#LAAS There's nothing like trying to photograph a minivan at an auto show. Everybody, everybody, has to open all the doors, sit in all the seats, and compulsively fold and unfold the third row. We waited. We lingered. We talked with all our auto journalist friends. And still the doors of the redesigned 2011 Nissan Quest were open and its seats were occupied. We will return to the van later and try to come up with some more interior photos for you.
Until then, let's talk pricing. The all-new, built-in-Japan 2011 Quest goes on sale in March 2011 with a base price of $27,750, or $28,550 with destination, for the entry-level Quest S model. Conveniently, that's a hair below the 2011 Honda Odyssey LX ($27,800, or $28,580 with destination). Nissan didn't bother trying to go after the Sienna -- $25,270 with destination for the base four-cylinder van, $26,510 for the base V6.
2010 LA Auto Show: 2011 Nissan Quest
Both the Odyssey and Sienna stretch into the low-$40,000 range at the top end, and there's not reason to think the Quest LE won't land there, too. The 2011 Quest matches most of the features of its rivals, but it won't offer an eight-passenger option or all-wheel-drive. And the most likely reason for that is that Nissan isn't aiming to match Odyssey or Sienna sales volumes. Nissan's van is a small-time player.
coolb944 says:
03:17 PM, 11/17/10
That interior looks pretty nice, and more pleasing to the eye (my eye, anyway) than the Odyssey or Sienna. Looks to have very high quality materials too like most higher-end Nissans, giving it an almost-Infiniti quality. Hopefully it does well.
93aero says:
03:21 PM, 11/17/10
looks like a van version of the new highlander. I know the sienna does this well too, but those lights and grill are remarkably similar. I like the Quest, its always been a funky alternative, this doesnt seem to be a very good draw on that, oh well, theres always the new caravan!
lostboyz says:
06:08 PM, 11/17/10
front clip is hideous
bobh7 says:
06:54 PM, 11/17/10
check out the front bumper... the color of way off from the front fender... when will mfgs. get these to match???
billt9 says:
06:21 AM, 11/18/10
i like the quest's innovation with seats.
Like the last Quest, this is the only minivan where you don't have to take the seats out, or put them in a hole, and yet they'll all fold down flat.
And the large rear storage bin is always available with the 3rd row up or down.
this would be the minivan i want to buy, as long as it proves reliable.