The Maxima has always been a favorite with those who love power, handling and performance mixed with a high level of luxury, quality and reliability. In its first year of a complete redesign, the 2009 Nissan Maxima took on a more aggressive look that's reminiscent of a stretched 370Z sport coupe. In fact, Nissan has always billed the Maxima as the "4-door sports car," and the 2009 model further lends credibility to the claim. Although it lacks the option of a manual transmission, the Maxima is just as enjoyable to drive as more expensive sedans from Audi, BMW, Infiniti and Lexus. It comes with a long list of standard and optional equipment including high-end features such as a ventilated driver's seat, a Bose audio system, a heated steering wheel, and voice-activated navigation and audio controls. Against similarly priced sedans, such as the Volkswagen Passat and Hyundai Azera, the Maxima offers more luxury features and better performance, as well as more distinctive styling both inside and out.

Overall I like this car. It is not particularly inspiring, but it is very utilitarian. It has good running costs and performs as needed. The Maxima always starts and carries five in relative comfort. The trunk has a reasonable amount of space for groceries and luggage. It has good pick up for merging on to highways and passing. Steering is responsive and the car feels rather sporty in general.