The automaker considers it a "four-door sports car."
On the surface, that's a good description for the Maxima, which has the snout of a 350Z and the sleek lines of a thoroughbred.
But Maxima is so much more than that; it could be described as an Infiniti wearing a Nissan badge, the reference, of course, being to the Japanese automaker's luxury division.
This new Maxima achieves a rare balance, delivering the feel and response of a true sports car while pampering passengers in supreme comfort.
If buyers are looking for a traditional full-sized luxury sedan, they won't find it in the Maxima, which has mid-sized proportions. For driving enthusiasts, the size is perfect for high-speed corner carving.
For luxury buyers, the Maxima offers a fully equipped cabin for comfortable long-distance touring at any speed.
Rear passengers, especially outboard riders, will be coddled on the form-sitting sculpted bench seat. But while Nissan has provided ample space for knees, legroom is fairly tight. Too tight for a car in this price range.
Anybody wanting to stretch the legs even a bit can forget about it, but with a lead-footed driver at the helm, any destination will thankfully be reached quickly courtesy of the Maxima's 3.5-litre, 24-valve DOHC engine which cranks out an astonishing 290 horsepower.
Yes, that's 290 horsepower under the hood of a front-wheel-drive sedan. With 261 ft-lb of torque, the Maxima will make easy work of passing or pulling away at stoplights.
The engine's power is harnessed by a continuously variable transmission -and Nissan's are the best in the business, folks -that has four driver-selectable modes so the pilot has ample control over the car's performance.
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In manual mode, drivers can shift using the lever or paddle shifters mounted on the steering column.
The Maxima will consume premium gas at a rate of 11 litres per 100 kilometres city and eight l/100 km highway.
The leather-covered steering wheel, by the way, is heated and has controls for audio and other functions. It also has power tilt and telescoping functions.
The tester is a Maxima 3.5 SV. Even with optional equipment, the Maxima tops out at only $42,550, which is a bargain by luxury car standards.
The content level is extremely high. It includes such stuff as front and rear stabilizers, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, vehicle dynamic control, traction control and electronic brake force distribution.
All of these will work with drivers for a confidence-inspiring ride regardless of road conditions.
The cockpit is a work of art with nicely bolstered seats that have the right amount of firmness.
The Maxima has a push-button starter allowing a driver to keep the remote key fob in his or her pocket.
A rear-view camera will come in handy when shopping in crowded parking lots while the Maxima's integrated iPod system will be especially appreciated since it lets users control iPod functions through the audio system controls. This is so cool. So, so cool.
And the driver's seat is cool, too - or at least it can be, courtesy of the available seating air-conditioning system that enhances the Maxima's dual-zone climate control. On a hot summer day, an air-conditioned driver's seat will be more valued than many drivers may imagine.
The driver's seat is also eight-way power adjustable while the front passenger's is four-way.
The tester has the optional dual panel moonroof (with retractable sunshades) that lets front and rear passengers all enjoy the extra light on a sunny day or the stars on a moonlit night.
A power rear window sunshade is also included here for the comfort of rear-seat passengers.
The sound system is amazing. It's a Digital Bose system with in-dash, six- CD changer and nine speakers. Maxima buyers get three months of XM Satellite radio service, too.
Optional in the available technology package is a 9.23-gigabyte "Music Box" hard drive and compact flash slot for playing MP3 and MWA files which will appeal to tech-savvy audiophiles.
Rear seat passengers are coddled with a fold-down centre armrest that has separate controls for the climate control and audio systems.
Nissan didn't forget about cargo capacity when designing the Maxima; the trunk will swallow 0.43 cubic metres of stuff, or enough luggage for the whole family.
Ambient lighting in the tester will provide mood lighting to brighten up the cabin at night.
The driving experience is akin to driving a sports car with a high belt-line that gives the illusion passengers are sitting lower than they are.
One of this car's beauties is the look over the sculpted Maxima hood, which is absolutely gorgeous.
Nissan has wisely given the Maxima a ride that isn't too firm so the car will appeal to a wide range of buyers. This is a car passengers won't want to leave even after long hours on the highway.
The engine is responsive but hushed at cruising speed. Need torque, though, and the engine lights up instantaneously.
What segment of buyer will find the Maxima most appealing is going to be interesting because this car has so many virtues -and virtually no flaws. It has the potential to turn a couple of market segments upside down.
source:welland tribune
