YES, this is a Nissan Maxima, but a Nissan Maxima well on the way to realising the potential that's always been lurking. With a V6 heart already recognised as one of the best sedan-car engines on the planet, revolutionary (for Nissan) styling that closes the gap between Japan and Europe and an interior decorator's dream cabin, the new car is a real contender at the bottom end of the prestige market. It's also bigger inside even though it's smaller outside, lighter and more feature-laden, and is very competitively priced. Deficits? The suspension is soft, cushy and doesn't promote on-road agility.
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Nissan A33 Maxima
Released: December 99
Ended: December 03
Family Tree: MaximaNissan's previous-generation Maxima sedan, the A33 series, was launched in Australia in December 1999, featuring a 157kW/291Nm 3.0-litre V6. Initially available in S, ST and Ti guises, it was facelifted in September 2001 for the 2002 model year, with the Ti model scoring stuff like a 10-CD stacker along with the new-look front-end. The US market also scored a 194kW/333Nm 3.5-litre V6, but we missed out. That was addressed with the all-new, less expensive, Euro-look J31 Maxima launched in December 2003 and tested here.
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