2012 Nissan Quest Minivan Again From Nissan

2012 Nissan Quest LE

BASE PRICE: $27,750 for Nissan Quest S; $31,050 for Nissan Quest SV; $34,500 for Nissan Quest SL; $41,350 for Nissan Quest LE

PRICE AS TESTED: $42,365.

TYPE: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, seven-passenger minivan.

ENGINE: 3.5-liter, double overhead cam V-6 with CVTC.

MILEAGE: 19 mpg (city), 24 mpg (highway).

TOP SPEED: NA.

LENGTH: 200.8 inches.

WHEELBASE: 118.1 inches.

CURB WEIGHT: 4,568 pounds.

BUILT AT: Japan.

OPTIONS: Carpeted floor mats in all three rows $205.

DESTINATION CHARGE: $810.

Do buyers know there is a minivan again at Nissan?

The Nissan Quest, which had been dropped for a couple years and re-emerged as a fourth-generation 2011 model, is back for 2012 with unique touches.

Seats have special padding and front-seat heaters that arguably are the fastest-acting in the business. An odor-avoidance system goes high-tech with grape polyphenol filtering.

There’s no tugging or fighting with electronic sliding side doors in this minivan, because they work without fuss. Nissan says the sliding door entryways also are lower than in other vans, which helps youngsters get inside and out. And no one risks a hernia taking a Quest seat out to make room for cargo. The seats are designed to stow in place and can’t be removed on a whim.

The Quest even looks a bit different from other minivans. It has a noticeably flat roof and styling that makes it look larger than it is.

And in top-of-the-line LE form, the 2012 Quest competes as a decked-out luxury van.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $28,560 for the base 2012 Nissan Quest S with 260-horsepower V-6 and continuously variable transmission.

The top-selling minivan in calendar 2011 was the Toyota Sienna, which has a starting retail price of $25,870 with 187-horsepower, four-cylinder engine and $27,110 with 266-horsepower V-6. All 2012 Siennas come with automatic transmission. The second most popular minivan last year, the Dodge Grand Caravan, has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $21,830 for 2012. This is for an American Value Package Grand Caravan with 283-horsepower V-6 and automatic transmission.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_19818859