A mutiny in the family

Back in 1989, I was 14 years old. The walls of my room were covered with posters of the road rockets I could only dream about. And over my bed, I pinned up a poster of a car that I actually would have a chance to drive one day; it was the Maxima, Nissan's "four-door sports car".

The Maxima has been around since 1982.

Well, it only took 16 years for me to finally get that opportunity. My hopes were high, and so were my expectations. Although it's still a pretty sporty car, The Maxima isn't quite what it used to be.

Things went decently well up until 2002, when the Altima got a major redesign and the Max's engine. And when the rear-wheel drive Infiniti G35 hit the market in 2003, the Maxima was automatically pushed aside and ignored.

Too much horsepower?
I didn't think Nissan would do it, but the Altima is now more powerful than the Maxima, 270 horses versus 255. It doesn't prevent the Max from being a very responsive car, and Nissan's 3.5-liter engine is a marvel. It even felt livelier than the unit in the new Altima, which I drove immediately after. The CVT gearbox, now standard equipment in all Maximas (no more manual), reacts quickly and does a great job of keeping the engine in full boil.

It's just too much to ask of the front wheels, stuck trying to cope with the generous amount of torque, as well as the traction control system that frequently steps in. Curiously, the Altima seems to handle its power better than the Max.

The car is also equipped with all-season tires, which were clearly not up to the task; in winter, the Maxima needs appropriate rubber, or you'll constantly be bogged down by wheelspin or the VDC system. Change lanes on the highway at full throttle, and the truck ruts will upset the car big time.

The 3.5L V6 is a proven workhorse.

The car's handling characteristics partly make up for the torque steer. The luxury-minded Maxima SL offers a nice combination of a sporty suspension setup and a comfortable ride. Pick up the pace in reaching illegal speeds, and the Max will be more than happy to be your partner in crime. During the course of the week, the Maxima kept a fuel consumption average of 13.2 L/100 km.

Exterior styling: like it or hate it
The third-generation Maxima (1989-1994) had styling that stood out of the crowd. The offerings of luxury brands such as BMW (325i), Audi (90) and Acura (Legend) didn't look as modern. The current Maxima still stands out, but this time it's because it looks a little unusual.

Nissan's flagship sedan has received a facelift for 2007.

With its 2004 redesign, the car adopted Nissan's current edgy styling trend and borrowed cues from other models, such as the 350Z and the Quest. The long rear overhang and high trunk lid give the Maxima a hunchback look. Overall, I don't dislike the exterior appearance, but despite the slight revisions for 2007, including a new grille and headlights, it looks dated compared to the muscular new Altima, and to such rivals as the Acura TL and the Infiniti G35.

Swell cockpit
The interior of the 3.5 SL is nicely appointed with supportive leather seats and good-quality materials. The dash and steering wheel look and feel rich and wood trim brightens the centre console and door panels. The instrument panel counts on tasteful and simple dials; gone is the ugly, orange-colored numerals, replaced by white and red. The cockpit is an improvement over last year. The only thing I don't really like is the chrome shift gate cover, which looks a little cheap.

I've never been a fan of Nissan's joystick-controlled navigation system, as it's a hassle over a touch-screen setup. Once you set up your route, however, the navigation is precise and easy to read while driving. The heating steering wheel gets hot quickly, although its button is oddly placed on the side of the center armrest. The climate control buttons are simple, and the wheel-mounted buttons for the radio are among the most convenient I've tried, and they're on the left spoke.

The rear seat is fairly accommodating, but the sloping roofline means you'll bang your head if you don't be careful. Once you're in, though, headroom is adequate. Trunk space is generous, but its opening is rather narrow.

The dashboard looks good and is well assembled.

Conclusion
$41,498 gets you in a 3.5 SL, and adding $2,950 gets you a navigation system. That amounts to $44,448. The Acura TL Navi costs $45,600, the Saab 9-5 with automatic and navigation costs $48,460, the Volkswagen Passat 3.6 with navigation costs $45,110 and the Infiniti G35 with navigation costs $47,140.

Personally, I think the Maxima would compete better with the $42,900 Lexus ES 350, although its navi is part of an $11,900 option package. The Max isn't a bad car at all, but it faces very tough competition. And there's backstabbers in the family, as both the Altima and G35 offer more power for less money; the G35 is rear-wheel drive, which manages its 306 horses better. The Maxima turned 26 this year, and I wonder if it will see its 30th birthday.

The Max is having troubles finding its place in this highly competitive segment.

Back in 1989, the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup over the Montreal Canadians, the Exxon Valdez barfed its liquid cargo on the Coast of Alaska, the first episode of Seinfeld aired, Zsa Zsa Gabor was arrested for slapping a cop in Beverly Hills, and the Maxima was a breakthrough. There hasn't been a poster of the Maxima on my wall for years.



Marvelous V6 engine
Quick-acting CVT
Nice cockpit


Arguable exterior styling
Low roofline for rear-seat access



Torque steer (too much power for a front-wheel drive car)