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The 2016 Nissan Quest boasts a smart design with great steering and a quiet ride, easily seating seven in exchange for a bit less cargo space than its competitors. It comes in four trim levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum, all with a 3.5L V6 engine and CVT automatic gearbox. It is front-wheel drive only, but the continuously variable speed transmission makes for a particularly smooth ride while having programmed shift points to reduce the rubbery response typical of CVTs. This also means it is much more fuel efficient than some of its competition, making an EPA rating of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23mpg combined. Thinking of scheduling a test drive? Read on to learn more about the top options.

2016 Nissan Quest trim levels:

  • S
  • SV
  • SL
  • Platinum

Nissan Quest S

At the basic S level, the Nissan Quest comes with cloth bucket front seats, hands-free entry and heated mirrors. It has front and rear air conditioning and a rear spoiler as well as steel wheels. The safety features are about what you expect for a mini-van, although it does not come with a rear view camera. Options include cargo netting, roof rails and cross bars, splash guards, rear bumper protector and illuminated kick plates.

Highlights:

  • Rear spoiler
  • Hands-free entry
  • Heated mirrors

Nissan Quest SV

The SV adds some significant features over the basic S level. It has optional leather front seats. As standard, it has a rear view camera, leather steering wheel, three zone climate control and three months of satellite radio service. The windows are privacy glass and the wheels are alloy rather than steel. Roof rails are standard. It also adds a DVD entertainment system as an option. Although this is a relatively small list of upgrades, the addition of the rear view camera is significant, as is the option of a DVD player.

Highlights:

  • Rear view camera
  • Three zone climate control
  • Privacy glass

Nissan Quest SL

The SL offers some nice luxuries up front - leather seats are standard and the driver’s seat is 8-way power adjustable and height adjustable with power adjustable lumbar support. Both front seats have multi-level heating. It also comes with a universal remote transmitter and an electrochromatic inside rearview mirror. It has turn signal in mirrors and dusk sensing headlamps. New options at this level include a dual opening glass moonroof and Bose package. The biggest upgrade is in the front of the cabin.

Highlights:

  • Multi-level heated front seats
  • Dusk sensing headlamps
  • Electrochromatic rearview mirror

Nissan Quest Platinum

The top level Platinum trim offers all of the features of the SL in the front, plus the passenger seat is 4-way power adjustable. The third row seats are power-folding, saving a lot of time with cargo loading. It comes with reverse tilt mirrors that show a curb view when in reverse as well as front and side view cameras in addition to the more typical rear view. The car can memorize settings for two drivers and it comes with Bose speakers and a DVD player as standard. The satellite radio provides real time traffic information and the rear audio can be set to a separate input source, all with speed sensitive volume control. There is also a rear video monitor. It has self-leveling headlights that are also xenon high intensity for the best safety in the dark. The Platinum really has a lot of features that might well make it worth the price tag over the lower trim levels.

Highlights:

  • Side view cameras
  • Real time traffic satellite radio
  • Separate rear audio

Conclusion

The Nissan Quest is, again, often overlooked, but it has some pretty nice features and the higher trim levels, in this case, are well worth the extra price (especially with the rear view camera not being standard on the basic S level). Unlike many manufacturers, Nissan does not charge a lot extra for purely cosmetic upgrades. Of course, the lack of a rear view camera on the basic trim might well cause some buyers to go for its better known rivals.