Most unusual is the instrument cluster centered on top of the dashboard instead of in its usual location ahead of the steering wheel. This move has allowed the designers to make the top of the dashboard much lower for improved forward visibility and a feeling of spaciousness. It takes a little acclimatization as we're used to the looking through the steering wheel for the instruments, and the shifter is not located where you naturally reach for it. The screen for the optional navigation system is located in this same pod, just to the right of the gauges. A small slot ahead of the steering wheel is useful for holding directions, a map, a to-do list or maybe a photograph.
Also unusual is an oval-shaped pod that houses the climate and audio controls and shifter. This flat panel rises like a barrel from the center of the dash and is finished in a black material that's soft to the touch. The buttons and knobs for the climate controls are big, but seem more awkward to operate than a traditional design. Not so unusual is the functional but mundane steering wheel similar to what's found in most Nissans. Overall, though, the Quest cockpit is pleasing and sporty.
The Skyview roof is a neat feature, appearing from the inside as four glass panels over the rear seats. The glass panels cannot be opened or removed but can be covered by a sliding blind. They help make the rear seating area much less claustrophobic by opening up the sky and letting the kids (and adults) see trees, airplanes and mountain tops, adding to the airiness of the spacious cabin. Nissan chose opaque shades to slide over the glass panels, much better for blocking unwanted sunlight than the mesh covers used by some manufacturers. The Skyview package comes with a traditional power glass moonroof between driver and front passenger.
When equipped with the central roof console and optional DVD entertainment system with two monitors, you feel like your seated in a first-class Lear jet. This is one minivan where kids may fight to see who sits in the back seats.
The interior dimensions are enormous, making the Quest incredibly roomy. Yet rearward visibility is good from the rearview mirror and cleverly shaped outside mirrors.
The seats are an unusual design. Far less bulky than normal, they look like airline seats when viewed from the side. In spite of their Spartan appearance, we found them more comfortable and more supportive than the fancy, cushy seats in uplevel models of the Toyota Sienna.
The second-row seats are very roomy, very comfortable, more so than those in the Toyota Sienna, which were cushy, lacked lumbar support and had short armrests that sit at the wrong angle. The Nissan features comfortable arm rests are provided on both sides of the second-row seats. The available overhead storage is handy for regular back-seat riders. Cup holders are conveniently attached to the rear seats, while holders for big bottles are incorporated into the sliding doors. Big grab handles mounted cleverly on the B-pillars should assist those of diminutive stature when getting in.
Quest's third-row seats are among the most comfortable we've experienced in any vehicle. They're among the very few suitable for one or two adults. The third-row seatbacks recline, adding comfort, and there's more legroom than in the third rows in other minivans and SUVs; in fact, there's as much legroom here (41.2 inches) as in the front seats in many other vehicles. The Quest's third row is roomier and far more comfortable than that of the Toyota Sienna, for example. Getting in and out of the third row is easy.
The Nissan Quest takes versatility to a new level. The third-row seats can be lowered into a large carpeted well in the floor, which provides loads of storage space with a flat floor. It's easy to fold the seats away (as easy as in the Toyota), but it's not intuitive so people will need to be shown how to do it. And the two center-mounted captain's chairs can be lowered almost flat with the floor (flatter than in the Toyota), providing more than enough space for the proverbial sheet of plywood. There's no need to remove the seats, and one person can easily fold the seats down, useful for that impulsive stop at the home-improvement center.
Satellite radio works well on long trips, delivering high-quality sound just about anywhere in the U.S. Not having to change stations on a cross-country trip has distinct advantages. We haven't tried satellite radio in the Quest, but in other vehicles we've enjoyed being able to keep up with NPR and CNN no matter where we drove. Finding stations is easy with RDS (radio data system), which clearly identifies programming on the radio's display. And while many automakers are exclusively committed to either the XM or Sirius system, Nissan offers buyers a choice. Subscription fees generally start at around $10 per month.
