Able to seat 7 adult passengers comfortably, the 2013 Nissan Quest ably competes in the minivan market against competitors like the Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Town & Country. Not much changed as the model year rolled over to 2013. Upgradeable options on the upper-end trims now include a backseat DVD system and a surround-view camera system.

Nissan has 4 trim levels available for the front-wheel-drive 2013 Nissan Quest: 3.5 S, 3.5 SV, 3.5, SL and 3.5 LE. All are factory equipped with a 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine that makes 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. Each is also equipped with an Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and estimated to achieve 19 mpg city/25 highway.

Beginning with the 3.5 S trim, standard features include air conditioning, cruise control with illuminated steering-wheel-mounted switches, push-button ignition, power locks, power windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cloth seating surfaces, 6-way manual driver’s seat, 4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3/WMA playback capability, dual sliding side doors (on both sides) and 16-inch steel wheels with bolt-on wheel covers.

Upgrading to the 3.5 SV brings the purchaser tri-zone automatic temperature control, remote power windows, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated audio and cruise controls, a premium 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with a 4.3-inch color display, rear-view monitor, power sliding side doors and fog lights. The 3.5 SL trim adds an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather seating surfaces, 8-way power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors with turn-signal indicators, smart automatic headlights and a one-touch power liftgate as standard equipment.

The 3.5 LE adds an advanced climate control system, 4-way power front passenger seat, automatic tilt-in-reverse exterior mirrors, Bose 13-speaker audio system with AM/FM/CD and 8-inch in-dash VGA monitor, DVD entertainment system with second-row 11-inch WVGA DVD monitor, Nissan hard-drive-based navigation and a blind-spot monitoring system as standard equipment. As far as wheels for the remaining trims, the 3.5 SV gets 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and the 3.5 SL and LE roll off the assembly line with 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Some of the listed standard equipment is optional on lesser trim levels. A moonroof is also an available option.

The 2013 Nissan Quest is one of a number of Nissan vehicles that feature the Nissan Advanced Airbag System, which consists of dual-stage supplemental front airbags with seat belt and occupant sensors, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental airbags for first-, second- and third-row occupant head protection. Other safety features included as standard equipment are 4-wheel vented disc brakes featuring an antilock braking system with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, vehicle dynamic control with a traction control system, an energy-absorbing steering column and a tire pressure monitoring system with easy-fill tire alert. Security features standard on all trim levels include a vehicle immobilizer system and a vehicle security system.

The powerful V6 engine the 2013 Nissan Quest boasts puts it at the head of the class in the minivan market, according to current owners. Combined with its quiet CVT transmission, the Quest offers a quiet ride and decent fuel economy. Owners also praise the interior, rating it as “classy,” and many owners give its handling high marks as well.

The 2013 Nissan Quest meets and in some cases exceeds the needs a minivan should satisfy. The Quest offers drivers a smooth, competent ride and has enough styling appointments, both external and internal, that it looks good in the driveway as well.