Swift Maxima turns heads with power, style
tier Maxima that adds premium leather seats, “Nissan-Connect Services” allowing the use of Amazon Alexa for commands such as picking a song, and “Safety Shield 360.” All the typical safety features that come standard on many new vehicles are included, such as intelligent cruise control, driver attention alert, and forward emergency braking.
The front-wheel-drive Maxima has fast acceleration. I was surprised that the 300-horsepower, 24valve, 3.5-liter, V-6 engine rockets the four-door Maxima from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds — faster than the Kia Cadenza or the Buick LaCrosse. However, the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) in the Nissan spoils the fun. The transmission doesn’t change gears, and that was very hard for me to get used to, finding that the fuel-efficient engine had to rev too high.
The suspension is a bit stiff, as you both feel and hear those nasty bumps on our New England potholeprevalent streets. But at the same time, the stiffness makes for impressive cornering, allowing the 18-inch alloy wheels to stick nicely to the road.
The front seat has plenty of room for my 6-foot-2-inch frame, but the rear seat is cramped and not as roomy as its competitors, the Toyota Avalon and the Chevrolet Impala. The trunk was a little small, especially when I stuffed it full of camera gear. But it has plenty of cubbies in which to stash stuff. And since the rear seats completely fold down, there is plenty of room for more gear.
The black leather seats and the leather-wrapped steering wheel and dash are complemented with stainless steel trim, giving the vehicle a luxurious appearance. Nicely situated in the center of the dash is the intuitive infotainment screen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. I found it was quite easy to use with both the touch screen or the rotary and push-button knob on the center console.
Compared with the competition, the Maxima offers a great mix of sport, style, and luxury at an affordable price.