2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Nissan Maxima

• Competes with: Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300
• Looks like: One really miffed Altima
• Drivetrain: 290-hp (est.), 3.5-liter V-6 with CVT automatic
• Hits dealerships: Early summer 2008

The Nissan Maxima, a car whose future was once precarious, is evidently alive and well. Nissan will unveil the seventh-generation Maxima at this week’s New York auto show, and it says its aim in redesigning this car was nothing less than to create the best-performing front-wheel-drive sedan in the world. There are tall orders, but this one seems like a veritable Everest.

To work, then: The car’s width has been increased, but its wheelbase has been shortened, which should bode well for handling. The brakes are larger, and Nissan has uprated its venerable 3.5-liter V-6 to 290 hp, up from 255 hp last year. A continuously variable automatic transmission continues to be standard — in the outgoing Maxima, it proved surprisingly responsive — and has manual and Sport modes. Paddle shifters are optional.

We can’t say we’re crazy about the car’s styling. It’s something of an angrier Altima in front and (here comes the hate mail) a larger Toyota Yaris sedan in back. Like with the earlier Maxima, though, we figure the shape will grow on us. There’s plenty of eye candy inside, where the dashboard borrows themes from the Altima sedan and various Infiniti models. The navigation system uses the setup from the Infiniti M35/M45 and G35 sedans rather than the Altima’s simpler system, and that’s a good thing. Loaded Maximas (Maximae?) boast everything from a backup camera and heated steering wheel to a panoramic moonroof with power-retracting sunshades. That should put the car on par with full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon and Buick Lucerne, if not entry-level luxury cars like the Lexus ES.

The ’09 Maxima hits dealerships in just a few months. We have the first shots from the auto show floor below and will be updating the gallery throughout the day.

Comments

It's definately an "interesting" design!

The rear end definately carries over some of the look of the old model and the front end looks like a very slightly modified Q45, which I'm not sure is necessarily a good thing! Kinda droopy.

The shorter wheelbase gives it a little of the top heavy look of a Taurus too. Maybe bigger wheels would help with that.

From some angles it looks ok though, and I suspect it'll be one of those cars that looks much better in the flesh than in press pix.

The interior is great though, if rather Infiniti-alike. Canibalisation anyone? Especially if the handling is as good as they are promising?

I like it! I currently own a 1998 Maxima. This is a sharp looking vehicle.

"best-performing front-wheel-drive sedan in the world"

Hm...Somehow the FA2 Civic Type R came up in my mind. Don't even get me started to mention about the Mugen RR.

Design appears to be evolutionary instead of revolutionary. The only real redesign occurs at the front, where it appears much more aggressive. The back seems to have been enhanced to give a more premium appeal, which is okay with me. The car magazines have not touched this car, so we don't know if Nissan is right when they claim they wanted to make the Maxima the best sport front wheel drive car in the world. As the owner of two previous Maximas, 2004 and 2006, the design in my opinion was beautiful and eye-catching, and for those that believed the skyview was useless are incorrect, for I saw it as an intimidation factor for the big trucks that stood behind me during stops, I can still picture them looking at the skyview and looking at their confused faces try to figure out what the skyview was. But my Maximas had the sporty look and big tires, but Nissan did not give it the substance of a sports car, it only gave it a touch of it, which made the car frustrating because you knew the car was not a true sports car. In fact, the new Avalon and the new Camry have a tire grip the same as the Maxima, and they don't even claim to be sports cars. Another thing that got a lot of Maxima owners angry was the interior quality. How can I say this while trying to make sense...the interior quality is good but not good enough for a car that goes fully loaded as high as 38k. So for those that think that the new interior quality will take away sales from Infiniti are wrong. For a car that approaches this price I want it to be the same quality material as an Infiniti. This has worked for Toyota and Honda, where the interior quality of their 15k cars come close to their cars in the Lexus and Acura lines. That is why they are successful. I expect the Maxima to have good interior quality like an Infiniti, otherwise, I will not trade my current car for a Maxima with subpar quality that will cost me 38k. One final thing, the 290HP is inadequate, in order for Nissan to make me come back to buy one of their Maximas, they must put at least 300HP. Remember, this will not steal sales from the G35, because people will always want a Maxima for their own reasons like people want a G35 for their own reasons. For example, I would not buy a G35 even though it has more substance in the suspension and grip areas because I love the style and roominess of the Maxima. So if Nissan does not put at least 300HP with minimum 5.8 zero to sixty speed timing. I will no longer remain loyal to them and will look at the Hyundai Genesis or Pontiac G8, cars that are selling at the same price range but they are putting 360-410HP in them. This is what happens when you get current Maxima owners angry about the promise of sporty car but with no sportiness in it and the interior quality being subpar for a mid 30k car (like I said before, the interior of my Maxima is good but my 18k Toyota Corolla has a better interior quality than my current 2006 Maxima--that should be embarassing to Nissan).

From a previous Nissan owner of a 2002 Altima SE, 2004 Maxima SE, and 2006 Maxima SE, but willing to look elsewhere now.

Uh, I think I'll be driving my '04 Maxima for a few more years...CVT only??? No way. And what's with those headlights? A little too "catty" for my taste. I do like the overall form, but some details, like those headlights, are overwrought. The interior is not too bad, but I would really miss the current model's flying dasboard and motorcycle style instrument panel.
But why, why, why no proper manual? The VQ is such a wonderful motor to row for yourself. Attached to a CVT or conventional automatic, it's just a Toyota Avalon with a cheaper interior.
Did I mention that I'm really disappointed that there's no manual?

I believe that the 2009 Maxima takes the cake I mean come on atleast someone cant break into it and start the car thats a unbelievable feature. No Key no problems

I have had a 1989 Nissan Maxima it was a great car. This 2009 model perfect who really gives a hell about leather seats they're cold in the winter and hot as hell in the summer. don't get me wrong they are nice but you guy nedd to realize it's mot a Q45, G35, avalon, corolla, or camry none of those cars, as far as getting a Hyundai I would never the name sounds bad and pontiac is trash, this design reminds me of a mercedes in a way. The 2004-2008 maxima are ok but the nissan sign on them were too big I will be getting a 2009 Maxima in december when my car payment is up on my Titan