Used 2013 Nissan Quest

Minivans always struggle with a perceived lack of sex appeal but the 2013 Nissan Quest makes a pretty good case for being considered cool. With a profile that is tall yet muscular, the Quest has a decidedly masculine feel, yet its interior is designer chic, which should hold strong appeal to everyone. Not that it can’t accommodate noisy, messy kids, but the 2013 Nissan Quest’s interior just feels more adult contemporary than PG-13. There may be less expensive minivans with more power on tap, but none packs the visual punch of this stylish family hauling machine.

The 2013 Nissan Quest represents one of the best applications of the gearless CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) concept on the market. The idea is to provide step-less, always optimized ratios but in practice, CVTs often feel lazy. Nissan’s CVT works well in the Quest, and is the principal reason for the minivan’s smooth acceleration and brisk off-the-line sprints, as well as its impressive fuel-economy figures. Of course, any transmission needs a good engine, and Nissan equips the 2013 Nissan Quest with an excellent 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. We expected a little sharper steering and suspension action from a company known for producing enthusiast-oriented cars and SUVs; the driving experience is a little more engaging in a VW Routan or Honda Odyssey. However, the Quest’s ride is ultra-smooth, which, considering how most people use a minivan, is probably the more desirable trait.

The 7-passenger 2013 Nissan Quest’s great interior volume and handsomely appointed interior set the class standard. Everything you touch has a premium feel worthy of an upscale Infiniti vehicle. The creased faux-wood insert running along the dash and doors looks first-rate, and the perforated leather seating in the SE and LE trims (and optional in the SV) is unexpected in a minivan. We noted some ergonomic glitches: The shift lever in the "D" position partially blocks the climate controls, and the traction-control and power liftgate buttons are placed down by the driver’s knee where they are difficult to find.

Aside from the Honda Odyssey, no minivan on the market is as expressively stylized as the 2013 Nissan Quest. Although not as long or wide as the segment leaders, the Quest is taller than most of its rivals, by as much as three inches, which helps create a more open and roomy cabin. Its expansive surround of tinted privacy glass gives all inside a clear view out while keeping prying eyes (and cabin-heating sun rays) at bay. Standard equipment on S and SV trims includes 16-inch wheels, but 18-inchers are fitted to the higher-line SL and LE trims.

INTERIOR
With tasteful leather seating (standard in SL and LE trims, optional in SV) and a well-coordinated color scheme, the interior of the 2013 Nissan Quest looks like it belongs in a much more expensive vehicle, one aimed more at accommodating grownups than schlepping kids.

CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION)
With no gears, as such, to shift, this transmission provides seamless power with little lag.

The base 2013 Nissan Quest S minivan comes with 16-inch wheels, cloth seating surfaces, a 60/40-split folding third-row seat, a 6-CD audio system and six airbags. The SV trim adds fog lights, a premium audio system with USB port, 1-touch power sliding side doors, Bluetooth and a rearview camera. The SL gets 18-inch wheels, roof rails, a power tailgate, leather seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The range-topping LE adds a 13-speaker Bose audio system, blind-spot warning system, a power-return third-row seat, an air-scrubbing climate-control system, hard-drive-based navigation, rear-seat DVD entertainment and the new Around View Monitor.

Aside from a few extras like splash guards, roof-rail crossbars and carpeted floor mats, options remain few on the 2013 Nissan Quest minivan. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system and Bose premium audio system can be added to the SL model, leather upholstery is optional on the SV and a dual-panel moonroof is available on SL and LE models.

Powering the 2013 Nissan Quest is a 260-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Although the Quest doesn’t have the most horsepower in the minivan segment, it does have the smoothest transmission and the best city fuel economy of 19 mpg.

3.5-liter V6
260 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
240 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 mpg