PRICE RANGE: $26,950 for the 3.5 SE; $28,900 for the new SL
CONFIGURATION: 260 horsepower, 3.5 liter ,V6, Front Engine/Front Wheel
FUEL ECONOMY: 20 city / 29 highway
SAFETY FEATURES: Driver, front passenger, side front and rear, head curtain airbags. Antilock Brakes are standard.
Where built: Smyrna and Decherd, Tenn.
Refinements and upgrades are what make the 2004 Nissan Maxima that's arriving in dealer showrooms the epitome of what fine luxury automobiles are about.
As the flagship of Nissan's ever-bourgeoning lineup of vehicles that seems to fit nicely into every way of life and lifestyle, the under $30,000 Maxima proves itself worthy of the maximum balance of performance, comfort and value.
Now five -- can you believe it?!? -- five generations down the road from the very first Maxima gracing American roads there is no change when it comes to exactly what this vehicle is all about: A four-door sports car.
And, for the first time since its birth in 1981, the Maxima will now be assembled on our shores, at the Nissan manufacturing plant in Tennessee.
Nissan first billed the Maxima as a performance sedan and it quickly took the front seat as a top-selling V6 import. Today's Maxima is no exception. Two models are available, the 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL. Both offer a host of delightful options, including a new Skyview Roof that's standard equipment on all models.
Nissan promises you'll fall in love with this new Skyview Roof. The premise behind this neat option is that it creates an open-air above the front and rear passengers, while maintaining a solid roof structure.
OK, let me try to explain. The roof has rectangular glass panels that start in the front and end in the rear. It has sliding sunshades that can easily block out the sunlight if you wish.
The best feature about the Skyview Roof is that it alters the interior of the Maxima by making you believe that the interior is actually larger than it really is. And, if you dot like the Skyview Roof, Nissan will allow you to option for the regular power sliding front sun roof.
One thing you'll notice right away when you slip behind the wheel of the Maxima is the amount of room within the cabin. There's a longer wheelbase, larger width and larger trunk cargo space. With that added space, you and your passengers will have more comfort zones and the added cargo space will allow a few extras to fit in.
Comfort of the driver was of utmost concern when designing this new Maxima. Nissan engineers took many hours to bring everything toward the driver and his/her comfort.
The steering wheel, instrumentation cluster and even the gearshift knob were moved strategically closer to the driver. Instrumentation, the center console stack and console itself are cleaner and easier to read. In the center, yoll find the essentials like heating and cooling controls, audio controls and the trip computer.
No reason to ever not use the Maxima on ultra-long drives. Go ahead, take it across the country. Stop only for gas, if you wish. The front seats are designed for it. There billed as "low fatigue" seats and have special cross sections of the cushions and seat backs to offer the best support possible.
The driver's seat is an eight-way power seat and the passenger's seat is a four-way power seat. Both have height-adjustable head restraints. Go ahead and splurge on the optional driver's seat memory system that readjusts the seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors at the touch of a button.
There are four seats in the Maxima, all of which virtually look the same. It was done that way for a purpose. Available on the Elite Package, the ever-so-boring rear bench seat has been replaced with two independent bucket seats. This treatment makes the Maxima even more sporty.
Sure, it eliminates the five-passenger seating option, but it certainly looks cool and creative. Makes it look more like a two-door sports car without the hassles of getting in and out of the front doors. Just how many people really need the five-passenger seating option, anyway?
Nissan didn't ignore any safety issues with the Maxima, furthe enhancing crush zones, dual-stage front air bags with seat belt sensors, side curtain and front-seat side-impact air bags. There are active head restraints, emergency inside trunk release and the child seat anchor system as well.
Let's get to the heart of the matter -- exactly what's under the hood. The Maxima is powered by Nissan's VQ 3.5-liter that has won eight awards as one of the ten best engines. This dual overhead can 24-valve V6 produces 260 horsepower and has a tuned exhaust that makes it sound just so sweet.
Of course, this engine is mated to a standard 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with a gated shifter. The SE model allows you to have a 5-speed automatic with a manual shift mode, too.
And for the really serious driver, a 6-speed close-ratio manual is option on the 3.5 SE models.
Ride characteristics and handling are taken care of by a luxury-tuned and performance-tuned suspension that provides a solid feel and a superb ride. I can't image ever wanting to get out of the Maxima once you've started rolling.
Go ahead, take it for a spin.
