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- Calculating Prices Please Wait
Vehicle Min Max 2005 Nissan Maxima $7,495 $18,998 2012 Buick LaCrosse $28,595 $38,857 2012 Volkswagen CC $21,000 $30,995 2012 Buick Regal $23,773 $31,995 Average $20,216 $30,211 
Used Car Price Range$7,495 - $18,998
Vehicle Min Max 2005 Nissan Maxima $127 $323 2012 Buick LaCrosse $486 $660 2012 Volkswagen CC $357 $526 2012 Buick Regal $404 $543 Average $343 $513 Based On: 10% down, 5% APR, 60 months
Estimated Monthly Payment$127 - $323 per month
MPG city hwy 2005 Nissan Maxima 20 28 2012 Buick LaCrosse 20 30 2012 Volkswagen CC 21 30 2012 Buick Regal 19 30 Average 20 30 MPG20 City | 28 Highway
$2,500 Rebate Expires 02/29/2012
2005 Nissan Maxima Review Summary
What reviewers liked most about the 2005 Nissan Maxima:
The cut-out dash near the windshield is unique, and it's lined with a suede material (which makes its way around to the doors) that entices you to touch it.
- Road & TrackThe engine is an absolute joy to use and defines the term 'silky smooth.' Instant power is available in any gear at any rpm -- no waiting.
- Road & TrackBehind the wheel, the driving experience is pleasant, with sharp steering and a comfortable but firm ride with excellent control over bumpy back roads. It's on curvy, rough roads where the Maxima's fully independent rear suspension setup shines.
- The Car Connection
What reviewers liked least about the 2005 Nissan Maxima:
Because the Maxima is built on the same front-engine, front-wheel-drive large-car platform as the Altima, it exhibits the same weaving responses to aggressive throttle application, and the same wheel-tugging steering fight.
- Car and DriverOur only complaint with regard to ergonomics is the small joystick-type button that must be used to access certain information in the main display screen...Once your finger is touching the knob, a bump or turn can cause unwanted adjustments.
- Edmunds.com
2005 Nissan Maxima Comparisons:
Though not significantly different in size than the Altima, the new Maxima conveys more of an aggressive, upscale image, thanks to a more distinct, coupe-like shape, more arched roof, and large, styled wheels.
- The Car Connection
Best one-liners about the 2005 Nissan Maxima:
Our actual first words behind the wheel of an SE with the big tires and the five-speed automatic were something like, 'Whoooo' and 'hooo!'
- AutoWeekWe borrowed a 3.5SE six-speed model for evaluation, since the priorities of this magazine tend -- as you've possibly noticed -- toward the sporting lunatic fringe.
- Car and Driver
2005 Nissan Maxima Introduction
The Nissan Maxima is a quick and stylish premium mid-size sedan. It coddles its driver with refinement and dazzles with luxury gadgets.
Now that the Nissan Altima has assumed the role of a roomy mid-size sedan, the Maxima has moved up-market to a premium position. The Maxima has become a more specialized product and makes no apologies for what it can't do: It's not ideal for families, it looks weird from some angles, and it's not significantly quicker than the Altima. And that's just fine by us.
We like the Maxima's unique, highly styled personality, and we like its focus on performance. The sporty Maxima SE rides smoothly and quietly, while the more luxurious Maxima SL rides more softly. Cruising on the highway is effortless. Nissan's 265-horsepower V6 delivers responsive performance for quick passes.
Maxima's interior is innovative and comfortable with seats that are supportive and luxurious. The interesting Skyview roof, a glass panel running lengthwise over the front and rear seats, is the sort of feature associated with futuristic concept cars. Also interesting are the available rear bucket seats. Together, these features make back-seat riders feel like full-fledged adult passengers.
Safety has been enhanced for 2005. Front-seat passengers benefit from Nissan's Advanced Air Bag System as standard equipment. An advanced Traction Control System (TCS) is also standard.
2005 Nissan Maxima Walkaround
Nissan Maxima has a chiseled, muscular shape with pronounced character lines. It's aerodynamic and modern and yet architecturally Art Deco, like some Flash Gordon fantasy of yesterday's tomorrow.
This is especially true at the front end, where a rounded-rectangle texture (anyone remember the '58 Buick?) fills in the twin nostrils in Nissan's signature grille, split by a dark chrome medallion at the center. The aerodynamically integrated headlight clusters wrap over the top and around at the sides.
Big, round fender openings accented by flattened wheel lips pay homage to enormous alloy wheels: 18-inch, six-spoke units on the SE, with 17-inch, seven-spoke wheels on the SL. The relatively open wheel design shows off the brake calipers nicely, so for 2005 they are painted black.
The Maxima's rear roof slopes into the trunk lid with buttresses; and two large triangular taillight clusters, like the headlights, wrap around to the sides of the car.
Maxima's bold design innovations include the Skyview roof, a glass panel running lengthwise over the front and rear seats.
2005 Nissan Maxima Interior Features
The interior of the Maxima is innovative and comfortable. The seats in the SL look nice and are supportive and luxurious at the same time: You dream of all-day interstate cruises across the West in seats like these. The seats in the SL are firm yet pillowy, wide without a lot of side bolstering. In front of the driver are three small gauges set in their own pod, like those on a motorcycle.
We like the details of the Maxima's interior, specifically the light colors and the proximity of the switches and controls to the driver. However, the labels for the climate and audio controls is too small to be easily read, and it seems like a lot of buttons for the audio system and trip computer. The display is hard to read in bright sunlight with polarized sunglasses. The Maxima's steering wheel is familiar Nissan issue, functional though not beautiful; it tilts and telescopes.
The metallic trim in Maxima's interior wears a new, warmer titanium tone for 2005. Still, we didn't care for the large, flat splash of trim on the center stack, neither the titanium-colored plastic in the SE nor the faux wood on the SL. It seems like wasted space. Also, there's a lot of dashboard area that stretches way out to the leading edge of the windshield.
Seated in the back of a four-seater Maxima with the Elite Package, you get the feeling you're in the passenger seat of a sports car. With the narrow fixed roof window above your head, you don't feel like you've been relegated to the kid seats while the folks in the front seats enjoy all the luxuries. Nissan says it found a lot of people rarely open their sunroofs. Still, a conventional sunroof over the front seats is available for those who prefer it.
Nissan offers a choice of XM or Sirius satellite radio. Satellite radio can be great companion on long trips, delivering CD-quality sound nearly everywhere. Not having to change stations on a cross-country trip has distinct advantages and we enjoy being able to keep up by listening to the 24-hour news stations. Finding stations is easy with RDS (radio data system), which clearly identifies programming on the radio's display.
Three cargo nets are provided in the trunk and work better than most for holding down a load of groceries.
2005 Nissan Maxima Driving Impressions
The Nissan Maxima SE rides smoothly and quietly, even on bad pavement. You really need to have a sensitive backside to prefer the slightly softer ride of the SL. Both models handled bumps well, a benefit of the Maxima's independent multi-link rear suspension. The SE feels more connected to the road than the SL.
Cruising on the highway is effortless. The 3.5-liter V6 develops 265 horsepower and pulls strongly in passing situations. Both the six-speed manual and the five-speed automatic transmissions are well-matched to the smoothly revving 3.5-liter V6. The engine has such a broad power band that the Maxima is happy being either a high-revving hard-charger or a boulevard loafer. You can keep the engine at high revs to extract the most acceleration on challenging roads, or you can lug it along at a cruising pace without concern.
We prefer the automatic. The six-speed manual shifter feels tall and has a lot of extra movement when compared to that of the Nissan 350Z. It seems balky initially and the first-to-second shift requires good timing, but once you get used to it the gates are easy to select. Clutch pedal travel is also notably long. That means manual-shift devotees will be doing a lot of aerobics while they drive. Nissan expects fewer than 10 percent of Maximas will be sold with the manual gearbox.
We drove the Maxima quickly on twisty canyon roads around Mount Palomar in Southern California. Its limits are very high, but it feels noticeably bigger and more ponderous than the lighter Altima. The steering is accurate, though it seems light and slow. Body roll is minimal, but turn-in is slow and the Maxima feels prone to understeer initially. Accelerating out of corners, there's no wheelspin but there is some torque steer, a slight tugging sensation at the steering wheel.
2005 Nissan Maxima Final Word
The Nissan Maxima has become more indulgently luxurious. The Maxima offers innovative styling and interior features. Its engine is powerful and its ride is smooth and quiet.
New Car Test Drive correspondent Phil Berg is based in Michigan.
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