The 2018 Nissan Maximaճ Ascot Leather seats with diamond stitch inserts resemble designs on high-end luxury cars.Nissan's Maxima is a five-passenger sedan designed for people who want to make a visual splash with their automobiles.
Not for introverts, the Maxima is designed for affable, gregarious drivers who like to strike up conversations with complete strangers while pumping gas.
You can almost hear them saying:
"What about that floating roof on my Maxima, huh?"
"Why yes, those are boomerang-shaped headlights."
In higher trim levels, like our $40,690 Platinum tester, the Maxima straddles the line between mass-market sedan and near-luxury car. At that price point, buyers want people to notice their rides.
FAST FACTS<
* Model: 2018 Nissan Maxima Platinum* Exterior color: Carnelian Red* Interior color: Cashmere* Engine: 3.5-liter, V-6* Horsepower: 300* Transmission: CVT* Fuel economy: 30 mpg highway, 21 mpg city* Local Dealer: Mountain View Nissan, Nissan of Chattanooga East* Price (as tested): $40,690
The Maxima dates to the 1981 model year and is currently in its eighth generation. Over four decades, the Maxima has gone from a boxy Datsun to a swoopy Nissan with design elements inspired by aircraft architecture.
View other Test Drive stories by Mark Kennedy
Looking for a used or new car?
Local Nissan dealerships, Mountain View Nissan downtown and Nissan of Chattanooga East on Chapman Road, have (combined) about 20 new Maximas in stock this week. The 2018s, which nearly identical to the 2017s, have not yet arrived locally.
STYLING AND FEATURES
The 2018 Maxima features a windswept design which incorporates flowing character lines along the length of the car. Soft undulations in the hood add visual interest up front.
Machined, 18-inch wheels, framed by bulging wheel arches, mesh with the Maxima's sporty personality. The floating roof design is inspired by jet fighters.
Our tester's Carnelian Red paint is a new color for 2018, but otherwise the exterior is mostly unchanged from last year's model.
Inside, the Maxima Limited has Jaguar-like Premium Ascot leather seat covers with diamond quilted inserts. A flat-bottom steering wheel is covered in the same premium leather.
All Maximas have an eight-inch touchscreen embedded in the dash. A soft-touch center stack makes for a comfortable arm-rest.
The touch-screen is the focal point for a telematics system that features Nissan's high-tech around-view monitor. It lets you see all four corners of the vehicle simultaneously when maneuvering in or out of a tight parking space. New for 2018 is the addition of the Android Auto smartphone interface to go along with Apple CarPlay. Two rear USB ports are now optional.
A panoramic sunroof is part of the Platinum trim package, as are side mirrors that automatically aim at the ground behind you when when car is in reverse, making it easier to spot obstacles.
We learned about the Maxima's rain-sensing wipers when they unexpectedly activated inside a car wash before we shifted the car into neutral.
All Maximas come equipped with a 3.5-liter, six-cylinder engine that makes 300 horsepower. Acceleration zero-to-60 mph takes just under six seconds. All Maximas also have a continuously variable transmission that helps boost fuel economy to 30 mpg highway and 21 mpg city. Driving range on a full tank of gas is just under 600 miles.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The first time you experience a Maxima, there is a bit of sensory overload, as if your eyes have to adjust to all of the design flourishes inside and out.
The 3.5-liter V-6 engine has a melodious exhaust note, which grows even more pronounced when you switch into "sport" driving mode. At 300 horsepower, this is a serious engine with serious power. It's also a tried-and-true design that promises excellent durability.
The CVT is one of the best available. In fact if you weren't told the Maxima doesn't have a traditional gearbox you might not even notice.
Visibility is good from almost every angle, which is hard to achieve in a car with a roof-line as low as the Maximas. Interior space is especially abundant in the front seats and adequate in the back.
BOTTOM LINE
The Maxima competes with the Buick LaCrosse, Kia Cadenza, Toyota Avalon and Chevrolet Impala.
While the other cars bend toward conservative design, the Maxima was shaped to stand out in a crowd. If your personality yearns for a little more attention, the Maxima is a great conversation starter.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.