I met my first Nissan Maxima in the early 2000s. I was walking down the sidewalk with a buddy of mine, on our way to the theater, when the sharp growl of a 3.0-liter V6 piqued our young interests. It was emanating from a fourth-gen A32 Maxima, a car known for its marriage of unassuming looks and surprising athleticism. Its award-winning engine barked to life, piercing through the silence as it leapt away from a stop, and our teenage voices cracked with excitement.
In recent years, the Maximas appearance has caught up with its speed, resulting in the best-looking and best performing version ever for 2016. Taking major styling cues from the bold Sport Sedan Concept, the vehicle features Nissans signature floating roof, a commanding V-Motion front end, and gorgeously carved profile lines running down the sides. Its civilized and aggressive all in one.
Related link: Nissans 2015 Murano is the most stylish, charismatic crossover around
As I drove toward Woodinville, Washington to get behind the Maximas flat-bottom steering wheel for the first time, I was expecting a good car. However, looking at the spec sheet, which lists a mandatory CVT, front-wheel drive, and electric steering, I was skeptical of the vehicles four-door sports car (4DSC) moniker. But the proof is in the pudding, as they say, so I shuffled my way to Woodinville to give the sedan a go.
Sedan in a sports car costume
I flung my bronze four-door into the first corner and was impressed straight away. The Maxima is not a small car at 16 feet long, but it feels extraordinarily planted and agile for a big front-wheel driver. Weighing just 3,471 pounds in base trim, its actually 10 lbs lighter than the equivalent BMW 328i, despite being nearly a foot longer. Kudos to the redesigned platform for that, one that shaves 82 lbs off the previous version.
Andrew Hard/Digital Trends
Exiting the corner with just a touch of understeer, I put my foot down and let the cars 300-horsepower V6 do its thing. The VQ-series engine which is 61-percent new for 2016 sang its beautiful song in response, making the 190-hp powerplant that highlighted my teens seem like a Prius. For a moment, I forgot that the Maxima was equipped with a continuously variable transmission, because most of the time it doesnt feel like one.
In recent years, the Maximas appearance has caught up with its speed.
The sedans XTronic CVT is new for 2016, and its tailored to be adaptable. At low speeds, it functions like many other CVTs, scanning the power band for the most efficient rev range. This shows in the four-doors fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. Premium fuel is recommended, though.
Smash the accelerator, and the car employs something called D-Step Programming, which engages eight simulated gears to emit a more traditional performance feel. The transmission sits above many of its counterparts with its smooth delivery and surprising responsiveness, and with 3.5 liters of displacement backing it up, theres no rubber band feeling here.
Related: Nissans 2015 GT-R Nismo is faster and more nimble than ever
That being said, the Maxima is not a sports car. Its just not. Despite the savvy CVT, its not as punchy out of the corners as a traditional gearbox, and the electric steering while nicely weighted lacks the feedback and bite of a hydraulic or rack-and-pinion unit.
Andrew Hard/Digital Trends
Andrew Hard/Digital Trends
Andrew Hard/Digital Trends
Andrew Hard/Digital Trends
But behind the wheel, in the aircraft-inspired cabin, you wont care that the 4DSC taillight logos are a big fat lie. Youll be having too much fun. The Maxima is a sporty and well-crafted performance cruiser, and theres not a dang thing wrong with that.
Blue Angels
My driving portion done, I settled into the passenger seat to let my partner take the reins. Speaking of seats, the Maximas ventilated Zero Gravity buckets are some of the nicest chairs in the biz, as they feature the perfect combination of adjustability, support, softness, and high-quality textiles. In a word, theyre luscious.
The handsome controls are right where they need to be.
To design the interior, Nissans development team traveled to the Naval Air Station Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels. I couldnt locate the missile controls for the life of me, but the interior command center made me feel special. The console is rotated toward the driver like in the GT-R, and the handsome controls are right where they need to be. The Mahogany trim is a little chintzy though, so Id opt for the Liquid Chrome inserts if you can.
An 8-inch touchscreen, 7-inch gauge cluster display, navigation system, backup camera, voice recognition, and 18-inch alloys all come standard, allowing the Maxima to compete with entry-luxury vehicles like the Audi A4, Acura TLX, and aforementioned 328i in some ways. If theres one letdown, its the screen, which I found a little sluggish and jittery. Its no worse than the other systems on the market, but if youre expecting the same type of responsiveness you get on your smartphone or tablet dont.
Andrew Hard/Digital Trends
The four-door also isnt as roomy as you might think, especially for rear passengers. Without the Dual Panel Panoramic Moonroof, theres 34.2 inches of legroom and 36.7 inches of headroom back there, and those numbers fall short of the Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Avalon.
Tech and packaging
Do you prefer a touchscreen or conventional dials in your ride? Its no matter here because the 2016 Maxima has both.
Situated right behind the shifter is a nifty control wheel called a Display Commander. I preferred it to the touchscreen personally not just for the awesome name but because it allows you to scroll through the menus much more quickly. With it at my fingertips, access to the Bose sound system, SiriusXM radio, and NissanConnect subscription service was a snap.
Available in Platinum trim ($39,860) only, NissanConnect bundles remote start via smartphone, stolen vehicle location, and automatic collision notification with other functions. Theres even a Driver Attention Alert (DAA) system that measures steering wheel inputs and responses over time, and will prompt the operator to take a break if needed.
Nissans made the selection process a snap for the new car: five trim levels and no options outside of dealer accessories. As I hinted earlier, the $32,410 base model is well-equipped, featuring 15 inches of screen real estate, nav, a backup camera, and more as standard. Heated leather seats come along with the $34,390 SV version, while accoutrements like the moonroof, Bose stereo, Forward Emergency Braking, and Blind Spot warning are packaged with the $36,890 SL model.
Related link: Nissans Juke RSnow doesnt care if winter is coming or going
Designed for adrenaline junkies, an oddball SR trim is available for $37,670 as well. The tuned suspension is unique, as are the 19-inch rims, paddle shifters, and Integrated Dynamics-control Module (IDM), which uses brake inputs to level out the somewhat jittery over bumps and rough surfaces. If you cant live without the 360-degree Around View monitor, DAA system, power rear window sunshade, or NissanConnect, youll have to pony up for flagship Platinum variant.
Conclusion
The DT Accessory Pack
Up your game and the get the most out of your gear with the following extras, hand-picked by our editors:
Automatic Smart Driving Assistant ($69)
Automatics Smart Driving Assistant connects to the Web Dashboard, which uses comprehensive analytics to track fuel usage, route efficiency, and vehicle wear-and-tear over time.
Cobra CDR 900 dash cam ($89)
Cobras Drive HD dash cam can record all of your escapades in 1080P/1296P. Read our full product review here.
Cobra SPX 7800BT radar detector ($177)
This radar detector could help keep you out of trouble if youre a bit too liberal with the Maximas 300-hp V6. Read our full product review here.
After piloting the Maxima around Woodinvilles sun-soaked backroads, I had a chance to hop in Nissans 370Z Nismo. Now thats a sports car. Its simple, fun, and if were being honest, a bit silly. The Maxima is not silly. Its fun, sure, but its smooth, refined, and civilized the perfect choice for someone whos moved on from enormous rear wings and exhaust cutouts but still wants something exciting to cruise around in.
Thus, the car is best judged with a blank slate, not by its 4DSC badging. Using that metric, its a smashing success, and simply more interesting than its competition from Toyota, Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford.
The growl is still there, too; that same growl that I heard in my youth. Its a different tone, and it comes from a different shape, but I have no doubt it will inspire plenty of oohs and ahhs at stoplights in the years to come.
Highs
- Splendid acceleration and handling for a car of its size
- XTronic transmission is one of the best CVTs out there
- Cockpit-like cabin is sharp, comfy, and well-designed
- Looks great
- 30 mpg highway
Lows
- Infotainment touchscreen is sluggish at times
- Bulky A-pillar slightly hinders forward visibility
The 2016 Nissan Maxima boasts improved performance, looks, fuel economy, and tech over its predecessor. Despite those gains, its actually lighter.
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