After a week with the new Maxx I have to say I'm pretty impressed. It offers a lot for what seems like a pretty decent price.
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| The Maxx offers a lot for what seems like a pretty decent price, starting at $26,205. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
It's a lot "cooler" than the 4-door Malibu, reinforced with items like the 5-spoke 17-inch rims, rear glass sunroof and 5-door configuration. As for price, the base LS starts at $26,205 which seems pretty reasonable until stacked up beside another new 5-door, Dodge's ultra-hot rear-drive Magnum that starts out at $27,995. Still, the base Magnum is a bit of a slug compared to the Maxx, and offers fewer features. My LT tester started out at $30,655, but if all options were added on the price could potentially climb to $33,785. While not outrageous by any means, it does come mighty close to a Magnum RT priced at $36,995, which if you haven't already been informed includes the already legendary (albeit through some pretty slick marketing) modern-day 5.7-liter HEMI V8, that puts out just 140 additional horsepower and 170 more lb-ft of torque than the Maxx, albeit at a fuel economy disadvantage despite its sophisticated cylinder deactivation system. The
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| Other than the Dodge sport wagon, there's not much to compete with the Maxx in this market. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Magnum RT comes pretty loaded at that price too, and considering its Mercedes E-Class derived components is an impressive value. But other than the Dodge sport wagon, or sport tourer as they like to call it, there's not much to compete with the Maxx in this market. Probably the most obvious is the Mazda6 5-door or wagon, the latter my favorite of the 6 family that also includes a 4-door sedan. It's a real jewel of a midsize entry, truly sporty, with a gorgeous interior and even nicer exterior styling, that starts off for a reasonable $26,995 with a powerful V6 and 5-speed manual-shift automatic gearbox included. Almost ready to bow out of the category is Ford's Taurus wagon. At about the same base price, $26,345, it's hardly cool but highly functional. Subaru also has a Legacy wagon that's worth looking at, but in 6-cylinder form and with anywhere near the Maxx's features you'll be paying a heck of a lot more.
