• List price: $26,950 (SE)   $28,900 (SL) • MPG - 20/city; 29/Highway

Likes:

• Bond-esque looks • Roomy interior • Quiet, smooth drive

Dislikes:

• Having to read the manual to figure out how to shift into reverse

For 2004, Nissan has given its flagship sedan, the Maxima, a bit of a facelift. "Very James Bond," said one admirer. Very near luxury, I say.

Model lineup The new Maxima is available in two models, the 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL. Both feature a 3.5-liter, 24-valve V-6 engine with 265 horsepower. That's 10 more horses than the 2003 model, and 20 more than the V-6 Altima. The SE features firmer, sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, and metallic-tone accents on the interior. Five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode is standard, with a six-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option.

Strangely, the SL comes only as a four-speed automatic with luxury-tuned suspension. It sports 17-inch alloy wheels, standard xenon headlights, an upgraded stereo system with speed-sensitive volume control, leather seats and wood-tone interior accents.

Available option packages include the SE Premium Audio Package, upgrading to a eight-speaker digital Bose® audio system; SE Sensory Package (heated seats and outside mirrors, four-way power adjusting front passenger seat, leather seating and digital compass); Driver Preferred Package (lots of power adjustment upgrades); Journey Package (Nissan Navigation System with GPS DVD atlas); and Elite Package (power rear sunshade, two rear passenger bucket seats, heated rear seats).

Exterior With its clean lines and arches, the '04 Maxima is a looker. It's 1.4 inches wider and has a 2.9-inch longer wheelbase than its predecessor. The rear window is recessed from the sloping roofline, giving the vehicle a sleek appearance without compromising rear-passenger headroom. The chrome-accented taillights wrap around the trunk, which offers 15.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity, also more than the 2003 model. Nissan claims to have used flying buttresses as the inspiration for the architectural design of the trunk and roofline.

Maxima is equally attractive from the front, with camera-lens style high-intensity discharge xenon headlights in both low and high beam (optional on the SE). Cornering lights are tucked underneath and to the rear of the headlights, giving you the ability to see that piece of tire tread on the road before changing lanes.

Interior Inside, my SE came with the standard cloth, pseudo-suede seats and metallic-tone interior accents. The climate and radio controls look very sophisticated, yet are intuitive to use. Maxima beats nearly all competitors spaciousness, offering the driver 43.9 inches of leg room and just over 40 inches of head room. This is one roomy car. Cavernous even.

Standard on both the SE and SL is Nissan's alternative to the sunroof, the Skyview, a roof window that extends the length of the passenger cabin, front to back. Although it would be more correctly referred to as a skylight, since, disappointingly, it doesn't open. A traditional sunroof is available as an option.

Performance/Test drive On the road, my Maxima SE tester was sure-footed, comfortable and quiet. The six-speed manual shift was adequate, moving smoothly and quickly between gears without grinding or sticking. Although, performance-wise, the SE leans more heavily toward the sedan end of "sport sedan" and, in my opinion, the six-speed manual transmission doesn't add much to the driving experience. I'd probably opt for the five-speed automatic with manual shift mode.

The only truly annoying feature of the SE was the reverse mechanism. After pushing down on the gear shift, ramming it as far right as possible and looking for hidden buttons, I resorted to the owner's manual to find out how to shift into reverse. Let me spare you 10 minutes of looking silly in the parking lot: On the neck of the shifter, there is a little plastic ring that you must lift as you shift down and right to get it into reverse.

On the road, Maxima is sure-footed, comfortable and quiet, with no surprises. The standard power-assisted four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist are responsive and adequate.

Safety & security As of this writing, no National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash-test data was available for the Maxima, but both models come nicely equipped with dual-stage front, driver and front passenger side-impact and roof mounted curtain side-impact airbags, front and rear crumple zones, and an energy-absorbing steering column. Installing a LATCH-equipped front-facing child seat was a simple proposition, and with the more than adequate interior room, a rear-facing seat would probably not give the front-seat passenger too many legroom problems.

In my opinion.. Maxima is a great car that only got better with the redesign. Although it now shares a platform with Altima, there is plenty about the Maxima that sets it a step above its smaller sibling. With quick acceleration, adequate power and good looks for under $30,000, there's a lot to like about this near-luxury sedan.

Return to the Auto Reviews home page.