Edmunds CarPool

You could probably say the same about the new "Passat CC" or whatever they're calling it. Not a premium nameplate, but definitely premium materials and great styling. Should snag a few folks that want something that feels quick and sporty but don't really care about RWD.

Maybe the Maxima is supposed to be targeting the FWD entry-luxury cars like the Acura TL and Lexus ES, while Infniti is targeting the RWD Lexus IS, 3-series, C-class, etc. Maybe they'll eventually give it AWD?

Maybe they figure, like Hyundai, that enough people want luxury accommodations without a luxury brand name because they'd feel like a yuppie prick if they were driving a BMW. These people don't "get" designer jeans or $500 handbags or shirts with little horsey logos. They don't care about impressing people they don't know.

At any rate, the previous Maxima had this same "identity crisis", but I certainly see a lot of them on the road. So it must appeal to quite a lot of people, and the new one is better in every way. Personally I think it looks great (in person, but strangely not in photos), and at the end of the day, more choice is always good for the consumer.

That has to be the ugliest front end design outside of the new TL. What the hell were they thinking? The styling from the A pillar forward is as appealing as cleaning a kid's vomit from your floormats. What's with the rectilinear grille place low on the curvy fascia? Why is the hood bulging as if an Alien is gonna jump out? There's no supercharger underneath. I am convinced Japanese car companies have no clue how to style a vehicle. Koreans seem to know what they are doing and need to share their secrets with their island neighbors. From the A pillar rearward is ok.

As far as performance goes- I would expect better acceleration times from a car with 290hp. The previous gen TL Type-S with 286 and slightly less weight had much better performance. Sign me up for a Genesis, thanx.

PS- I won't even get started on those terrible looking lights.

Absence of a manual gearbox crosses it off my list. If it is offered with a manual when the new diesel comes, I might be interested.

Maxima's just too expensive for what you get. Can't fathom dropping 30k on this car when I can get a G35 for a couple grand more or an A4 or 3 series for around that money via ED. And as others have mentioned, if luxury is the goal, just get a Genesis.

wk has it right, the Maxima is immediately off my list because there is no stick available. I often wonder why there are some good cars out there that are available with manuals in other markets, but then show up in the US without it. Seriously, they should at least be an option when ordering.

Anyways, I digress, I'd have to agree with Karl. There are so many complementary cars out there that offer more than the Maxima for the same amount of money. I can also see where ahightower is coming from; RWD isn't right for everyone, but Nissan needs to step it up a bit to beat the competition.

Quote from ahightower:
"Maybe the Maxima is supposed to be targeting the FWD entry-luxury cars like the Acura TL and Lexus ES, while Infniti is targeting the RWD Lexus IS, 3-series, C-class, etc. Maybe they'll eventually give it AWD?"

That's my take as well. In fact; check out this second opinion from jriz:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=126520/pageId=139264

Nobody is going to buy a manual transmission Maxima- it's just the reality of the situation. High power FWD vehicles with manuals tend to torque steer much worse than their automatic versions. The Maxima seems to be a good car and has a great interior (from the pics at least) but it costs too much. The Maxima is popular where I live but most seem to be base models with few options.

"PS- I won't even get started on those terrible looking lights."

That's the biggest beef I've had with Nissans in general over the last 10 years - they've just gotten uglier and uglier. The Infiniti G35 is OK, and I don't have an issue with the Titan or the Frontier... but the rest (that Versa, especially) look like they've fallen out of an ugly tree and hit ever branch on the way down (and that tree just gets taller and taller every year).

I have to agree on the manual transmission issue. My worry is that soon those of us who prefer manuals no matter how many gears and smoothness an automatic has won't be able to get one. The new Maxima has a huge handicap because of this. I think Subaru and Nissan are proof of this dwindling manual availability. You used to be able to get any subaru and most every nissan model with a manual transmission no matter how loaded or unloaded the car was. Now it's not the case. The Maxima was unique just a few years ago because you could still get a 6 speed manual in a loaded out model. Same with the altima. Now it's not avaiable on the maxima and pretty much impossible on the altima. But the Accord you can get one... what's going on?

Bummer...

"To say the Maxima's formerly-unique recipe has been co-opted would be like saying Obama's original campaign strategy has required a few tweaks in recent weeks."

I dont get the correlation. Didnt the other guy recently change his primary reason for running a few weeks ago?

The Maxima looks terrible from the front and is a tough sell at $37k when BMWs and Infinitis are available at that price. I am also getting tired of Nissan using the same interior in all recent Nissan and Infiniti products. The Maxima's interior is almost the same as the G35 and Murano and EX35. That is lame. Every car in the $30k-$40k range is nice so it's hard for any one model to stand out. IL should compare this car to the TL soon because they are natural competitors. They are both ugly so it's hard to say which one I would take.

BTW, I dont see what was so great about the old Maximas from the 80s and 90s. The true distinction for that car was the standard V6 which was unheard of in Japanese sedans at the time. Before the Avalon came along there were few Japanese models (non luxury) available with only V6 engines. There was nothing "entry level luxury" about the Maxima back in the day. It was a boxy and somewhat sporty sedan that wasnt available with an I-4 engine and that made it unique.

This is the best looking Maxima since the days when 3 box sedans literally looked like 3 boxes stuck together. Especially in profile.

But I'll never understand how "sporty" and "large" go together.

V6 diesel will soon distinguish the Maxima.

quote - But I'll never understand how "sporty" and "large" go together.-end

Me either, perhaps Mazda can explain how larger and "sporty" go together in reference to Mazda making the 6 larger and "sportier".

1487 - remind me, which Maxima had an I-4 engine?

My apologies, I rescind statement, having misread your comment. Still, I think you're downplaying the Max's significance in automotive landscape...

everytime a Japanese car is the first to do something its hailed as "significant". The significance of the Maxima was that it was one of the first Japanese sedans available with a V6 and it was actually supposed to be somewhat fun to drive. if you think about the Japanese cars of the 80s I suppose the Maxima was some sort of a big deal. This reminds me of people saying the altima was significant because it was the first midsize sedan to offer a lot of V6 power. It was the first Japanese midsizer to offer than kind of power, but it wasnt the first.

I'm going to go against the crowd here and say that I really do like the styling. I think that in photos, especially with the awful color that Karl's tester was, the looks do not come across anywhere near as well as in real life. I think this car would turn heads much more then the now omnipresent G35. I also definitely think the Genesis is far uglier. As far as a value proposition, I won't deny that there are strong competitors out there. Still, I was very impressed with this car in person.

"...say that I really do like the styling...would turn heads much more then the now omnipresent G35"
Agreed. I like the Maxima's looks.
Don't agree about the Genesis. I think it's bland, not ugly. I think it's bland on purpose; I suspect they were trying for inoffensive with the Genesis.

I've seen this thing and the Genesis at least three times, although the Genesis is a little bland, it looks extremely classy. The Maxima can look alright when approached in the right angle, but it looks really bad sometimes, especially when we're talking about those headlamps.

I wonder why nobody mentions Pontiac G8. You get a better car for the money, and better looking too.

I did not like previous Maxima. I cannot say it was handling well. It rather was handling like big'n'heahy FWD sedan than a sport sedan or well - like FWD muscle car.

The Maxima rides on an AWD capable platform. Put the Murano's AWD on the Maxima.
Maybe that will make it more fun.

It is confusing that the Maxima is smaller than the Altima, and is about the same size as the G35.

In comparison, the ES350 is significantly larger than the IS350.

"BTW, I dont see what was so great about the old Maximas from the 80s and 90s..."

Ten years ago, the 1998 Nissan Maxima SE had a curb weight of 3014 lbs. It had a relatively high performance 3 liter V6 engine with aluminum block, better weight distribution, but with timing chains instead of expensive to replace timing belts. The domestic cars of the time had hundreds of extra pounds of iron hanging out in front of the front wheels and plowed like a John Deere.

The 2009 Nissan Maxima is ok, but I'd rather pay a little more for an Infiniti G-35.

Cleaning out my garage last night, I stumbled upon a 1995 Car Comparison Mag, which apparently influenced my decision to buy my '97 Maxima. It reads (paraphrase), "Budget Luxury Buy, with an engine performing among the top European offerings, and appointed towards the luxury class with generous accomodations."

That engine mated with a stick, in a clean and practical package for under $20 Large, sold me! In the 90's, there was no comparison. Lately, the MazdaSpeed3 and Speed6 improve upon this tradition with superior handling. Others?

The price tag is the biggest offender here... I've talked to some people whom actually like this car, but can't get over the price tag. I simply do not like the car. Anyways, I've seen a few on the road, so its selling at least. I've actually seen more Maxima's than G8's, which is surprising to me...

I agree - the price tag is the problem. The Maxima used to be the budget-minded enthusiast's choice, but now Mazda offers the performance bargain for the po' man.