As Nissan's flagship sedan, the Maxima has always been a little more special or a little bit more ahead of the curve for much of the class. The 2007 model is redesigned in many areas, noticeably, and it did not disappoint in a recent testing period.
As the flagship sedan, Maxima is expected to be a leader and an innovator and it accomplishes this by combining a wonderful package of sporty performance features along with a near-luxury interior that accommodates family and fickle driver alike.
The Maxima comes in two variations: SE, the performance model; and SL, the more plush, luxury package. Both serve several purposes by building upon the 255-hp 5.4-liter V6 with interior style and enhancements to drivability.
New for 2007, the Maxima receives a full body makeover. From the elegant grille and headlight assembly to the rocker panels, fenders, rear spoiler and taillamps, this Maxima is sharp and contemporary looking from head to toe.
Maxima has always been somewhat of an auto insider treasure. Having always sported great power and performance on the pavement, not to mention dependability and good resale value, the Maxima has been the Pinot Noir to Honda and Toyota's simple Cabs and Merlots. If you appreciate the slightly better aspects of driving, the Maxima is a wine glass brimming with possibilities.
While I have been critical of some of the past incarnations of Maxima styling, the new changes, which bring it more toward the Altima's styling, are delightfully unique and attractive. Thankfully, the power that has always been a signature of the Maxima is still there, albeit driven to the front wheels by a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that I found to be responsive and seamless in transitions.
Inside my Maxima tester, the new centerstack is the star. My tester had the optional Nav System ($1,800) and the 7-inch LCD screen is perfectly positioned to interface easily with driver. Nissan's system is pretty intuitive in its operation, though it is probably in the middle of the pack when compared to the competition. The new instrument cluster is stark, yet reflective of Maxima's performance genes. I liked the easy visibility and clean, yet-simple look.
My SE tester exhibited a desirable blend of leather and brushed aluminum accents. Leather interior was comfortable while the accents on the steering wheel, doors and shifter added some additional warmth and class. My tester's driver seat had the 8-way power adjustments that created the perfect perch to drive the Maxima.
Maxima has a standard rear bucket configuration, just a little way of letting you know you are in a performance sedan (rear bench is optional). While this is not kid-friendly for families of more than four, it is a special feeling when you are riding in the rear of the Maxima.
One of the things Nissan has been pushing the bar on is the Skyview windows; these are long, narrow windows that run the length of the sedan. As someone who rarely opens my sunroof, I like it for the way it opens up the interior space. My tester had the Power Glass Sunroof ($900) option. While this does not run the length of the interior, it does provide the option of opening up the cabin to the outside.
My Maxima was equipped with the Bose 8-speaker system with 6-disc changer and MP3 playback (input jack). Needless to say, all audio aficionados will want to adopt the Premium Audio Package as a must as sound quality was outstanding. Nissan also offers factory installed XM or Sirius radio.
I found Maxima to be adept at passing and merging at every level. It is a pleasure to drive around town on errands and it qualifies as a certified cruiser on the highway. While the CVT is best in automatic mode, it does have a manual setting for those in need of some additional work.
Fuel economy for this roomy sedan is good, 21/28. The CVT optimizes every drop of fuel by continually shifting to the peak performance of the engine in every moment the car is running. It is seamless and not recognizable in any circumstance.
My Maxima SE was base priced at $28,050, but options took the price up to a still-impressive $35,765. Overall, the Maxima is a star performer with a reputation for delivering spirited performance and near-luxury accommodations at a Nissan price point. That usually extrapolates to a good value in whatever comparison you might make.
|