Strengths

New, bolder look; more powerful 3.5L V6, excellent standard equipment list, sporty performance, good interior room

 

Changes

Nissan's popular Maxima sedan gets a fresh new look for 2009, plus plenty of other notable changes. The "four-door sports car" sports a shorter wheelbase, wraparound headlights, and LED taillights. The interior appears a bit more upscale and refined, and the Maxima is available in two trim levels: S and SV.

The tried and true 3.5L V6 returns, though it has now been retuned to churn out 290 hp, a 35 hp bump over previous models. Fuel economy has gained as well with 19 mpg city / 26 mpg highway.

 

Value

Since its 1982 introduction, the flagship Maxima has always been a sporting sedan at heart, and the restyled 2009 model furthers that trend. With sharp, attractive exterior styling, a classy cabin, plenty of power on tap, and a smart price tag, the Maxima is a sure contender in the midsize performance sedan category.

 

Overview

The Maxima has long been billed as the "four door sports car," and nowhere is that more apparent than in the restyled model available for 2009.

The Maxima comes in two trim levels: S and SV. Both are powered by Nissan's 3.5L V6, which now makes 290 hp (up 35 hp over last year) and 261 ft-lb of torque. Fuel efficiency has increased, too, up to 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The engine is mated to a Nissan's Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), which features both Drive Sport and manual modes, with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and power is put to the ground through the front wheels.

Suspension is independent all around, and four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist are standard, as is speed-sensitive steering.

The base S model comes nicely equipped and features power mirrors, windows, and locks, dual zone automatic climate control, cruise control, and 8-way and 4-way front seat controls for driver and passenger, respectively. Also included is a power sunroof, leather-wrapped shift knob, aluminum door sill plates and an 8-speaker, 6-disc CD changer with MP3 playback.

The SV adds fog lamps, Homelink garage door opener, digital compass, leather seating with driver's thigh support, and a 9-speaker Bose digital stereo with speed sensitive volume control.

Several options packages are available for the Maxima SV. The Premium Package includes a dual panel moonroof, heated and cooled driver's seat, rear window power sunshade, rear seat climate control, an Infotainment Center with 7-inch screen, heated seats, rear bucket seats, Bluetooth hands-free technology, and much more.

The Sport Package features a specially tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, chassis reinforcement, and several goodies from the Premium Package. A Technology Package adds Nissan Hard Drive Navigation, a 9.3 gigabyte music storage system, and XM satellite radio.

All Maximas feature adaptive, dual-stage front airbags, roof-mount side-impact airbags, and rear passenger head protection, as well as traction control, stability control, a tire-pressure monitor, and ABS.