The 2004 Nissan Maxima
Got it right: Engine, brakes, ride, lighting, interior appearance, turn signal lighting.
Needs improvement: Small dash buttons, steering feel, shifter, tires, torque steer, pricing, seats, close pricing to Altima and Infiniti G35.
Nissan appears to be its own competition with the Maxima as it has priced this elegantly designed sedan in the middle of two other offerings that are nearly the same in every respect except for price (see table at end of article.) You can order the 3.5 Altima or the Infiniti G35 for about the same cost and either save several thousand dollars on the former or spend a few thousand more on the latter. We highly prefer the Infiniti basically because it is rear wheel drive and easier to drive at the edge without worrying about the torque steer that the manual shifting Maxima we tested had in abundance.
Nissan does an adequate job of making the Altima and Infiniti different in terms of styling with the Maxima being quite smartly done, and they offer many more standard features. But the fact remains that the Maxima is not a bargain based on performance compared with the other Nissan offerings. However, the new models is a much more refined and sturdy car than previous Maximas although no faster and a bit less tidy in the corners than the first generation.
We tested the SE with a stick shift and six forward speeds. Before you buy this model make sure you can shift it. The placement of the shifter makes it difficult for some people to leverage and finding sixth gear takes a considerable amount of practice. In fact, leaning over to pull up the release handle to place the car in reverse may take shorter people two hands. There is little reward for the manual shifter anyway. Yes, it is faster, but the torque steer is intrusive as the 265 horsepower easily overwhelm the front tires. We recommend the five speed automatic version if you commute in traffic. In that way you can relax and enjoy the room and ride more fully.
There are two versions of the Maxima with the SL being the luxury model. We found the SE luxurious enough and with the new models being over 200 pounds heavier than previous Maximas feel that the only reason to buy the SL would be for a smoother ride. Both cars are fairly quiet.
The feature that no one in The Car Family could figure out was the Skyview roof. It is two long unremovable glass panels that run the length of the roof. We have no idea why it is offered as the novelty of having a transparent roof for the front and back passengers soon wears off. There is a more traditional sunroof available.