2005 Nissan Maxima Expert Review: Autoblog

The current generation Maxima was recently released as a 2004 model. There have been many reviews of the car as well, but most are in fully equipped cars that push the price tag into the low $30 thousand range. The test car I received probably represents the lowest retail price one would pay to get into a new Maxima. The only option on my Maxima SE test car was the floor mats, which are really considered accessories not options. Let's see what we get for the $27,500 base price, not including destination and taxes, over the course of the next few days.

The first thing that jumps out is the styling. The Maxima’s profile is very sweeping, with a long hood and short rear deck. It is very much patterned after a coupe. With the Maxima’s legacy as a four door sports car (4DSC), the styling is fitting. The styling is very typical of Nissan’s latest offerings, and it has cues of the 350Z with the wrap around headlights and rear tail light treatment. The exterior is either love it or hate it for many, but I find the car to be very attractive. The Maxima once had a very unique appearance in its class, but now Toyota seems to emulate the Maxima with their new Avalon.

For the most part, the ‘Red Opulence’ test car’s exterior is attractive, but I do have some problems with it, mostly in the details. First of all, the grill itself is almost a work of art, but the huge Nissan emblem gives the front end a pig-like visage. My other gripe is with the door pulls. For this much money, I expect the door handles to feel better than this. When you pull on them, they feel hollow, and the plastic on plastic friction is very noticeable. There are plenty of less expensive cars that have more substantial door handles. A minor gripe I guess, but you’re paying $27,500+ for a car not a toy.

On the other side of the coin, the 18 inch wheels with performance tires give the Maxima a nice stance. With such a dramatic body, the larger wheels visually support the Maxima. The dual exhaust also adds to the sporty nature of the exterior. This car looks particularly good from the rear three quarters view, with the flat sides, curvy profiles, and large wheels. Also, the SkyView glass panel roof adds some interest to the top of the car, but we’ll get to my roof impressions tomorrow.

Over all, the exterior is dramatic to say the least. We will see how that dramatic exterior translates into the interior details and the driving dynamics.

After spending some time in the Maxima's cockpit, I can really give you my impressions of the interior. First of all, the interior is different from most cars in its class. From a design perspective, there is certainly more interest here than many of the Maxima's competitors. I do have issues with it, but I'll get to that later.

Let’s talk about the details. There are some touches that really make you take notice. Some are small details, others are simply nice features. The first thing that you notice when you step into the car is the dash. The dash slopes down from the windshield and almost appears to float there. The gauge cluster comes out of the dash instead of being in the dash. The door panel covering is carried from the doors and wraps around the back of the dash, adding to the sensation that the dash is floating in front of you. There are some nice design elements throughout the interior of the car. The doors themselves have nicely designed armrests, and even the control stalks on the steering column seem to have been designed with an artful touch.

The car also features an AM/FM/CD/Cassette. Having an actual cassette in dash is becoming a rarity in this day and age. It’s not really a necessity for everyone, but it may appeal to some people. The Maxima also has the usual features, but the one-touch up and down windows are nice to have on both front windows. Also, the driver’s power seat was able to handle a variety of drivers, and the cockpit design is friendly to both tall and more vertically challenged drivers. Many other cars in the Maxima’s class put the driver in an enveloping cockpit that may be difficult for shorter drivers to get a good view of the road. I found the Maxima to provide a flexible, comfortable cockpit. I got mixed reviews on the backseat, however. Some passengers found it to be a comfortable and inviting place, others did not.

Well, that was the good impressions. Now, I’ve got issues with a couple things. The steering wheel controls do not light up at night, so it takes a minute to figure out which button does what in the dark. Once you memorize the controls, it is not an issue, but I feel it is an oversight that could’ve been easily corrected. At first I was pretty impressed with the interior overall, but then I peeked into a 2005 Altima and was not so impressed anymore. There is a lot of component sharing, and the quality is about the same. Nissan interiors have never really impressed me from a materials standpoint. The first time I sat in the new Altima, I thought to myself how cheap it felt. The Maxima is a little better, but still it is not the best out there. I also wonder how durable the fake aluminum trim will be. The same concerns could be applied to the door handles. How long will it be before the finish wears off? Also, the SkyView roof did not offer much of a sky view. From my perspective, it simply provided some natural light into the cabin, but little else. It is too narrow. It does not open either, so it’s merely a conversation piece in my book. I would spend the coin and get a real sunroof.

As far as the driving impressions are concerned, well this car is no slouch. There is a reason why the Nissan V6 wins so many awards. It is such a flexible, powerful, engine. The transmission also seems very intelligent and does not take long to figure out. I’ll get into a more detailed driving impression later. I do have one thing to say; even if it is FWD it still goes like stink. Only when I turned the traction control off and goosed it from a stop did I really have to wrestle with it during acceleration. Once you’re rolling, the V6 provides plenty of power. Even in the handling department, the car doesn’t really disappoint. Once I take the car through some serious back roads, I’ll have a better idea on the handling front.

Most of this large sedan is spiced like Mrs. Dash. The Maxima has something for every part of a driver's taste in one package. It has a dash here in the handling, a dash here in the tactile feedback and a dash there in the brakes. It is dynamically more than what you would get with a typical vanilla family sedan.

It is under the hood where Nissan puts all the spice, however. When you buy this car, this is what you’re really buying, the Nissan VQ V6. This engine is a powerhouse that gives meaning to all the other elements of the car. You can almost forget the interior cheapness when your right foot is buried into the accelerator. Who cares if it is front wheel drive? The chassis lays the power down smoothly and effectively. That is not the typical experience that I’ve had in cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The Accord especially feels like the front wheels attack the air instead of the tarmac. No, the Nissan lays down the power effectively.

So how does it handle? It handles quite impressively for such a large family sedan. The Maxima doesn’t feel like the pig it appears to be. Body lean is well controlled, while the rest of the suspension feels surefooted and under control. It is a pretty nice compromise for the price, all things considered.

I got the opportunity to take the car to this little stretch of road that I consider to be a decent proving grounds for handling. It has constant elevation changes, stretches of rough road, long straights, and tons of challenging turns. There are even some nice off camber blind corners and some really tight hairpins. Overall, it is a nice mountain pass that sees little traffic. So, how did it do? The Maxima handled the whole bit extremely well, and I would say much better than my old 2003 Mustang GT or my Integra GS-R. It was fun and rewarding without having any nasty habits. Of course, you have to drive it differently. The car’s brakes and relatively sharp turn-in allow you to bury the car into a turn, swing around, and punch it to the next turn. The front wheel drive limits your ability to power out of turns without some major push, but that’s the nature of the beast. The automatic transmission also worked very well, when left in D anyway.

The Maxima has a five speed automatic, which offered that ability to shift it yourself. I tried it for a while. I found out that it wouldn’t always obey your commands. If you held a gear for too long, it would up shift. If you didn’t downshift when slowing down, it would do it for you. I found it better just to let it operate like a normal automatic. Just talk to it with your right foot, and the transmission would do pretty much what you ask of it.

It was an enjoyable drive. I did not want to stop, but I packed it up and went home. I would get another day with the Maxima before it would be taken away.

It is sad to see this powerful sedan go. It was surprising just how capable this car is. The Nissan VQ35 V6 is a dream, and you can tell why they use this engine in so many of their cars. The suspension is well designed, and is definitely tuned for performance in the SE. The SL is supposed to give a softer ride. So if you're looking for a smooth riding Maxima, the SL is the better choice. There were some issues with interior quality and design that nagged me during the review period, but your mileage may vary. Overall, the Maxima is a fast, stylish, and comfortable car.

So, would I buy one? In doing some research, there were some things that came up as concerns for me. As a potential-buyer, I always look for ways to get a better deal. So, I pulled a comparison between the Maxima and Altima. From a pure interior room perspective, the Maxima and Altima are neck and neck. The Maxima offers more high end features, however. If you’re looking for a Nissan sedan, check out both the Maxima and Altima before settling. Also, the IIHS side impact safety ratings for the Maxima are not that great for a large sedan, especially considering the standard side airbags. It is better than a lot of other cars, but not the greatest. If safety is a huge factor for you, you should factor the Maxima’s ratings into the comparison. Personally, I would cross shop this car with other makes before deciding. I would consider the 2004 models that are turning up on the used market, however.

Thumbs up:
Fast, Wonderful V6, competent handling, spacious interior and trunk

Thumbs down:
SE suspension and tires do not translate to a smooth ride, but that is the compromise you make for having sporty suspension, some interior cheapness, annoying steering wheel controls, questionable side impact safety ratings.