Ranking in Class: Sixth.

System Score: 5.0

Components. The Maxima system includes six-inch, full-range speakers in the rear doors. The same drivers appear in the front doors, rolled off to accommodate a tweeter in the A pillar. The in-dash AM/FM includes a single-play CD player.

Performance. I found the sound stage on this system passable but poor. The tweeters don't disperse nearly as well as, say, the Passat or the Accord. And although this system sounds as good as several which I ranked above it, I marked it off heavily for ergonomics. Nissan really missed the boat on this one, especially since this is one of the most expensive cars in this test --actually more an entry-level luxury sedan than a family sedan -- and should've scored very high in this area, but didn't. Frankly, the ergonomics suck. The radio is placed too high in the dash so that, unlike most other systems, which allow you to rest your arm on the gearshift knob while you change stations, you have to "float" your arm in no man's land until your arm grows tired and drops. Also, an even bigger design error: The station presets are positioned to the side of the radio and not below, making it very confusing to operate. I drove this car for a long weekend and still couldn't get used to it.

Conclusion. Although this is a decent sounding system, we expect something more from a car in this price range. It should be easier to use than the competition, not harder. Nissan needs to go back to their ergonomics drawing board if they expect to draw consumers to their upscale sedans.