This front-wheel-drive sedan
compares with the usual midsize suspects — Toyota
Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and
also the Nissan Altima — but the Maxima isn't for
the masses. It is a car focused on the spirit of
driving rather than mainstream popularity.
Maxima's width makes it feel like
a large car, but it is just 2.5 inches wider than
Altima and has the same wheelbase and length — but
Altima outsells it by an easy four to one. While it
is about 200 pounds heavier than Altima, Maxima
rolls on taller tires — 18- and 19-inch wheels
versus 16- and 17-inches — and stops with larger,
12-inch-plus four-wheel discs. All of those
dimensions translate to a great sense of security
and safety on the road.
Changes to the 2011 Maxima are
minimal. All models get a tailpipe finisher with a
rolled edge. Additions to the Sport package ($2,080)
are smoked HID headlights, dark-chrome grille and
shiny gray interior stitching. New paint colors are
Metallic Slate and Brilliant Silver.
Sold in two trim levels, the entry
level S model starts at $31,560, including $750
freight charge. The top-line SV start at $34,280.
The test car with options was $37,240.
Standard features include a
standard moonroof, eight-way power driver seat and
four-way power front passenger seat, dual-zone
automatic temperature control, cruise control with
lighted steering wheel mounted controls, Nissan
Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, power
windows and door locks, CD6-MP3 audio system with
eight speakers and Bluetooth phone connection.
The 2010 Maxima earned the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
highest rating of 5 stars for front- and side-impact
crash safety. Standard safety features include
Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage front
air bags, seat belt sensors and an occupant
classification sensor. Also standard are front
side-impact bags and curtains, front-seat Active
Head Restraints, front belt pretensioners and load
limiters.
Electronic driver aids include
stability and traction controls. The four-wheel
vented disc brakes apply smoothly with strong force
when needed. The brakes are integrated with
four-channel, four-sensor, four-wheel ABS with
Electronic Brake force Distribution and Brake
Assist.
It seems a little
counter-intuitive for a sport sedan to have a
continuously variable transmission, but Nissan's
Xtronic CVT is about as engaging as it gets. The
Xtronic has steering-wheel paddle shifters,
simulates shift points in Drive Sport mode and gives
a good engine rev on downshifts.
All this for fuel economy of 19
mpg around town and 26 on the highway, using the
recommended premium fuel. (That compares to 20/27
for Altima).
Another separator for Maxima is
entry-luxury materials. The cabin looks rich and is
well soundproofed, but there can be tire noise on
concrete highways. The back seats are raised and
quite comfortable for two adults. The back seat
folds to expand trunk space, which at 14.2 cubic
feet is a little more than 1 cubic foot smaller than
the trunk in Altima.
Roomier sedans can be bought for
less money. But the Maxima buyer gets a capable
sport sedan with luxury-class finesse.
Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at
Mark.Maynard@uniontrib.com.
COPYRIGHT 2011 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM.
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