I did mention luxury, didn’t I? Twin sunroofs, and Nissan’s great Skyview system, dual zone auto climate control, power adjustable pedals, Bluetooth, Homelink, and a Bose 10 speaker audio system are just a few of the features on offer. My tester also boasted two rear 8 inch DVD screens, one for each row of seats, and plenty of rear mounted controls that should keep the kids happy.

All in all, the interior is a nice place to be and is a vast improvement on the previous model. I was pleased to see that it still retains its “European flavor�, which coming from “over there�, in many ways, reminds me of some luxury Renault products.

Of course, luxury means different things to different people, so minivan buyers will appreciate the dual power-operated side doors and the power rear door. The vehicle also boasts a rear back-up camera which is very useful in a vehicle of this type.

Now, to the drive. Well, the 3.5 litre DOHC V6 which produces 235 hp certainly gives this people carrier plenty of oomph. It is coupled to a smooth operating 5 speed automatic transmission, which has the control stalk built into the dashboard. These two units work very well together and combine to give above average performance.

The Quest 3.5 SE comes as standard with a Vehicle Dynamic Control System and the handling characteristics are more car-like than some of the other minivans that I have driven. Road noise is almost non-existent from inside the cabin area and this further adds to the luxurious feel of the vehicle.

Naturally, safety is an important issue, especially with minivan owners, and so the Quest is “loaded� with a full complement of safety features.

Loaded, that is possibly the best word to describe the 2007 Nissan Quest 3.5 SE. It seems to have what every other minivan has “and then some�. Priced around the mid $40K’s and with a few extras taking it up into the low $50K’s, it is certainly not the cheapest game in town. However, if you “want� a luxury vehicle, yet “need� a vehicle with lots of room, I think that this vehicle might just fit the bill.

Besides, when those young Gretzky’s of yours starts hitting the big time in a few more years, this will seem like small change!