The Maxima is a big car and needs elbow room in traffic.
When Nissan started to get into CVT transmissions in a fairly serious way a few years back, one of the first models affected was the Maxima sedan.
At the vehicle launch, in 2007, company officials expressed confidence that buyers would warm to the single-speed transmission and learn to appreciate its seamless power delivery and ease of operation. After all, they reasoned, CVTs had been in use in Japan in the Primera sedan and Cube minivan for a couple of years, and other manufacturers were also introducing it to their own models.
In the Maxima, the CVT replaced a five-speed automatic and is now the only transmission choice.
So it seems the CVT is here to stay, and Nissan is also using it in its Murano SUV, Altima Hybrid, Rogue, Sentra sedan, Versa econo-box and the newly introduced Cube.
Does it make a difference in the Maxima? Maybe a little, but not enough to seriously detract from the overall driving experience of this upscale sedan.
Power delivery may be a smidgeon on the snatchy side and it takes a nano-second longer or two for the engine rpms to spool up, but nine out of 10 drivers likely won't even notice it - or care.
Now in its seventh generation, the Tennessee-built Maxima shares its platform with the Murano and Altima sedan, and is still V-6-powered - in this case by Nissan/Infiniti's trusty VQ series engine. It displaces 3.5 litres and develops 290 horsepower in this configuration.
Like the CVT, the VQ powerplant is widely utilized throughout the company's lineup and has found its way into everything from minivans to pickup trucks. It's a proven unit and just about perfect for this size of automobile.
It has lots of top- and bottom-end power, is smooth in operation and reasonably thrifty. And, through the use of steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, you can utilize this drivetrain to its maximum.
Nissan's Xtronic technology allows you to change the ratios between the primary and secondary transmission pulleys, and it almost feels like a conventional planetary gearbox at times. During my time with this car, I used this feature a lot and it's a nice touch.
Given a restyle for the 2009 model year, the Maxima is also one of the more striking-looking sedans out there. Some of its competitors - Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord - are kind of bland in comparison, and Nissan's flagship carries itself with an athletic muscularity.
Nissan designers, never short of catchphrases, describe this particular vintage of Maxima as having "liquid motion," and who am I to argue? Although a titch shorter than its predecessor, it's slightly wider and features a very aggressive road stance. That said, it is a big car and needs elbow room in downtown traffic.
Although it is a traditional four-door sedan, you can also get the Maxima with a four-door coupe interior layout. That is, rear bucket seats with a large centre console.
This is part of the Premium package and comes with other goodies, such as a huge dual-panel sunroof, power rear sunshade, wood trim, leather seats and a heated/cooled driver's seat.
This arrangement transforms the interior of the Maxima and, although extremely slick and contemporary, has limited practicality if you're looking for family transport.
All in, these extras will run you some $3,150. My tester had this arrangement as well as the inevitable Navigation package, which includes XM satellite radio and costs another $2,100. All things considered, I'd plump for the former and pass on the latter package.
Maybe it's just me, but these days I'm finding satellite radio to be almost as intolerable as the AM/FM stations it's supposed to replace. What seemed like a good idea in the beginning has morphed into a user-unfriendly mish-mash of shouting DJs, obscure musical tracks that were never that great to begin with and "themed" formats that make you want to drive in silence.
Anyway, the Maxima comes with a pretty lengthy list of standard equipment. More than enough to keep you amused. Cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering, heated front seats, 60/40-folding rear seat, Bluetooth capability, dual zone climate control and, my personal favourite (not!), push-button start.
In all respects, this is an upscale automobile and thankfully free of some of the wilder technological excesses Nissan is indulging in these days through its Infiniti lineup (self-healing paint, four exterior cameras, etc).
I have mixed feelings about the driver information centre and its myriad of buttons and knobs, but I suppose it's one of those things one would get used to after a while.
Right from its beginnings, back in the early 1980s, the Maxima has been billed as a sports sedan and although it still has an element of tossability, it's becoming more and more upscale, with the emphasis on comfort and convenience, rather than sportiness.
This current generation is the most opulent and non-sporty version yet, and the Altima seems to be picking up where the Maxima is leaving off.
2009 NISSAN MAXIMA PREMIUM
Type: Four-passenger sedan
Base Price: $37,900; as tested, $44,710
Engine: 3.5-litre V-6
Horsepower/Torque: 290 hp/261 lb-ft
Transmission: CVT
Drive: Front-wheel-drive
Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 10.8 city/7.7 highway; regular gas
Alternatives: Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry V-6, Mazda6, Honda Accord V-6, Chevrolet Malibu, Acura TL, Chrysler 300, Hyundai Sonata V-6, VW Passat
*****
Like
- Reasonable base price
- Nicely proportioned exterior
- Well-co-ordinated drivetrain
Don't like
- Getting a little on the gimmicky side
- A pox on XM radio