2000 Nissan Quest: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

A video entertainment system is available at no extra cost on the 2000 version of Nissan's minivan. Quest shares its design with the Mercury Villager. A single body size is offered in GXE, sporty SE, and luxury GLE models. All have a Nissan V6 engine, automatic transmission, and dual rear sliding side doors. Antilock brakes are standard, but side airbags and power sliding doors are unavailable.
All Quests have a 3-person third-row bench seat that slides fore and aft on built-in floor tracks. SE and GLE get two second-row bucket seats. The GXE has a removable 2-place second-row bench that can be optionally fitted with child safety seats.
The SE model has a firmer suspension with 16-inch wheels and performance tires; other models have 15-inch wheels. GLEs have leather upholstery, power front seats and, new for 2000, a rear stabilizer bar and simulated woodgrain interior trim. Other changes include perforated upholstery for the SE's available Leather Package. The new entertainment system is for use by rear passengers and includes a VCR with remote control, 6.4-inch flip-down LCD screen, and multi-channel audio with three headphone jacks. Villager also offers this system, but as a $1295 option. Quest and Villager are assembled by Ford in Ohio using a high percentage of Nissan parts. Mercury and Nissan have announced that production of these minivans will cease during model-year 2002. Quest's performance and accommodations mirror those of similarly equipped Villagers.

COMPETITION

Chrysler started the minivan trend back in 1984, and they remain one of our Best Buys today. Though the competition has heated up, we still feel that the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Voyager are two of the best you can buy. They offer all of the creature comforts in a pleasing package at a fair price. Our other Best Buy is the Honda Odyssey. It's a little bit smaller than the Chryslers, but more sporty to drive, and it has a super-convenient flip-and-fold-away rear seat.
Trailing at a close second are the Recommended Chevy Venture and Ford Windstar. Though these vans are comparably priced and offer loads of neat features, we feel they can't match the road manners of our Best Buys.