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| Description |
As the experts at the TheCarConnection.com put together this review covering the 2008 Nissan Maxima, they incorporated opinions from a number of reviews and their differing viewpoints. And to make this especially useful, TheCarConnection’s editors included their own experience driving the Maxima.
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| Road Test |
The flagship sedan of the line, the 2008 Nissan Maxima, carries over with few changes after a major update for the 2007 model year. In that update, the Maxima received a new front end and grille, new headlights, a restyled rear end, and a freshened interior layout with a new design center stack.
The 2008 Nissan Maxima is powered by the 255-horsepower, 3.5-liter 24-valve V-6 engine, which ranks as one of the smoothest and most responsive engines its size. All Maxima models now have a "gearless" CVT automatic, with a manual gearbox no longer offered. The CVT works very well with the V-6, with plenty of power on command, and it has a manual mode with simulated gears, but the omission makes the Maxima feel like less of a sport sedan. Otherwise, the Maxima handles crisply and is quite entertaining to drive on a curvy road, while the ride is firm yet supple.
Inside is where the 2008 Nissan Maxima proves that it’s a premium sedan, versus just a gussied-up Altima. The front seats are quite aggressively contoured to help hold you in place in corners, and the instrument panel and dash follow an aggressive styling theme. Trim and materials are a step up from the norm, and the interior is as hushed and refined as many luxury-brand sedans. There’s a so-called Elite Package that commands dual heated sport bucket seats in back instead of the standard bench--along with a rear sunshade, upgraded sound system, heated steering wheel, xenon headlamps, and other goodies.
read the full bottom line review |
| Positive Points |
- -Supportive front seats
- -Steers and handles responsively
- -Very quiet, comfortable cabin
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| Negative Points |
- -Outside styling doesn’t stand out from the Altima
- -V-6 doesn’t feel sporty with CVT automatic
- -No standard stability control in a top-of-the-line model
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