2010 Nissan Maxima

The first Nissan Maxima arrived for 1981 as an upscale model, and the second-generation model became fast and agile enough around 1990 to lead Nissan to call it a"four-door sports car."

But the Maxima was never a sports car. For one thing, its front-wheel-drive prevented it from having rear-drive sports car balance and agility. It eventually became too large and rather soft to even be called sporty. It became just another nice upscale front-drive sedan.

But Nissan totally redesigned its mid-size flagship sedan for 2009, although it retained front-drive. Horsepower of the car's smooth V-6 was raised from 255 to 290. And it was given a shorter wheelbase and overall length, besides additional width and thus a sportier stance.

The 2009 Maxima got a deeply sculpted body/fender treatment, with muscular fender flares and sharp character lines. The overall "Coke bottle" effect was reminiscent of such striking cars as the 1960s Studebaker Avanti and 1990s Oldsmobile Aurora.

The Maxima's interior also was refined and upgraded, giving the driver a fat-rimmed wheel and cockpit-like feel. Added were deeply cushioned armrests and supple optional leather. Naturally the car was loaded with comfort, convenience and safety features.

The 2009 Maxima shared the "D platform" of the Nissan Altima and Murano. Some were disappointed, expecting the more-balanced rear-drive used by prestigious foreign sports sedans.

With all the redesigning for 2009, the new Maxima has few changes. Despite its 61/39 front/rear weight distribution, the 3,549-pound sedan handles adroitly. There is hardly any torque steer, despite the front-drive layout. The quick, speed-sensitive steering provides good power assist at lower speeds, but becomes too stiff and heavy at higher speeds.

Helping keep the car on the road are a supple all-independent suspension, traction control and an anti-skid system. There also are front-side and curtain-side air bags and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake-assist features for surer stops.

There is no manual transmission, which some car buffs desire. But the Maxima's continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)-one of the best CVTs-has an effective manual-shift feature and is so smooth during upshifts and downshifts that it's doubtful many would buy the car with a manual, despite its sporty nature.

The Maxima comes as the $30,460 3.5 S and as the $33,180 3.5 SV. Both are packed with comfort, convenience and safety equipment.

Such items for the S include cruise control and the usual power accessories, including power front seats. There's also a front power tilt/slide sunroof and air conditioning with dual-zone climate controls.

The SV adds an upscale Bose audio system, leather upholstery and a driver-seat thigh extender for additional comfort on long trips.

Desirable option packages aren't cheap. For instance, the SV can be had with a $2,030 Sport package and a $3,230 Premium package.

The Sport package doesn't allow fold-down rear seatbacks for more cargo room because it adds a fixed seatback for improved rear rigidity--there's a small pass-through for such items as skis. This package has a firmer sport suspension, 19-inch wheels, rear spoiler, leather seats with an up-front heated feature, metallic-link trim and a power tilt/telescopic heated wheel with paddle shifters.
 
The $3,230 Premium package has features including a dual-panel moonroof with a fixed rrear section and power retractable sunshades, heated front seats with a climate-controlled driver's seat, wood-tone trim, rear audio and climate controls and a rearview monitor. It allows a split/folding seatback, although seatbacks don't sit entirely flat and the pass-through has a marginal size.

The 2010 Maxima adds Crimson Black and Ocean Gray body colors and new wheel finishes for 18-inch (Fine Silver) and 19-inch (Hyper Silver) wheels.

Option package contents also are revamped. For instance, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system is now standard on all models. And a 7-inch color monitor, rearview monitor, auxiliary audio/video input jack, iPod net and 2GB music server are added to the new optional Monitor Package. Such items as DVD playback capability are added to the Technology Package, and satellite radio becomes standard on the 3.5 SV model.

The Maxima has one of the most highly-rated V-6 engines. It allows swift 65-80 mph passing on highways and loafs at 2,000 rpm at 65 mph. Estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg in the city and 26 on highways. Premium-grade fuel is required for the 20-gallon tank.

The ride is supple,with the Sport package providing the most precise control. The brake pedal has a linear action for consistently smooth stops.

The quiet, roomy interior's backlit gauges can be quickly read. Front seats provide good support in curves, and there are easily worked controls and decent storage areas. The heater works very quickly on cold days. Doors open wide, but a low roofline and narrow floor-level passages inhibit rear entry and exit.

The roomy trunk has a low, wide opening and raises smoothly on twin struts, as does the hood.

Although it's no "four-door sports car," the seventh-generation Maxima is lively and fun to drive.