Producing an honest sports sedan has eluded Nissan for the last two decades. Unfortunately, the new Maxima still falls short of that promise. Although touted as a sporty four-door, the Maxima is nothing of the sort. Is it at least a convincingly luxurious large sedan? Sadly, the new Nissan falters as a haven of opulence, as well. Throw in a $42,000 price tag for the Platinum version we tested and -- despite some high points -- the Maxima becomes a questionable purchase proposition.
We had high hopes for Nissan's new flagship, thinking that maybe this time Nissan would get it right. There's sleek styling. A potent engine. It looked promising. But despite Nissan's ambitions, the Maxima doesn't tick enough boxes.
Granted, it's quick. The 3.5-liter V6 eagerly unleashes every one of its 300 horses, dashing from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds while still returning a best-in-class 25 mpg overall -- impressive considering that it doesn't use a hybrid system and isn't a diesel. The trade-off is that it requires premium fuel.
But those numbers don't tell the whole story. Every time you need a little extra oomph from the powertrain -- say, when merging on a busy highway -- the standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) produces a lot of angst-inducing engine noise and feels disconnected to the whole acceleration experience. The transmission may be smooth around town, but it's not particularly kind to your ears, and it thwarts any sense of driving pleasure. Every tester complained that the CVT neutered a great engine backed with a seemingly endless well of horsepower.
For all of its "four-door sports car" sloganeering, the Maxima's handling is rather mundane and not befitting a car with such a sporty pretense. The steering provides hardly any feedback, and during low-speed parking maneuvers, the effort required from the driver suddenly becomes quite hefty for no apparent reason. It's as if the software was programmed backward.
The Maxima's ride was also a letdown, with some bumps unduly punching through. And it tended to produce unsettling motions that caused some passengers to feel seasick.
Inside, the interior remains mostly quiet. However, the driving position is cramped and confining. Head room is tight, and your right leg and knee will probably be snugged up against the side of the intrusive center console (at least it's padded). And the old-style foot-operated parking brake steals valuable real estate from your left shin.
Visibility is hurt by narrow windows, sharply sloped front windshield pillars, and a high parcel shelf behind the rear seats. Considering that seeing out of the Maxima is akin to peering out of a cave, it's disappointing that lane-departure warning isn't offered. Fortunately, a backup camera is standard, and a surround-view system is optional.
Those seated in back have scant space, with limited head and leg room and tiny toe room under the front seats. Our testers kept wondering how a car so big outside could feel so small inside.
The controls are a bright spot -- incorporating high-tech connectivity and a long list of features into an approachable, easy-to-understand design. Plus, Nissan's new touch-screen infotainment system is one of the best in the industry. The fit and finish is elegant; the diamond-quilted stitching on the seats of high-end models is a snazzy touch.
Putting the Maxima in perspective, it's neither a viable alternative to a large, cosseting family sedan such as the Chevrolet Impala or Toyota Avalon, nor a genuine competitor to an enthusiastic sports sedan like a BMW 3 Series. That leaves the Maxima in a peculiar limbo.