2009 Nissan Maxima

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What is it?
2009 Nissan Maxima

What's special about it?
Brace yourself for this one: The 2009 Nissan Maxima is actually 3.8 inches shorter than its predecessor. The wheelbase is shorter, too, some 1.9 inches to be exact. These might seem like minor changes, but given that virtually every new sedan in the past 20 years has been bigger than its predecessor, the Maxima's shrinking dimensions are a welcome sign of restraint.

According to Nissan, it's trying to restore the Maxima's heritage, and has brought back the car's description as a "four-door sports car" (4DSC), first used during the 1980s. So in addition to the shorter length and wheelbase, this 2009 Nissan Maxima is also wider and lower. Actually, it's only slightly wider at the door handles, but the front and rear tracks are up 1.4 and 1.2 inches, respectively.

The bulging fenders give the 2009 Nissan Maxima a Coke-bottle shape like a muscle car from the late 1960s. There are some serious creases in the hood and a nose with hints of the GT-R. Add the standard 18-inch wheels (19s are optional) and there's definitely a seriousness to this Maxima's design that adds some credence to the whole sport-sedan revival thing.

There's plenty of new hardware underneath to back it up. The Maxima rides on the same front-wheel-drive platform introduced by the latest Altima, but the Maxima adds lightweight aluminum suspension links, revised suspension and steering geometries and new, lower engine mounts.

A 3.5-liter VQ-Series V6 provides the power for the Maxima once again. It's been reworked with a revised intake, higher compression ratio and more advanced variable valve timing system, among other things. It produces 290 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque and sends it to the front wheels through a revised version of Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The upgraded transmission now features optional shift paddles. Engage the new Drive Sport mode and the CVT will allow higher engine speed and hold "gears" through corners. Drive a little more conservatively and the same CVT will help this Maxima deliver 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, a slight improvement over the previous Maxima despite the added power.

Nissan says its designers have described the interior as "super cockpit, but with space." Translation: There's a hint of the 350Z's design details added to the Maxima's otherwise massive cabin. There's a smaller-diameter steering wheel and the console-mounted shifter lever has been moved closer to the driver than before. To further accentuate the cockpit impression, the driver seat is lower and the center console is higher. The tachometer has even been rotated so the redline sits at 12 o'clock.

So Nissan emphasized sportiness in the new Maxima, but didn't forget about the luxury side of the equation. Every 2009 Maxima gets power-adjustable seats up front, dual-zone climate control and an eight-speaker stereo with a six-disc CD changer. Some of the interior dimensions have decreased slightly, but this is still a big sedan with more rear legroom than a Cadillac CTS.

If that's not enough, the options list is substantial. You can order up heated and cooled front seats, a Bose premium audio system, 9.3GB hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic, a rearview back-up camera and Bluetooth connectivity. You won't have to wait long for this, as the 2009 Nissan Maxima is scheduled to go on sale this summer.

What's Edmunds' take?
Given its relatively anonymous reputation, the Maxima's new look can't hurt its chances of making a mark in the entry-level luxury sport sedan segment. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line