The 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA- Japan's second-largest automaker has taken the world by storm. With the launch of the award winning Xterra, brand-new Sentra, and wonderfully redesigned Frontier, Nissan has shown the world that it has the ability to give the people what they want: well built automobiles with a personal sense of design and ingenuity. The company flagship, the Maxima, has also undergone some changes recently, and to no surprise, its all for the better. With stunning sport sedan looks, a "4 door sport car" attitude, and better performance then its competitors, it shouldn't be long before the Maxima conquers one of the only awards it hasn't gotten, best-selling car.

Wrapped in clean-sheet bodywork penned at Nissan Design International in La Jolla, California, the 2001 Maxima definitely exudes a higher profile than its predecessor.

Though time has told us that drastic changes in this full-size segment can mean market failure, we are confident that the bold styling is exactly what people are looking for to add some flare to their family car. The Maxima's reshaped forequarters definitely fare best, thanks to a bolder grille and front fascia coupled with more aggressive fender flaring. The most notable change is the rear taillamp treatment. NDI president Jerry Hirshberg, not a stranger to mold breaking, calls the look "bold", while others call it "controversial." Time will tell which word best describes it, but the new look does add some flavor and panache to an otherwise boring and placid group of four-doors. Its lower nose, higher tail, and faster windshield angle adds to the basic wedge look and trims its coefficient of drag to a respectable 0.31 on the SE, 0.32 on the GXE and GLE models.

"More Cars to Review"
RETURN TO ALL AUTO PROFILES

Nissan has made an attempt to make best-in-class solid dynamic characteristics even better: Although the basic hardware carries over MacPherson struts up front and Nissan's Multi-Link Beam rear axle(a technological masterpiece), bigger anti-roll bars, larger, softer bushings, and a repositioned transverse control link help refine the car's overall character. A smaller, lighter, engine-speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion power steering unit brings more precision and feel with less kickback, while sufficient stopping power to haul this 3199-pound sedan from 60 to zero mph in 128 feet is supplied by vented disc/solid disc binders with standard anti-lock. We recommend bettering the SE by opting for the 255/50VR17 all-season tires have been added to the option list.

Driving this car just makes it happier: You push hard, it comes back harder. You turn hard, it compensates harder. This is the perfect car for bringing out the racecar driver with kids. This ultimate sport sedan felt right at home on one twisty backroad venues. Numerous tweaks to the Maxima's award winning, all-aluminum 3.0-liter DOHC engine make even sweeter one of the best V-6s on the market today. New inlet and exhaust manifolding, a variable intake tract, a freer-flowing variable-capacity muffler, and programmable engine control help bump output from 190 to 222 horsepower and from 205 to 217 pound-feet of torque. On the refinement front, revised motor mounts improve the overall drivetrain isolation.

Fitted with its standard five-speed manual transmission, this stunning little screamer carried our SE 0-60 mph in a mere 6.7 ticks and put it through the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 94.4 mph. For the record, those numbers are the fastest of all Maximas. Even paired with the optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic, the gearbox of choice for most Maxima owners-this potent V-6 still should deliver 0-60-mph times in the 7.5-second range. With either tranny, the optional traction control is a definite plus. On a more practical note, despite its extra output, the 2000 V-6/five-speed combo is EPA rated at 22-city/28-highway mpg compared to the '99s 22/27-mpg numbers. Even autoshifted versions net an impressive 20/28 mpg rating.

A The Maxima's interior, however, is absolutely flawless: A 2.0-inch wheelbase stretch-to 108.3 inches-contributes to a 2.7-cubic-foot gain in passenger compartment volume and palpably improved rear legroom. Front bucket seats, plusher and more supportive, along with a 60/40 split/folding seatback on the rear bench add to its usability. The Maxima's list of standards has gotten longer, now including air conditioning, a full array of power assists, cruise control, tilt steering column, remote keyless entry, and front/rear 12V accessory power outlets. A much recommended Comfort and Convenience Package adds sunroof, power driver's seat, HomeLink system, leather upholstery, and a premium Bose sound system. Also, the much-loved SE's white-faced gauges have been replaced with a much more appreciated, sophisticated satin titanium finish.

Maxima GSE, the base model, should run at just over $20,000: While the top line GLE will be closer to the high twenty's. The SE open's at around $24,000 and tops out at around $28,000. With Honda and Toyota on a full scale four-door battle and Ford's new Taurus climbing the popularity ladder, expect a midsize sedan war that could be a fairly brutal affair. If Nissan's new four-door finds itself appealing to the public, expect Nissan to conquer yet another niche and add another award or two to its already overstuffed trophy case. AZAutoNetDirect.com

SEE BELOW FOR THE NEW NISSAN MAXIMASPECIFICATIONS