Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Review 2012 Nissan Maxima
It may be hard to believe, but the Maxima has been carrying the mantel as Nissans premium sedan for 31 years. While that first generation Maxima bowed our after the 1984 model year, its interesting to note it was the first and only Maxima to have rear wheel drive. And the Maximas of the day were fine cars indeed, but when the third generation Maxima arrived in 1989, it carried a small sticker in the rear window, reading 4DSC. Four door sports car. The car was a revelation at the time-European sport sedan performance but at a much more attainable level.
But its not 1989, and much has changed in the sport sedan world since then. So it was time to meet the current Maxima, which Nissan continues to bill as The 4-Door Sports Car. Is the Maxima still deserving of that title? Read on to find out.
The current Maxima has been around since 2009, but a mild refresh was done for the 2010 model year. I have never been a fan of the blunt-faced front end grill treatment, which is neither sporty, elegant or aggressive, just unattractive. Otherwise, the Maxima presents itself well with sporty, distinctive headlamp bezels, and the chromed dual exhaust hints at the performance under the hood. The Maxima is well executed with the exception of the grill, but unfortunately is sort of forgettable.
The interior of the Maxima is an extremely pleasing place to spend time, with a bright cabin highlighted by very high quality materials that were both pleasing to the touch and to the eyes. Despite a raft of high-end tech features, the Maximas controls were intuitive and easy to use. Exceptionally comfortable seats front and rear with plenty of room for all, I would have no reservations in recommending the Maxima for a comfortable highway cruiser.
The Maxima is offered with one drivetrain only, a 3.5L V-6 rated at 290hp, paired to a CVT (continuously variable transmission), and of course, since 1985, driven through the front wheels. And this is where I have trouble with the notion of the Maxima being called a four door sports car. Out of any automaker out there, I will credit Nissan for building what are arguably the best CVTs available, but to an enthusiast, it literally sucks all the fun out. As recently as 2006, you could order a Maxima with a six-speed manual, but those days are long gone and do not look like they will ever return. The Maxima is quick and pulls hard, but keep your hands on the wheel, as there is some torque steer under hard acceleration. Otherwise, the car is well composed with a very comfortable ride.
The 2012 Maxima is available in either base S or SV trim. Our test car was the SV, which carried a base price of $34,450USD. For that, you get 18 wheels, power seats, leather interior, Bose audio, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth, dual-zone auto climate control, push button start, power moonroof, and LED fog lights. Our test car included the Premium Package (dual-panel moonroof, rear power sunshade, xenon headlights, heated seats, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, rear bucket seats, USB port), rear spoiler, and Premium Technology Package (Navigation, XM Traffic/XM Weather). Including delivery, our Maxima rang in at $40,930. Yes, it was optioned out to the hilt with a host of premium features, but even so, when people asked me about the cost of the car, $40,000 seemed to turn off everyone I talked about paying that much for a Maxima.
There was a time when the lines between the Altima and Maxima were so blurred, I couldnt make sense of why the Maxima was still around. Nissan has wisely moved the Maxima upmarket, but with the upcoming 2013 Altima, Nissan has also moved its best seller upmarket as well. You may think I have an axe to grind with the Maxima, but in reality, I dont. It does everything it is asked to do, and very well. My only complaint is Nissan lost the right to call this a 4-Door Sports Car when they yanked a six-speed manual in favor of a CVT. As such, I think Nissan should face reality and recognize the Maximas competition with cars like the Buick LaCrosse and Lexus ES350. Nissan diehards, do not despair. Your company still builds a four door sports car. Its called the Infiniti G37.
Related posts:
- 2009 Nissan Maxima: Nissans flagship stays true to its roots
- Review: 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SR
- Nissan Looking to Trim Models?
- Review: 2011 Nissan Quest
- Review: Nissan Rogue
Monday, October 28, 2013
2012 Nissan Maxima Pricing 31 700
The 2012 Nissan Maxima is one of the latest version of 2012 Nissan. 2012 Nissan Maxima is a 4-door, 5-passenger sports sedan, available in two trims, the S and the SV. The 2012 Nissan Maxima is available at starting price of $31,750 - $34,450. 
Upon introduction,the 2012 Nissan Maxima are both trims are equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 290-horsepower engine that achieves 19-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.The mileage estimates for the 2012 Nissan Maxima models weren’t released in time for the review, however without serious power train changes expected, the 2012 Nissan Maxima fuel efficiency ratings are not possible to differ from the 2011 levels.
Expect the 2012 Nissan Maxima is rate 19/26 mpg city and highway. Nissan would be motivated to give out a little more of fuel economy for its 2012 Maxima model, probably through the lower rolling tires resistance or maybe right engine tweaking. The 2012 Nissan Maxima engineers will find the way to save the Maxima owners some money at a pump by recalculating the recommendation they use the premium octane gas.Saturday, October 26, 2013
2012 Nissan Maxima
In these economic times, showing up to work in a new car with a fancy luxury badge may raise some eyebrows around the water cooler. Perception counts for a lot, so finding a new car that straddles the tricky divide between practical family cars and upscale luxury models would seem to be a good way to enjoy your success without flaunting it. The 2012 Nissan Maxima is one way to do so.
To put it simply, Nissans flagship sedan offers much of the same performance, luxury and features as the companys upscale Infiniti brand, but with a less flashy badge and better value. Topping the Maximas list of strong points is a very likable driving experience. The 290-horsepower V6 gives the Maxima enough acceleration to leave many of its competitors in the dust, while a well-tuned suspension manages to deliver a nice balance between athletic handling and a plush ride. An attractive passenger cabin featuring top-quality materials and the availability of many luxury features is another plus. In a way, the Maxima is an analog clock and some fancier gauges away from being an Infiniti.
However, the Maxima isnt the only stealthy luxury model. The Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen CC are all essentially luxury cars without a traditional luxury badge. The Chrysler and Hyundai, in particular, offer significantly more interior room than the Maxima.
Of course, if youre actually looking for the cachet that comes along with a luxury brand, the Maxima obviously cant deliver. Even though you wont be getting as much equipment for your money, the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G Sedan, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volvo S60 are all in the same pricing ballpark. They also offer a greater degree of driving and interior refinement.
That makes the 2012 Nissan Maxima an intriguing alternative for two types of luxury cars. If youre OK with that Nissan badge, or are even seeking out something less ostentatious, its definitely worth a close look.
The Maxima gets a number of minor changes inside and out for 2012, but unless youre a serious Maxima geek youd have to line the 2011 and 2012 models up side by side to see the differences. A new grille is slightly different in appearance, while the taillamp design has been tweaked and theres a new line of 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs. Inside, audio and HVAC knobs are new, gauge illumination is now white, and new Dark Piano and Atlantic Cherry trims have been added. The Maximas look isnt new otherwise, but it remains one of the freshest-looking sedans in this class. Its still head-turning, with curvy sheetmetal, an aggressive front-end design, and an overall stance that makes it look like it could have rear-wheel drive. The cockpit-style instrument panel, in fact, could be right at home in a product from Infiniti.
Smooth, quick acceleration is something the 2012 Nissan Maxima does extraordinarily well. The 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine has a relaxed demeanor in ordinary driving and works well with the automatic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT also includes a manual sport mode and available steering-wheel paddle shifters to access a series of simulated gear ratios for high-performance driving (theres no manual available), and the letdown is that this setup simply doesnt offer the same level of control as conventional transmissions.
In addition to that, you can also opt for a new Limited Edition package (for the 3.5 S model), which brings smoked appearance headlights, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, a compass in the rear view mirror, 18-inch aluminum-alloy Dark Hyper Silver finish wheels, a rear spoiler, dark satin chrome front grille, fog lights, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and metallic trimming.
source:autoevolution.com,thecarconnection.com,edmunds.com
