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By: Derek Price
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It was only a few years ago
when Nissan teetered on the brink of bankruptcy,
nearly committing corporate suicide with a lineup of
stale, flavorless sedans and generally unimpressive
trucks. It was a sad sight, indeed.
Nissan knew it needed a miracle to stay alive as a
company, and that's what it appears to be getting
today. Over the last two years it managed to muster
a pair of home runs -- no, more like grand slams --
with the redesigned Altima and sporty 350Z, both of
which are leaving dealer lots faster than a cheetah
on steroids.
Drawing on this newfound popularity, Nissan set out to
redesign its 2004 Maxima as an upscale near-luxury
sedan with a sporty personality. Just like the
hot-selling Altima, it has an athletic stance with
dramatic curves and muscular haunches, along with a
powerful engine, sharp handling, and a stylish,
roomy cabin.
In fact, its greatest strength -- that it copies the
Altima's best parts -- may also be its greatest
weakness. The Maxima is only slightly larger than
the Altima and, despite its clear attempt at looking
and feeling sporty, doesn't quite match the smaller
Altima's impressive performance.
But the Maxima offers some distinct advantages. Among
these, most noticeable is its styling, which
features a more coupe-like curved roof, sportier
lines, and swoopier body panels than the Altima.
Along with the performance-oriented style comes a
little bit of prestige, too, especially since Nissan
only expects to sell a relatively small number of
Maxima compared with the Altima.
The most important difference, however, is in the
Maxima's cabin, where wonderfully sumptuous
materials give it a feeling almost as fabulous as in
a full-blown luxury sedan. Its door panels are
covered in a suede-like material similar to that in
extremely expensive Mercedes-Benz models, and the
dash on our test vehicle was exquisitely assembled
and rattle-free.
Most controls are located where drivers would expect
them, and the gauges are particularly stylish and
readable. However, buyers who don't like superfluous
technology could be turned off by the Maxima's
in-dash control screen and multitude of switches and
buttons.
One option that sets the Maxima apart from other
midsize sedans is the "elite package," which puts a
classy center console between two heated bucket
seats in the rear and adds a power rear sunshade. It
makes the back seat feel like it's actually meant
for adults, but it costs a hefty $6,400 on the
sporty SE and $3,550 on the luxurious SL model.
While the Maxima's performance is not quite as neck
snapping as the less-expensive Altima, it's still
worth noting. Nissan's award-winning 3.5-liter V6
engine is responsive and smooth as it makes 265
horsepower, and brakes feel safe and competent.
How the Maxima handles depends on which version you
pick -- LE or SL. The LE model has a slightly firmer
and sportier ride than the SL, which is geared
toward luxury buyers who want a soft and comfortable
ride. People who love the thrill of driving should
opt for the LE because its suspension gives the
driver a little more feedback from the road and,
consequently, a little more excitement.
Prices seem just right for Nissan's upscale sedan. At
$26,950 for a Maxima LE, it costs significantly less
than a similar BMW 5-series and not much more than a
well-equipped Altima.
All in all, the Maxima's mix of luxury and performance
is impressive, especially for the price. It probably
won't be a grand slam in the showroom like the
Altima and 350Z, but it's definitely enough to give
Nissan a couple more RBIs.
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| Ratings: |
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Style: 9
Performance: 8
Price: 8
Handling: 7
Ride: 8
Comfort: 10
Quality: 10
Overall: 9
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| Why Buy
It: |
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It's like the new Altima
-- stylish, fast, and comfortable -- only with a little
more room, horsepower, and prestige. Its interior is
beautifully luxurious and impressive for the price.
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| Why Avoid
It: |
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It's a little too much like the new Altima -- it's
not much bigger, it doesn't have better performance, and
it's styling is remarkably similar to the lower-priced
Nissan.
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