Monday, July 27, 2009

2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV



All hail the rebirth of the Maxima. Okay, maybe that's just a bit over the top but with the 2009 iteration Nissan moves the Maxima back into the mainstream of mid-size sports sedans with a car that has pretty decent styling and is a whole lot more fun to drive than its predecessor. Redesigned with a new chassis and a much nicer interior, the Maxima definitely offers a good amount of bang for the buck. The Maxima-S bases at just a bit over $30,000 and the SV which is what my tester was bases at just a bit over $32,000 and with that you get a pretty well equipped vehicle.

Along with a host of safety equipment some niceties that are standard in the SV include leather appointed seats, a driver seat lumbar support and a thigh support extension, 8-way power driver seat and 4-way power passenger seating. You also get the leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, tilt and telescoping wheel and a multi-function trip computer. I like the Nissan Intelligent Key system with push button start and the Bose audio system. The tester also came with the $400.00 Cold Package which ironically includes heated front seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors. Just what I need at 115 degrees in Phoenix in the summer, but it is a nice feature for those that just love their winters. The tester also added Bluetooth and a rear spoiler which brought the final price including destination to $33,900.

The new Maxima features a 290-horsepower V6 engine mated to Nissan’s Xtronic CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission which I’m not usually a big fan of but this wasn’t bad at all. The Maxima is built on Nissan’s new “D” platform which really helps with body rigidity and thankfully minimizes torque steer. The wheelbase is shorter than the previous generation but the new Maxima is wider therefore it sports a much more aggressive stance.

Part of what contributes to that more aggressive stance is a new grille and more muscular fender flares that gives the Maxima a much sportier look that will fill the bill for those Nissan buyers that liked the size of the Altima but wanted a bit more pizzazz.

Driving the Maxima was a lot more fun than I expected with a much tauter yet supple ride. Cornering was actually fun in this car and getting off the line was quick and quiet with less noise from the CVT than in other cars. There’s sufficient room in the back for adult passengers so all in all the Nissan Maxima has returned better than ever so if you’re in the market for a Sports Sedan with a little pop that will get you 19mpg in the city and 26 on the highway without setting you back a whole lot of money, perhaps you should put the 2009 Maxima on your short list. It surprised me and I’m betting it will surprise you too. For more the Maxima click here……