CTC Review: 2007 Nissan Maxima 3.5SL

[CD_Editor]

Picture Gallery:  2007 Nissan Maxima 3.5SL


Day 1:

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This week I have the pleasure of driving the 2007 Nissan Maxima 3.5SL.  Available only with a CVT transmission disguised as an automatic, the Maxima is no longer as sporting as the Maxima once was, in the days when it was offered with a manual transmission.  However, Nissan did give the Maxima a manual mode in the form of a tip-tronic type shifter and quad exhaust pipes to attempt to make up for it.  More ...

[xtrail1]

Nissan has done a great job on the interior of this car, the exterior touches are more obvious when it is sitting next to last years model.  Does it sound like the tv commercial when you step on it?  love that sound!!

[airbalancer]

How does the tiptronic work with the CVT?
So there is no valet key? Is there a key for the trunk?
Road trip, mm, 417 to  7 to 45 to Cobourg , have coffee with me, 401 to 416 home. That would be a nice 6 hour drive

[jww]

No talk of the torque steer? This has been a big problem in high powered engines from Nissan for awhile now. The Altima suffers from it as well as - to some degree - the Sentra SE-R and Spec-V. Nice looking car, but should have a manual. CVT may be the wave of the future for improved fuel mileage, etc., but this car really needs a 6-speed stick.

[Bullet Blue]

No talk of the torque steer? This has been a big problem in high powered engines from Nissan for awhile now. The Altima suffers from it as well as - to some degree - the Sentra SE-R and Spec-V. Nice looking car, but should have a manual. CVT may be the wave of the future for improved fuel mileage, etc., but this car really needs a 6-speed stick.

I agree, torque steer was the main downside to the Maxima. James if you could comment on this, it would be great.

I won't consider the Maxima anymore due to its lack of a stick, but I guess I'm in the minority.

[UmroAyyar]

Toyota Avalon is the main competitor to Nissan Maxima, with similar engine size, performance and priced very closely. Both these encroach on Lexus ES350 and Infiniti G35 Sedan territory which are entry level midsize-luxury cars. Whats the demographic of these vehicles? Now that the Manual transmission is gone.

[airbalancer]

Toyota Avalon is the main competitor to Nissan Maxima, with similar engine size, performance and priced very closely. Both these encroach on Lexus ES350 and Infiniti G35 Sedan territory which are entry level midsize-luxury cars. Whats the demographic of these vehicles? Now that the Manual transmission is gone.

Demographic is probably me,  in late 40's, bum knees, kids gone.
Need a bit of room for grandkids.
Spend the last 15 years in wagons and minivans . Want something sporty but like  the feel of large cars.

[haris]

Toyota Avalon is the main competitor to Nissan Maxima, with similar engine size, performance and priced very closely. Both these encroach on Lexus ES350 and Infiniti G35 Sedan territory which are entry level midsize-luxury cars. Whats the demographic of these vehicles? Now that the Manual transmission is gone.

Demographic is probably me,  in late 40's, bum knees, kids gone.
Need a bit of room for grandkids.
Spend the last 15 years in wagons and minivans . Want something sporty but like  the feel of large cars.

Yeah, more than likely. Same demographic that Chrysler's after with their big cars...

[Spec5]

Is it just me or is the price creeping up quite a bit? There's a ton of other cars in that price range that I wouldn't mind driving over the Maxima - and I LIKE the new Maxima!.(Legacy GT, MazdaSpeed 6!) I hope Nissan isn't pricing themselves out of the market... But then again... which market? As noted by others - its no longer a true sport sedan, its kind of turned into some kind of Infinity G35 wannabe without the mustard. And heck with the new look G35 Sedan looking so sexy instead of the awkward box it was last year - I'd rather pony up the extra dough for the G35 and the extra 45HP.

As for the torque steer - I'd rather them give me the full 255hp right from 0rpm rather then pull what Cadillac did with the fwd STS - retard the ignition under certain conditions so that the 300hp was manageable. A true sport sedan would let the driver make the decision.

[jww]

...As for the torque steer - I'd rather them give me the full 255hp right from 0rpm rather then pull what Cadillac did with the fwd STS - retard the ignition under certain conditions so that the 300hp was manageable. A true sport sedan would let the driver make the decision.

I would make the point that a true sports sedan isn't FWD AND let's the driver make decisions.

[JSCC]

Wouldn't you consider the TL and Passat V6 as direct competitors? I would.

[mdxtasy]

Toyota Avalon is the main competitor to Nissan Maxima, with similar engine size, performance and priced very closely. Both these encroach on Lexus ES350 and Infiniti G35 Sedan territory which are entry level midsize-luxury cars. Whats the demographic of these vehicles? Now that the Manual transmission is gone.

I agree with JSCC.  The Acura TL, the Lexus IS250, the Volvo S60, the BMW 3 series, the Audi A4, the VW Passat...all worthy competitors.  When you get past $40K, there's a lot of good options. 

[Spec5]

None of those are faster, nor do they offer AWD. At least not for a price that I would consider within reach of the Maxima. However, they too are all good arguments to look elsewhere.

[UDB]

IMO, the actual new Maxima 07 should not exist. In pricing, it is close to the G35 but this one is RWD.  Also, when we talk size, the Maxima have about the same dimensions as the Altima.  At Toyota, the Avalon is way bigger than the Camry.  The Avalon could sit 6 persons if I remember,  the Max: 4 or 5 persons.  Nissan should have do the same thing with the Maxima.  With the new 270HP Altima 07 CVT, the Maxima 07 will probbly struggle and Nissan will need to put rebates early next year.

[xtrail1]

UDB, please back up with numbers before making such claim, Maxima has more front headroom and legroom than the Avalon!!  Rear headroom, advantage to Avalon by .2 inches.

[UDB]

UDB, please back up with numbers before making such claim, Maxima has more front headroom and legroom than the Avalon!!  Rear headroom, advantage to Avalon by .2 inches.

Sorry but you misread what I said.  I was comparing Maxima/Altima vs  Avalon/Camry within their brand not Avalon vs Maxima direclty.   Also the new Avalon seating iis 5 not 6 like the previous generation sorry for the mistake.

Looks at the numbers below.  Head, Leg, Hip and Shoulder room are almost identical when you compare Altima vs Maxima.

For Toyota,  Avalon is larger than the Camry at Hip Shoulder and rear Leg room.

That's was my point in my previous statement.

Altima

Interior - mm (In) 
Head room (front/rear) 1036/955 (40.8/37.6) 
Leg room (front/rear) 1115/925 (43.9/36.4)
Hip room (front/rear) 1346/1384 (53.0/54.5) 
Shoulder room (front/rear) 1430/1422 (56.3/56.0)

Maxima

Head room (front) without sunroof    1019 (40.1)   1019 (40.1)   1019 (40.1)
Head room (rear) without sunroof   947 (37.3)   947 (37.3)   947 (37.3)
Leg room (front)    1115 (43.9)   1115 (43.9)   1115 (43.9)
Leg room (rear)    927 (36.5)   927 (36.5)   927 (36.5)
Hip room (front) — 3.5 5-seat    1359 (53.5)   1359 (53.5)   1359 (53.5)
Hip room (rear) — 3.5 5-seat    1392 (54,8)   1392 (54,8)   1392 (54,8)
Shoulder room (front)   1471 (57.9)   1471 (57.9)   1471 (57.9)
Shoulder room (rear)   1435 (56.5)   1435 (56.5)   1435 (56.5)


Camry

Legroom

Front
1057 (41.6)
Rear
974 (38.3)

Headroom
 
Front
962 (37.0) with available moonroof
985 (38,8)

Rear
950 (37.4) with available moonroof
959 (37.3)
 
Shoulder Room
 
Front
1469 (57,8)
Rear
1446 (56.7)
 
Avalon

Legroom
 
Front
1049 (41.3)
Rear
1039 (40.9)
 
Headroom

Front
986 (38,8)
 
Rear
953 (37.5)
 
Shoulder Room
 
Front
1509.8 (59.4)
 
Rear
1449.2 (58.2)
 

[jcon]

Originally the Maxima and Altima straddled the catagory... Altima being smaller than the Camry and the Maxima being larger... Now the Altima is on par with the Accords, Camrys etc. So where does the Maxima fit? I would argue next to the Avalon... but who buys an Avalon?

Is there enough size in the Maxima to make a significant better (more comfortable, roomier, or whatever) purchase than the entry level luxury cars? Are people in their 40's (who I'm guessing are the targeting) going to prefer the Maxima to the G35? I somehow doubt it. The G35 is smaller but it carries nicer refinement, and superior handling (I believe having never driven a G35) and a prestige level that the Maxima doesn't.

I once considered the Maxima on my list of next vehicles, but as I've grown older and matured (debatable) it has fallen off my list. I don't see it as a drivers car anymore.

[mdxtasy]

Agreed.  The Maxima has gotten soft.  The hard nosed attitude seems to have been traded in for 'entry level lux'.....I used to really like the Maxi's.....great engine (still has it) with a nimble tidy package.  Now it looks like Britney Spears hanging out of her sweat pants.

[jww]

Agreed.  The Maxima has gotten soft.  The hard nosed attitude seems to have been traded in for 'entry level lux'.....I used to really like the Maxi's.....great engine (still has it) with a nimble tidy package.  Now it looks like Britney Spears hanging out of her sweat pants.

 

[jcon]

Now it looks like Britney Spears hanging out of her sweat pants.

Ewwww, now I'll never be able to get the Maxima back on my list...