2006 Nissan Quest

Nissan decided to pull the Quest in 2003 for a make over. Did this sturdy, reliable van come back just as good or better? Well, in style, yes, in durability, not so much. Nissan cut some corners to make other aspects more luxurious, such as adding rear seat DVD players but making the interior plastic so cheap as to be trash. Now when it comes to driving, the newer Nissan Quests are as good as the old. They cannot haul as well, though, which is a disappointment. Rain or snow you'll be safe in this mini van. Interior wise, all the beloved room is still there. 8 people can comfortably fit, (seven with car seats), and luggage as well. The new tilt features on the seats make this a great family car, easy for Mom or Dad to reach into the back seat. Gas mileage improved which is always good and ranges between 23-26 MPG, though driving this van like it's a mustang will greatly drop the MPG. The engine has enough pep to get up and go when needed though as I said the power is lacking some.

Luxuries have been added at the expense of other parts. The interior vents are fragile to say the least, easily broken and whether broken or not they fall out. The plastic on the lights is also cheap and cracks easily. The mirrors have electrical problems but the electric has always been a problem with this van. If you are looking to purchase or already own the Quest here are a few things to keep an eye out for. First and foremost would be the problems with the air bag sensors. These can cause the air bags to deploy when they shouldn't and cause great harm. Make sure this has been corrected before you buy. Check the engine for knocks, shimmies, shakes and other noises as well as leaks. One of the cheaper elements to this van is the rubber. It will crack, dry rot, leak all within a few thousand miles. Another with the Quest are its windows. There are still problems with rattling, popping open or closing when bumps are hit.

Another down fall of the Quest's new generation is that it cost just about double to do maintance. Oil change and tune up will run you $150 - $190 at a garage. Parts can be purchased for around $90, but backyard mechanics will not like working on this van. Also, the transmission fluid is special one of a kind that is not easy to find and expensive. Getting issues fixed in general has also just about doubled in cost and Nissans service seems to have declined in many places as well. For all of it's downfalls, the Quest is still a dependable van and time will tell if they will hold up as well as the older generations.