Power maxed Nissan Maxima

This seems to be the season for four-door sports saloons: think Maxima, Panamera… Motorheads may blanch at the mention of Maxima in the same breath as Porsche, but we're talking segments here - Nissan calls it their four-door sports car.

Is there really such a thing? Oh yes, there is. Not only does it exist, it's alive and kicking, if you were to take Nissan's PR machine seriously. Let's not forget that the Maxima has an almost iconic status in the UAE. Most wannabe boy racers earned their first chops on the Maxima, many well-preserved examples of which still lurk around.

The new Maxima is based on Nissan's D-platform - the same as Altima, Altima Coupe and Murano, and powered by a 290hp version of the popular VQ 3.5-litre, V6 engine with 354 Nm of torque. So far, so good. Where reality bites is that the standard transmission is Nissan's 3-mode Xtronic CVT. Add to that the fact that, like the Altima Coupe, the Maxima is also a front-wheel drive car. Straight take-offs from traffic lights are still possible with an accompanying roar, but cruising is what this engine appears to be suited for. Which may be the reason the fuel bills are lower than usual.

The V6 coasts along, gliding silkily, but it is apparent that there is a lot of muscle waiting to be tapped. While cruising along the highway to Masafi, many an aggressive SUV tried to push us out of the way. But a touch of the accelerator was enough to leave them in a puff of dust.

The CVT comes with manual mode. Nissan says that it is an improvement on the previous CVT design that ‘improves responsiveness and strike a balance between sport and comfort'. A new DS mode (drive sport) has been added - an electronic control logic, which is said to enhance sportiness. According to Nissan, DS mode selects the right gear at the right time, and this enhances the sporty feel. Throw in a ‘sound enhancer' and you realise you are in middle-age racer territory.

F1-style paddle shifters on the steering column allow manual shifting - though why you should want to do that is beyond me. With a front-wheel drive car, you are safer sticking to the automatic, especially with the power on tap.

However, if you insist you can switch modes on and shift it yourself through ranges that emulate ratios in a conventional gearbox. It even provides a gear-holding function for engine braking and cornering.

The longer you drive the more you begin to realise that the Maxima, though a front-wheel-drive, steers with precision. The three-spoke steering wheel, though light, does the job adequately. We even went off on a rough mud track in Bithna, but the Maxima had enough traction and torque to make good time.

Push it hard, and the torquey engine will show some wheel spin as we discovered with the stability control off. Only Nissan calls that vehicle dynamic control (VDC). There is also a traction control system (TCS). But the suspension does inspire confident cornering.

The standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA) add to the feeling of security.

The comfort factor is taken care of too. The new Maxima's interior is probably the best of any Nissan in this segment. According to Nissan, a lot of thought has gone into designing it. The shifter lever, for example, was placed closer to the driver so it is easily accessible. This also allowed a cupholder to be placed to the right of the shifter device, not behind it.

The manual shifter has also been moved toward the driver for a more intuitive action.

The centre console has been raised, and soft-touch plastic adds to the premium-quality feel. Chrome accents abound.

The driver's seat includes a manual thigh extension for long distance driving, and additional support in the side bolsters for good lateral support during sporty driving. It also features added height adjustability. The seat also comes with both cooling and heating functions, power lumbar support and memory function.

Our car was a 3.5SR model - which had leather seats, a nine-speaker Bose sound system, a navigation system with a seven-inch colour monitor, rear parking monitor, and front and rear parking distance sensors. A Bluetooth hands-free phone system, cruise control with illuminated steering wheel mounted controls, and rear power retractable sunshade were the other goodies.

There's no doubt that Nissan's done a great job on the new Maxima. It's quick, roomy, comfortable, safe, and attractively priced for all the features you get, plus it's fun to drive and easy to live with. The complaints are quite minor.

The amount of space and its style make Maxima a very good car overall. Starting at Dh113,500 and going up to Dh129,500, it is excellent value for money as well.