Super TestCar reviews - Nissan - Maxima - rangeNissan modelsOverviewNissan’s revamped Maxima heads mainstream against the Camry, Aurion and Accord20 Apr 2009 NISSAN has smartened up the long-lived Maxima by splitting the range in two for the largely new J32 series. The cheaper 250 ST-L is seeking to steal sales from the medium car segment, while the 350 ST-S and 350 Ti are targeting the same larger models as previous Maximas, effectively giving the Japanese company a two-pronged attack. Keenly priced and brimming with standard features, this finally may be the Maxima that makes a mark on the Australian new-car market. Model release date: 1 April 2009 to 1 October 2013 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelNISSAN’S sixth-generation Maxima seemed more than a little influenced by Renault design, with its clean surfaces inside and out. But it was still an incredibly comfort-orientated sedan, with soft suspension settings to match the large and inviting seats, so keen drivers were left out in the cold. This is despite the inclusion of the world-renowned 170kW/333Nm 3.5-litre VQ35 V6 petrol engine. Paired first with a four-speed automatic gearbox and then – from early 2006 – a smooth CVT gearbox, the Maxima’s performance was peerlessly sweet for the money. Three models were offered, the base ST-L, mid-range Ti, and upmarket Ti-L. However, after a strong sales start, the J31 Maxima fell victim to skyrocketing petrol prices and the global move away from large cars. |
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