Nissan introduced the seventh generation of its flagship Maxima last summer as an '09 model, the best version yet of the premium sport sedan that has always been a top seller for the No. 2 Japanese automaker.
For 2010, the Maxima returns with a few tweaks, including new wheel finishes, standard Bluetooth hands-free phone connection on all models and options such as a new 7-inch LCD touch-screen color monitor, a revised hard-drive navigation system with DVD playback capability and XM NavTraffic, which brings real-time traffic reports in many major metropolitan areas.
Prices for the '10 model begin at $30,460 (plus $720 freight) for the base 3.5 S model and $33,180 for the uplevel 3.5 SV version.
Under the hood of both is the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine from the 2009 model, rated at 290 horsepower and 261 foot-pounds of torque.
It's connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission with optional paddle shifters for simulated manual gear changes. EPA ratings are 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
The new wheel finishes are included on the 18-inch Fine Silver and 19-inch Hyper Silver wheels.
XM satellite radio is now standard in the SV model, but the subscription to the service is not included.
Extras on the SV model for 2010 include leather sport seats, a Bose premium audio system with nine speakers (including two subwoofers and a center channel), universal garage/gate opener, fog lights and outside mirrors with built-in turn signals.
A Sport Package ($2,030) is available for the SV model, adding the 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with either P245/40R19 all-season or summer performance tires, sport-tuned suspension, rear spoiler, high-intensity discharge xenon headlights, heated outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down feature, automatic entry/exit system with two-driver memory, heated front seats and steering wheel, the shift paddles and premium leather seats.
The Premium Package ($3,230) tacks on a dual-panel moon roof with rear roof window and front and rear power retractable sunshades, the HID xenon headlights, the heated outside mirrors with tilt-down, the automatic entry/exit system with two-driver memory, heated front seats and steering wheel, paddle shifters, premium leather seats, Eucalyptus wood-tone trim, the 7-inch color monitor, a 2.0-gigabyte music server and a rear-view monitor.
Also offered is a Technology Package ($1,850) for the SV model, which brings the navigation system with voice recognition, a 9.3GB hard drive (for storing music files onboard), XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, streaming audio via Bluetooth technology, the 7.0-inch touch-screen monitor, and DVD playback capability.
A rear-view monitor by itself is $700; the rear spoiler is $370; and the HID headlights are $400.
Nissan calls the Maxima a “four-door sports car,” insisting that it's returning to its roots after languishing for a few years as essentially just a fancier version of the lower-priced Altima family sedan.
Built at the company's Smyrna, Tenn., plant, the new Maxima is a premium family sedan that not only has great curb appeal, but also is a real kick to drive. It originally was introduced in the early 1980s, and four of every five Maximas ever sold are still on the road.
The Maxima is in the same class as the Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Genesis and higher-end models of the Honda Accord, but it has more emphasis on performance than the Toyota and Honda models and appeals to a younger audience.
Because of its prices and its appeal to an affluent clientele, the Maxima is more closely related to premium sedans such as the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350 and Infiniti G35, all of which come with similar 3.5-liter V-6 engines and sport or luxury features.
The car always has had a sporty feel to it, something Nissan designed into the vehicle to help make it stand out, the company said.
Nissan used the chassis of the current Altima for the new Maxima, but altered it significantly to give the car its sporty handling.
The car has a 109.3-inch wheelbase, 1.9 inches shorter than the previous generation. It's 73.2 inches wide, which is an increase of 1.5 inches. The track was widened to give the car more stability, particularly in tight turns.
Standard safety features include electronic stability control, traction control, front seat-mounted side air bags, front and rear side-curtain air bags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Even the base model comes well equipped, with such standard features as a moon roof, eight-way power driver's seat and four-way power front passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control with illuminated steering-wheel-mounted controls, push-button start, power windows/mirrors/door locks, AM/FM/compact-disc audio system with six-disc changer and an available interface for iPod.
The 2010 models are now available at Nissan dealerships nationwide.
source: blog.seattlepi
