by J.T. Hills
SGN Contributing Writer

            Top

• Attractive, aggressive design
• Handling
• Entry-level model is well equipped

            Bottom

• Information display is dated
• Miss the rear-seat legroom of the previous generation
• Requires premium fuel

            The Maxima, Nissan’s flagship sedan, first was introduced for the 1981 model year as a rear-wheel-drive sedan, and in 1984 received a V6 engine for the first time. The second-generation Maxima switched to a front-wheel-drive configuration, and has been referred to over the years by Nissan as a “four-door sports car.” For 2009, Nissan has completely redesigned the Maxima with fresh styling, a new chassis, and upgraded interior features. The new Maxima is built on the new “D” platform, designed to enhance body rigidity and minimize torque steer. The wheelbase is shorter than the previous generation, providing it with a more aggressive stance. It also features a 3.5-liter 290-hp V6 engine teamed with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). After spending a week with the 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV, I’ve assimilated, corrugated, encapsulated, conjugated, and insinuated my own observations, and here they are:

            Evidently the four-door coupe car is the new black
            How can a four-door be a coupe? The design trend started with the Mercedes Benz CLS, and then the Volkswagen CC, and now the newly redesigned Nissan Maxima. Even if “four-door” and “coupe” seem to be contradictory terms, the design outcome is beautiful. The previous generation Maxima was awkward. The size was great, but the design had some weird angles, and who wants a two-piece narrow sunroof down the middle of your car that doesn’t open?  

            The week before Memorial Day I had to head out of town for work and a much-needed three-day weekend, the perfect opportunity to take the Maxima on a little road trip. The first thing that I noticed as I headed out on I-90 over the pass was that keeping the Maxima at a consistent speed without the use of cruise control seemed to be a chore, and it seemed to error on a downward drift. I’m assuming it was to be blamed on the CVT transmission. It works great and seamlessly when you’re accelerating or driving more aggressively, but when you’re trying to avoid a ticket on the first big holiday weekend of the year, it just seemed like a bad choice. I had the opportunity to take it up on an extremely windy mountain pass near the Canadian boarder in North Eastern Washington. With 15-mph corners, it’s a really fun pass to drive, and it’s pretty. The Maxima handled well, had plenty of power with the 290-hp V6, but what I really wanted was a six-speed manual transmission. It just seemed like it would better complete the “four-door sports car” picture Nissan is trying to paint.

            The interior of the new Maxima is richly finished and detailed. The front seats were well supported and comfortable after hours on the road. The Maxima also has a generous list of standard features, like the nine-speaker Bose audio system, moonroof, and dual climate zones. The trip computer was a nice addition, too. There were a couple of things I didn’t “get,” though, like an amazing sound system and no satellite radio. Also, the font and color of the font on the information display was right out of the movie Tron. There’s nothing consistent about the design progression of the Maxima since 1981 except for the information display. Lastly, if you’re a die-hard Maxima owner, you’re going to miss the legroom in the back seat. It really is like a coupe.

            Okay, for an MSRP of $33,935, what do you get?
            The 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV comes with a generous list of standard features, and popular upgrades are reasonably priced. Here’s a look at some of my favorites:
 
Technical Features

• 290-hp 3.5-liter DOHC 24-Valve V-6 engine
• Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
• Front-engine, front-wheel drive
• Dual chrome exhaust finishers
• Four-wheel power-assisted ventilated brakes
• Electronically controlled throttle
• Front and rear stabilizer bars
• Independent front strut suspension
• Independent multi-link rear suspension
• Vehicle speed-sensitive power steering
• 18” wheels and tires
• 20 gallon fuel tank capacity

Safety Features

• Driver and front passenger dual stage airbags
• Driver and front passenger side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Four-wheel anti-locking braking system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Fog lamps

Interior Features

• Leather seating surfaces with heated front seats
• Eight-way power driver’s seat, four-way power front passenger seat
• Proximity entry w/ push-button start
• Leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls
• Satin chrome finishes
• Moonroof
• Multi-function trip computer
• Dual-zone climate control
• Bose audio system with AM/FM six-disc in-dash CD changer w/ nine speakers
• Radio data system
• Auto-dimming inside mirror
• Homelink universal transmitter

Optional Features

• Cold package: Heated front seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors ($400)
• Bluetooth hands-free phone system ($800)
• Five-piece floor mats and trunk mat ($180)
• Rear spoiler ($370)