So where does this leave the Maxima? Originally a model that could be cross-shopped against the Accord and Camry, the Maxima has grown — in size, price and stature — to where it's difficult to categorize. It's more luxurious and sportier than anything in the Honda, Toyota, Mazda or Mitsubishi stable. You'd probably need to look to Buick, or to Hyunda's redesigned Azera, for a genuinely appropriate comparison.
So where does this leave the Maxima? With a small but secure niche as a semi-luxury Japanese-branded sedan (it's built in Smyrna, Tenn.), and a following that arguably dates back to 1989, when a redesigned Maxima was introduced as the company's "4DSC" — a "four-door sports car" that was, and is, a little optimistic.
The current Maxima dates back to a 2009 redesign. The car got a mid-cycle freshening for 2012 that included a new grille and taillights and an updated interior. Nissan says that when the 2013 model debuts later this summer, it will get a new color (Pearl white), with the only other changes being packaging.
As it has for years, the Maxima is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that is among the best in its class. It's smooth, reasonably powerful (290 horsepower), but lags behind the competition on fuel mileage with an EPA-rated 19 mpg city, 26 mpg on the highway, premium gas preferred. Quite a few other manufacturers are moving to smaller four-cylinder engines with turbochargers that approach the Maxima's V-6 horsepower, but deliver better mileage. Even so, the 3.5-liter V-6 is a very satisfying engine, with plenty of low-end power that makes freeway merging uneventful.
Nissan is also the staunchest supporter of the CVT, or continuously variable transmission. While the CVT operates as an automatic, it doesn't have a set number of five, six or seven gears — they are replaced by a cone-like structure that allows a belt to move up and down the cone as you accelerate or decelerate, effectively making minute, imperceptible gear changes. You punch the throttle from a standing start, and by the time you get up to highway speed, the CVT maintains near-constant engine speed, creating a sensation similar to an outboard boat motor as it accelerates.
Supposedly CVTs were supposed to enhance fuel mileage, but it hasn't really worked out that way, especially on larger cars. Honda, Ford and other manufacturers have used CVTs, but Nissan is the True Believer, and I haven't found many people who prefer a CVT to a regular transmission, me included. But if you want a Maxima, that's what you get. Nissan tries to mimic the conventional automatic with optional steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that allow you to feel as though you are shifting up and down, but they essentially pick a spot on the CVT band, giving you the illusion that there's a specific gear there.
Otherwise, the driving experience is above average. Steering feel is a little light, but handling is secure, likely enhanced by an optional Sport package, which the test car didn't have. The ride is very smooth, even on rough surfaces.
The Maxima comes in two models: The base S, and the SV, which was our 2012 test car — it adds leather upholstery, a Bose nine-speaker sound system, fog lights and outside mirrors with built-in turn signals. There are several packages offered, too; our car had the Premium package ($3,300, which includes a duel-panel sunroof, a seven-inch color dashboard monitor with a rear-view camera, cherry wood tone trim, and several other features), as well as the "Premium Technology" package ($1,850, adding mostly a voice-activated navigation system).
With a rear spoiler, floor and trunk mats and shipping, the SV's base price of $34,450 climbed to $40,930. That isn't exactly inexpensive, but you do get a lot for the money, including an exhaustive list of safety features.
There are much cheaper five-passenger, front-wheel-drive sedans on the market, but the Maxima offers a slightly old-school — and I mean that in a good way — sensation of coddling you with all the bells and whistles without having to move to a premium brand. That's kept the Maxima going for years, and should for a long time still.
