Introduction

The Maxima maintains two unique personalities: sporty and plush, depending upon which model you drive. The SE is the sporty sedan, while the base GXE and loaded GLE are softer-riding. The differences are not Jekyl and Hyde, but they are noticeable when you pick up the pace on a fun road. We think the soul of this capable, good-handling mid-size sedan is best displayed by the SE, which we tested. The SE has a firmer suspension, and its larger tires stick to the road better. It is available with a refined manual transmission (as is the budget GXE model), a feature that's gradually disappearing from the mid-size sedan market. The Maxima was previously restyled in 1995. The 2000 Maxima goes on sale this fall with rounder corners, but it will use the same V6 engine and platform as the current model. That may allow shoppers to bargain down the $28,934 price for an SE like our test car.

Walkaround

The Maxima¹s front wheels are driven by an all-aluminum 24-valve V6 engine rated at 190 horsepower. Nissan¹s V6 has been continuously refined for efficiency, and is strong and responsive. The Maxima SE model¹s easy-shifting manual transmission is standard, but since the majority of Maxima customers prefer the automatic, we selected it for our test car. The Toyota Camry CE is the only car in this class that offers a V6 with a 5-speed. The other V6-powered cars in this class -- Honda Accord V6, Ford Taurus, Oldsmobile Intrigue, Chevy Lumina, and Dodge Intrepid -- do not offer a 5-speed manual. That¹s a loss for serious drivers, who we would steer toward the Nissan store. The four-speed automatic is a $1000 option, and anti-lock brakes, traction control, and side airbags also add to the car's price, which rises high enough with this equipment to move the sedan into Audi and Saab territory.

Interior Features

When it was re-styled in 1988, the Maxima grew larger, and was a landmark Japanese car for interior space. That was because it was three inches wider than any other mid-size Japanese sedan. Up until that time, the only cars to come from Japan that were wider than 66.5 inches were bulged-fendered Acura sedans. A tax law limiting width, and hence determining assembly line size, kept Japanese mid-size cars narrower than U.S. counterparts. The law was annulled not long after 1988, but the limits were ingrained in Japanese design, and only recently have Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords escaped those constraints. The driver's sense of touch is treated well in all of Nissan's cars, including the Maxima. The thinly padded and firm leather-covered steering wheel pleases your fingers. Tilt-steering is standard, but if you're a six-footer, you'll probably end up setting the wheel at its highest position at all times just to clear your legs. The feel of the door latches and the movement of the switchgear are as good as the best luxury car's. When the doors and trunklid close, and when you operate the steering-column-mounted stalks for the lights and wipers, the sounds that result are short and satisfying clicks. Nothing sounds weakly mounted. What the Maxima doesn't have that a luxury machine does is interior style. The instrument panel is simple and clean and is devoid of wood (a $429 option), leather, or shiny bits of trim. Overall, the Maxima looks pretty plain inside, but in fairness there's comfort in the lack of things competing for your attention. Leather seating surfaces come with a $1349 package that includes power adjusters and automatic climate control. That boosts the price over $30,000. Black dials on white gauge faces are unique on the SE model, though when you turn on the lights at night, the fuzzy illumination on the dials makes them appear out-of-focus. Conventional black background gauges are standard on the other models. The rear seats three adults in comfort for an hour-long drive, but three is a crowd on longer drives. For 1999, the rear center seat belt was changed from a lap belt to a three-point belt. A pass-through to the trunk is handy for skis, fly rods and other long objects, but the rear seats don't fold down. On trips you can pack a lot of luggage into the Maxima - its trunk is slightly larger than the cargo hold of a Camry, Accord or Mazda 626.