Flaunting the declining minivan market, Nissan keeps on keepin’ on with its 2009 Quest. This take-off on the Mercury Villager is a reasonably priced vehicle that handles well and boasts the roominess and comfort to get the kids to school, the team to the field, and the whole family to the beach. Performance-wise, the Nissan Quest is near the top of the heap, and the automaker has no plans to drop this mid-priced wagon any time soon. The Quest for ’09 is offered in four trims - the base 3.5, 3.5S, 3.5SL, and 3.5SE - and remains basically unchanged since a significant upgrade in 2007. The VQ 3.5-liter V6, a variation of the powerplant offered for the 350Z, Altima, and Maxima, as well as a winner of “Wards 10 Best Engines” in 2008, is the only offering for the Quest. In combination with the also solely available five-speed automatic transmission, this DOHC V6 generates 230 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque and an EPA estimated 16/24 mpg. Standard features on the base 3.5 Quest minivan for 2009 include 16-inch steel wheels, cloth bucket front seats, third-row seating, power doors, windows, and mirrors, speed-proportional power steering, air-conditioning, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, a 150-watt single-disc CD player with eight speakers, tachometer, clock, and a respectable 148.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded flat. The Quest S trim for ’09 features roof side rails, a power-sliding side door, power liftgate and rear quarter windows, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. SLs add 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a rear backup camera, heated exterior mirrors, the HomeLink universal transceiver, a seven-inch color driver’s information screen, and dual-zone temperature control. The Quest SE lists such additional standard features as 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, XM satellite radio, heated power front seats with driver memory, a power sunroof, and Bose premium audio with a 250-watt amp. Options for the base 3.5 Nissan Quest in ’09 include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, front center console, electronic stability program (ESP), running boards, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, captain’s chairs, power-sliding side door and second-row flat-folding seating. Higher-end trims offer power adjustable pedals, a GPS navigation package with DVD mapping software, upgraded leather, an upgraded stereo, and a dual-screen DVD entertainment system. Standard safety features for the 2009 Quest minivan include four-wheel disc ABS, front-, second-, and third-row head airbags, a traction control system (TCS), electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, an engine immobilizer system, remote anti-theft alarm system, and a passenger airbag occupant sensing system. Both the NHTSA and IIHS give the Quest high marks in front and side impact testing. Owners of the 2008 Quest felt that the featured eight-speaker sound system could be improved and wondered why the second-row windows could not be rolled down. Styling, some vibration issues, and fuel economy also disappointed a few owners. By and large, however, owners found the roominess, handling, interior quality, and performance of the Nissan Quest superior to almost all other minivans they considered.