[AutoGuide.com]

A solid offering, the new Quest is a minivan you want to own

It would seem that Nissan and Honda need to switch marketing departments. The all-new 2011 Nissan Quest minivan is being billed as the family hauler that ‘gets’ parenting more than any other. Arguably, however, it’s Honda’s Odyssey that includes the most unique parent-oriented features – and lots of them. To keep the ironic twist going, Honda bills its van as the most attractive vehicle in the segment to your adventurous right brain, and yet it’s the Quest that’s easily the most exciting to look at.

PLENTY OF SWAGGER IN THIS WAGON

Nissan has taken Toyota’s ‘Swagger Wagon’ a step further, with a box-on wheels that brings to mind the Mercedes Viano – a sort of executive van offered briefly in Europe. Pick a dark color like the purply Black Amethyst and the chrome trim pops. While the previous Quest would have been lucky to even attend an automotive beauty contest, let alone compete, this new 2011 model is a stand-out in its class with a slight urban vibe that will have you perusing a DUB catalog so you can toss on a set of 20s. (22s if they’ll fit)

Park this thing in your driveway and the neighbors will talk. “What is that thing?” “Where did he get it?” they’ll whisper. “That’s pretty sick… for a van,” their kids will say.

HIGH-GRADE TRIM LEVELS GIVE LUXURY FEEL

Inside, there’s a strong continuation of the luxury vibe, or at least there is if you opt for the higher-trim SL or LE models. That’s quite likely, as Japanese minivans tend to attract shoppers willing to spend a little extra and so the more expensive trims have become the volume sellers.

Both SL and LE versions were available to test (no cloth-interior versions were), and we can say the van delivers a positive and premium impression, although it does depend on the color of leather. Gray leather seats give a rather drab feel to the cabin, whereas the light tan leather contrasts with the black dash top and faux-wood for a true luxury look.

Get more: 2011 Nissan Quest Review at AutoGuide.com

 

[Frogger]

Gray leather seats give a rather drab feel to the cabin, whereas the light tan leather contrasts with the black dash top and faux-wood for a true luxury look.

Sorry to double-post on this, but only just saw this... I saw the grey today, and funny, I thought it was much less drab than the grey Odyssey interior. The Nissan grey is very taupey going to tan, it was a very nice color. The steering wheel is nicely color-matched, wish the Ody could do that.

That said, still prefer the beige interior for the Nissan, and the lack of a ivory interior on the Ody with an acceptable exterior color is a major neg on our sheet (black/ivory been on every Honda for a decade, not sure why it was dropped).