982 kg) | Ground Clearance: 6.2 in. (15.7 cm) |
| Luggage Capacity: 25.7 cu ft | Maximum Seating: 7 people |
| Engine: 24 Valve V6 DOHC | Displacement: 3.5 Liter |
| Horsepower: 260 HP | Max RPM: 6000 RPM |
| Torque: 240 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | Transmission: Xtronic CVT |
| Max Towing Capacity: 3500 lbs (1587 kgs) | Maximum Speed: NA |
| Option:SV | MSRP: $31,050; MPG: 19 city / 24 hwy |
| Option:SL | MSRP: $34,500; MPG: 19 city / 24 hwy |
| Option:LE | MSRP: $42,350; MPG: 19 city / 24 hwy |
Engine
There is only one engine for the 2012 Nissan Quest and that is the 3.6 liter V6 engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 240 lbs/ft of torque. The Continuous Variable Transmission is the only available transmission for the Quest.
All trims are front wheel drive. The EPA is yet to release the fuel economy rating for the quest but available data from the 2011 model says that it has a rating of 24 mpg for highway and 19 mpg driving.
Performance
The new Quest accelerates well as long as you do not bring the pedal down to the floor. If you do, you will feel the engine protesting. And like any other front wheel drive model, putting the pedal down will drive the wheel sideways. Thanks to the adept handling of the van, this problem can be easily resolved.
The 2012 Quest may not be nimble enough for heavily twisted roads but its handling is adequate for driving around town. It is simple enough like most of other vans, one thing that van owners like very much. We can say that the new Quest is safe enough to get families to their destination.
Exterior
Designers at Nissan deserve a lot of credit for putting a lot of thought to the Quest’s design. If there is one thing that can make it shine in the competition, it is the sleek exterior.
Interior
The interior of the Quest is inviting and practical. The seats than can accommodate seven people are comfortable, full grown adults and children will never have problems about it. However, the cargo space is not as big as its competitors offer. The materials used for the interior are not of top quality.
Some materials that were used as fillings look and feel cheap. We would like to raise a concern about the optional center console because having it installed reduces the legroom in the front seat. Skipping it definitely makes the front seats more spacious
There are many options that prospective Quest owners can get such as the DVD system and the sunroof for the SL and LE trims. Other features that we like are the sunshades, blind spot warning system, navigation, and the driver seat memory (available only in the LE).
Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Quest an “acceptable” score in test for the roof strength and a “good” score for the rear, side and front impact tests. The standard features in the Quest are six airbags, stability control and antilock brakes.
Another thing that we like in the Quest is the Easy Fill Tire Alert feature that gives a signal when you have filled the tire with the appropriate pressure. Too much and too less air pressure affects handling that is why it is good to have this feature for the Quest.
Reliability
The Quest comes with the standard 3-year warranty and the 5-year warranty for the powertrain.
Pros & Cons
The 2012 Quest got power and style. It has comfortable seats too.
There is no adequate space for storage inside the Quest. Other minivans offer a maximum sitting capacity of 8, the Quest can only give 7.
The 2012 Nissan Quest has plenty of strengths but it has numerous weaknesses, too, and those could make you choose another minivan.
Competition
The Chrysler Town & Country (MSRP $29,995; 17 city / 25 hwy), Honda Odyssey (MSRP $28,375; 18 city / 27 hwy), and the Toyota Sienna (MSRP $26,300; 18 city / 25 hwy) are the other members of the minivan club that may be worth looking at as well.
Overall Rating
76 out of 100
What others say:
“It’s less spacious and less flexible than before, but the 2012 Nissan Quest drives better than other minivans.”Car Connection
“Steering is responsive and has a solid, weighted feel. Body lean in corners is fairly pronounced. Braking action is firm and smooth.”Consumer Guide
“But the Quest seats only seven at most, not eight. Its covered cargo bay behind the third-row seat can hide luggage, an uncommon feature in a minivan.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports
“If the majority of your driving time is spent zipping around town picking up kids and running errands, the 2012 Nissan Quest’s 19-mpg city rating will definitely help keep fuel costs down. Those looking for a premium interior uncommon in a minivan will love what Nissan has done with the Quest’s cabin.
”KBB
“Quiet and smooth ride; roomy seating; excellent continuously variable transmission (CVT); sharp steering and handling; fold-flat second-row seats. Less cargo space than competitors; seven-passenger maximum, not eight; short on interior storage.”Edmunds
