Maxima's hot little secret: maximum performance

This review first appeared in the June 2019 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – The Nissan Maxima has been around since the dawn of the 1980s, and I've consistently looked forward to driving various versions of the car for a specific reason: performance.

Yes, that's right.  I can't tell you how many slowpokes I've blown by over the years in a Maxima.  I'm sure it came as a surprise to the pokes, because most folks don't think performance when they think of Maxima.

To those folks, I say: It's time to get your mind right.

Take my recent week in the 2019 Nissan Maxima SL, looking good in "Deep Blue Pearl" paint on a sweetly styled body of sharp angles, plus perfect fit and finish.

The neighbors chatted up the Maxima's attractive appearance.  They looked inside and loved the generous helping of comfort/convenience features and easy-to-use controls nicely laid out over the dashboard.

However, those who braved a ride with me came back talking about the Maxima's maximum performance.

"Wow, this thing really goes," said one.  That's an understatement.

The Maxima is propelled by a 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 300 horsepower.  Best of all, power is delivered with a firm punch in the low revs.  For roadway stragglers on either side of me, this means I'm leaving them in the dust before they even have a chance to react.

I'm pretty ashamed to admit to the feeling of personal power that goes with this ... but not too ashamed.  As always, a finely tuned suspension only adds to the performance rush of the Maxima.

Even with the sporty engine, fuel mileage is a fairly respectable 20 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The Maxima has long been Nissan's flagship sedan, so everything you get beyond the V-6 performance rush is top-tier.

The saucy layout of exterior LED lights is particularly striking at night ... so much so that you might even want to park the car and take a look at it yourself.  Interior features include an eight-inch color screen for navigation and other functions, leather surfaces, intelligent cruise control, a dual-panel panoramic moonroof  and much, much more.

The safety features in the Maxima are plentiful and loaded with state-of-the-art technology. Bottom line on the tested sedan was $39,695.

All in all, one of my long-time favorite sedans continues to impress.  And in a U.S. auto market that is shedding sedans at a record rate, it was a pleasure to have a week in one that included all the things that made four-door passenger cars kings of the American road for years.