Open the door, nestle in, allow the driver's seat to restore the prior position automatically, immerse yourself in the cockpit-like environs.
Welcome to the Maxima Platinum, billed by Nissan as a "four-door sports car" -- a contradiction in terms given its front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission.
Rather, the Maxima glides. The steering wheel feels light as a feather in the breeze. Touch the gas pedal only gently and the car reaches 60 km/h, almost imperceptibly. With its 18-inch wheels and Lincoln-like noise cancellation, inside the atmosphere is serene -- at least, until the panoramic sun roof is opened and the drive is taken to the highway.
On Highway 427 in Toronto's west end, respectable acceleration is required to slice diagonally across several lanes from the Burnhamthorpe Road on-ramp to the airport-bound left side. The speed limit is officially 100 km/h but at that speed you're holding up the insistent traffic behind. It's sometimes a mad rush. The amber blind-spot warning light flashes incessantly.
No problem, for the Maxima. At 110 km/h, it is just starting to feel ready to go. A selector dial in the middle console offers normal and sport modes, the latter furnishing more aggressive shifting and giddy throttle noise out of the dual exhaust pipes.
And there's the rub. This is a Nissan, a mid-size family car yearning to behave like a sports car.
With 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque and a plethora of creature comforts inside, the Platinum trim is arguably comparable to the entry-level German competitors and upper-class Japanese brands, including Nissan's own Infiniti.
A double-wishbone rear suspension with ZF Sach dampers combines with high-strength steels in the platform for a silky smooth ride. Nissan claims the power-to-weight ratio is superior to that of a BMW 335i or Acura TLX V-6.
However, for that power and silky ride, if not the prestige, be prepared to pay a price beyond the public-perception level of a Japanese family sedan. Equipped to the max, the Platinum sells for more than $48,000.
You'll like this car if ... Sports car power camouflaged inside a family sedan is your craving, and the price is digestible.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: $35,900; as tested $43,435
- Engine: 3.5-litre V-6
- Transmission: CVT
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 10.9 city; 7.8 highway; 9.5 combined
- Alternatives: Infiniti Q50, Acura TLX, Lexus IS 300, Subaru WRX STI, BMW 335i xDrive Sedan
RATINGS
- Looks: Redesigned last year, the Maxima was made lower and longer for a more streamlined look. The lower front, V-shaped grille and scalloped doors demonstrate a more powerful appearance than most sedans, accented by blacked-out A-pillars. Boomerang-shaped LED daytime headlights distinguish the front. A one-touch panoramic moonroof converts the car into a convertible.
- Interior: A 7-inch colour display accesses a premium Bose AM/FM/CD/Sirius sound system with 11 speakers. A memory system automatically adjusts the position of the driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors.
- Performance: Silky fast.
- Technology: The Platinum’s monitor provides a 360-degree view with moving object detection, a driver attention alert system that senses when the driver may be falling asleep. That’s on top of the features included in lower trims: sonar-supported front collision warning, intelligent cruise control, forward emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot warning. Remote start via smartphone.
- Cargo: Golf clubs fit in the back; seats fold down for added storage.
The Verdict
8.0
Beautifully updated and powerful for the segment, though "sports cars" aren't equipped with CVT and front-wheel drive.
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