2012 Nissan Quest for Sale in New York, NY

Virtually no changes have been made to the 2012 Nissan Quest from the previous model year, when Nissan overhauled its minivan inside and out. Access to Sirius XM satellite radio has been added to the 3.5 SV and 3.5 SL trims. Otherwise, everything is the same as last year's version.

Trims available for the front-wheel-drive 2012 Nissan Quest include the 3.5 S, 3.5 SV, 3.5 SL and 3.5 LE,. All come standard with a 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve direct-injection V6 engine that reaches 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. All are coupled with an Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), run on premium gasoline and are estimated by the EPA to get 19 mpg city/24 highway.

All four trims come standard with air conditioning, cruise control, cloth seats, power windows, power door locks (with auto-locking feature), power steering, 6-way manual driver’s seat, second-row fold-flat captain’s chairs (sliding and reclining), 60/40 split-fold-flat third-row bench seat, quick-release third-row bench seat, tilt-and-telescoping steering column, steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, Nissan Intelligent Key (with push-button ignition), power outside mirrors, variable intermittent speed-sensitive front and rear windshield wipers, dual sliding rear doors, 4-speaker AM/FM/in-dash 6-CD audio system, MP3/WMA CD playback capability, auxiliary audio input jack and 16-inch steel wheels with bolt-on wheel covers and all-season tires.

For those choosing the SX trim, additional standard features include tri-zone automatic temperature controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls,
one-touch power-sliding doors (with auto-reverse feature), premium AM/FM/CD audio system with 6 speakers and a 4.3-inch color display, Bluetooth HandsFree system, Sirius XM satellite radio (with a 3-month trial subscription), USB connection port for iPod-compatible devices, fog lights, rear-view monitor and 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with all-season tires. Upgrading to the SL trim adds leather-appointed seats, a leather-wrapped shift knob, 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, HomeLink universal transceiver, automatic headlights, roof rack side rails, one-touch power liftgate and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with all-season tires as standard equipment. LE trim buyers receive an advanced climate control system, 4-way power front passenger’s seat, driver’s memory seat system, power-return third-row seat, HID xenon headlights, automatic tilt-in-reverse outside mirrors, blind-spot warning system, Digital Bose audio system (with AM/FM/CD and 13 speakers), DVD entertainment system (with 11-inch second-row monitor, 2 wireless headsets and remote control), Nissan’s Hard Drive Navigation System (with 8-inch color touchscreen display with voice recognition, Sirius XM NavTraffic, Sirius XM NavWeather and Zagat Survey restaurant reviews) and second- and third-row manual sunshades.

Several options can be packaged together, depending on the trim level selected. Available packages include the DVD Entertainment System package, Bose Audio System package and Dual Opening Glass Moonroof package. Some features of the more expensive trims can be added, in certain cases, to less-expensive trims.

Numerous safety and security features come standard for the 2012 Nissan Quest. All trims come with the Nissan Advanced Airbag System (with dual-stage supplemental front airbags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental airbags for front, second- and third-row seating), height-adjustable head restraints (for all seating positions), tire pressure monitoring system, energy-absorbing steering column, 4-wheel vented disc brakes (with antilock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist), traction control system, vehicle immobilizer system and vehicle security system.

Interior color choices for the 2012 Nissan Quest are Gray or Beige cloth or leather, while exterior color options are Pearl White, Brilliant Silver, Platinum Graphite, Titanium Beige, Super Black or Twilight Gray.

Current owners are pleased with the handling and ride the 2012 Nissan Quest provides. The Quest handles extremely well for a minivan, and its CVT gets high marks for smooth and flawless shifting. Its ride is rated as being very quiet, with a smooth, reactive suspension.

Coming off a total redesign in 2011, the Nissan Quest already seems dated when compared against competing minivans from Dodge (Grand Caravan), Honda (Odyssey) and Toyota (Sienna). Although the Quest is powerful enough, roomy enough and has a number of standard and upgradeable features, it falls short in a number of categories when compared to the other minivans on the market. Many competing minivans have room for 8 passengers, while the Quest has room for only 7. The Quest also falls short when it comes to gas mileage and available cargo space (25.7 cubic feet) when compared to what else is currently available. While it remains a good choice, especially when it comes to ride and handling, other choices may fit your needs better.