2008 Nissan Quest

Overall, the consensus of reviewers is that the Nissan Quest is an acceptable runner-up to the top-rated minivans from Honda and Toyota. Caveats include the Nissan's price, and the fact that its third-row seat doesn't split to fold -- a feature that's almost standard on competing minivans. Several changes have been implemented for 2008, though, including standard side-impact airbags for the front seats, optional electronic stability control and the appointment of a more traditional instrument panel in response to criticisms regarding the design of the previous panel. Reviews say handling is responsive, and the Nissan Quest has a more modern look that might appeal to buyers looking for an alternative to a Honda or Toyota minivan. The Quest has a very spacious interior, but cargo space behind the third-row seat is cramped. The biggest issue for the Quest is long-term reliability, which has been well below average.

Consumer Reports offers the most credible review of the 2008 Nissan Quest (*est. $24,630 to $34,330). Editors here put a lot of emphasis on safety and reliability, and utilize hands-on testing and extensive owner surveys to offer an analysis of how the Quest compares to other minivans. A review at Cars.com is more timely than many others, but isn't really comparative in nature. ConsumerGuide.com provides helpful information on specifications and features, but its road-test results can be tough to decipher. Edmunds.com editors haven't yet reviewed the 2008 Nissan Quest, but they do compare the 2007 model in depth to the class-leading minivans from the same model year. A detailed review at Automobile also focuses on last year's Nissan Quest, but readers may still find it useful due to the fact that there were no major revisions to the 2008 model.