Nissan Revives 4-Door Sports Car In The 2009 Maxima
Some say that the Nissan Maxima has gotten away from its "sporty" roots over the years and become more of a typical upscale family design. "Not so", says Nissan. To prove it, they say just take a good hard look at the seventh-generation 2009 Maxima coming to showrooms soon.
The new Maxima is powered by an athletic 3.5 liter V6 engine that has been upgraded to 290-horsepower from 255, along with 9 additional foot-pounds of torque. And even with the increase in power, gas mileage has actually ticked up by 1 mpg to 19 city and 27 highway.
It's also got a new CVT (continuously variable transmission) with quicker shifting. In fact, Nissan says its 700 shifting algorithms can shift 30% faster than a human, although it's also available with a manual transmission for those who'd like to do this themselves.
The chasis and suspension also received upgrades. With six engine mounts instead of four, the engine is mounted lower for a lower center of gravity that improves handling. The all-new suspension uses aluminum components and there's new shock absorbers and front and rear stabilizer bars as well.
And borrowed from the 350Z is speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering. The ABS disc brakes have also been upgraded and the rear brakes are now ventilated, as well as the front.
There's no question that the power boost and new equipment has literally transformed the Maxima into a sort of larger 350Z. Its agile performance and smooth maneuverability have indeed made it sportier than most other vehicles in its class.
The interior boasts high build quality, roominess and clear instrumentation, yet still has a "cockpit" feel. It's simply very well laid out.
Prices start at $29,290 for the S version and $31,990 for the SV model. The premium package adds $3,450; the sport package adds $2,300, and the tech Package adds between $1,850 or $2,400 depending on the model.
Nissan will also be producing a clean diesel version of the Maxima in 2010.
How To Buy A New Maxima At The Best Price: Here's an article about the best negotiating tactic, hands down.
