2005 Nissan Quest

I just spent a week in a van big enough to carry a couple families and their dogs. Since I ride alone, I looked at it from the point of view of an eager spring gardener, since the cavernous space is perfect for carrying plants and other garden necessities.

The Nissan Quest is a seven-passenger van that also opens up enough to carry full sheets of plywood. With this vehicle, you’ll never complain about a small cargo area, since it ranks among the largest in the segment. With folding second- and third-row seats and sliding doors that open nearly 34 inches, you can even shop garage sales to your heart’s content.

Nissan also designed the van for optimum comfort, leaving plenty of room for legs and shoulders. The seats are large enough for ample bottoms and comfy enough for long road trips. There’s even enough room for a bulging purse or briefcase between the front seats, thanks to the rather unusual design of the console.

The console is a beefy round affair that goes from floor the top of the dash and resembles something out of an old “Star Trek” movie. The shifter lever, controls and instrument panel sit atop this structure that also houses the CD player and a space for storing small items. Although not having the instrument panel directly in front of the driver provides a better view of the road, it adds to the reach for the heater and radio knobs.

The 2005 Nissan Quest is available in four models: the 3.5 base, 3.5 S, 3.5 SL and 3.5 SE. The tester was the mid-level SL that had a base price of $26,250, but quickly climbed to $35,660 with the optional packages that were included. These options included the DVD entertainment system ($1,500), glass-paneled roof that provided light for all seats ($1,500), second-row captain’s chairs ($350), leather and Bose radio package ($2,200), and navigation system ($2,000).

Nissan keeps its eye on safety, both with suspension and braking technologies and passive restraint systems. Standard safety equipment includes front and rear crumple zones, front seat active head restraints and head curtain bags that help protect passengers in all seats during a side-impact collision.

The front passenger seat has a sensor that turns off the air bag if it senses a small person in the passenger seat. I plopped my rather hefty purse onto the seat and a light in the dash flashed to warn me that the passenger air bag had been disengaged. That’s a nice safety feature for people who let their four-legged friend ride shotgun.

The power under the hood of the Quest is a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that’s tuned to produce 240 horsepower and 242 pounds-feet of torque. It won’t win any off-the-line challenges, but anyone interested in a van is usually looking for convenience, not speed.

The Quest also delivers plenty of comfort, beginning with the seats that are positioned high. The height keeps the body in a normal seated position and reduces fatigue. Ample legroom allows for free movement and occasional stretches if the drive is long.

Backseat passengers are kept comfortable with a rear heating and air conditioning system that they can control. Add to their riding enjoyment by opting for the entertainment system that will let them watch a movie without bothering the front seat occupants.

Fortunately vans are here to stay. They’re spacious enough for growing families and convenient for someone who hauls craft items or paintings to shows, uses the cargo space for gardening supplies, or enjoys car-pooling with office chums.

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