Driving Impressions

The 2002 Nissan Maxima is smooth, quiet, and powerful. The V6 provides lots of power. It's an exciting engine that revs freely to its redline. Yet it's flexible around town, providing strong, smooth torque throughout the rev range. The new 3.5-liter V6 delivers 255 horsepower and an impressive 246 pound-feet of torque, a substantial improvement over last year's highly respected 222-horsepower 3.0-liter engine. This is a very sophisticated engine. It features a "drive-by-wire" electronic throttle. With lots of torque, it pulls well from low rpm. This car is fun to drive, though it does not have the sporty dynamics of the newer Nissan Altima. The Maxima handles well, but when pushed hard, it's no sports sedan. On tight, bounding roads, such as those east of California's Carmel Valley, the Maxima reaches the limits of its shocks and suspension travel. The shocks don't rebound quickly enough to keep the tires glued to the road like a BMW's. But the Maxima is sportier than an Accord or Camry. Its steering is precise with sharp on-center feel. And it rides very well. The SE suspension is well tuned to the car's capabilities and is comfortable without being mushy. There's little body roll, or lean, in corners. And it rides well. Our overall impression is that the Maxima has softened a bit this year, and that impression goes for all models. The SE also comes with larger front disc brakes, along with electronic brake force distribution and Brake Assist. The four-speed automatic transmission works well on narrow, winding roads, where it shifts smoothly and changes gears quickly to suit driving conditions. The engine is strong enough and the automatic transmission is responsive enough that an SE equipped this way is very pleasant to drive, even on two-lane roads that twist through the hills. We also spent some time in a Maxima SE with the six-speed manual. While we usually prefer shifting for ourselves, the six-speed had a notchy feel that will take some getting used to. Also, the throws are long. With so much torque from the powerful V6, little shifting is needed on winding roads to keep it in the power band. Six speeds are not needed. For these reasons, we recommend the automatic transmission for the Maxima. (It also seemed as though the steering felt better in cars with automatics; the steering felt lighter in the six-speed cars.)

Final Word

The 2002 Maxima offers roomy, comfortable accommodations for four and a big trunk. This is a car for people who want performance and functionality. Nissan didn't design this car for the lowest common denominator. Its projected volume of 100,000 is less than a third of annual Accord, Camry or Ford Taurus sales. While Camrys are usually purchased with the family in mind, Maximas are often bought for the driver. And while most Accords are sold with four-cylinder engines, all Maximas are fitted with the powerful V6. With the introduction of a much bigger Altima this year, look for the Maxima to continue to move upscale and serve as Nissan's flagship.