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2004 Nissan Maxima Mid-Size Near Luxury Sedan
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It looks crisp and clean with curvaceous lines but flat surfaces and chiseled corners in an overall effect that seems both sensuous but also muscular in the suggestion of power and speed.
The taut skin stretches over exaggerated shoulders and flat side panels interrupted by bulging fenders and pronounced character lines.
More smooth lines from the arching profile taper forward to the rounded prow arranged with a broad horizontal grille and huge triangular headlamp clusters at the corners.
At the back of an arching roof the rear pillars work out a unique design that suggests a couple-like silhouette.
And the tail is tall with a high deck over the trunk to carve out more room inside for storage.
Trailing below Maxima's back bumper are double dual exhaust mufflers with chromed tips on the pipes.
These crisp exterior designs hint at the athletic persona of Maxima and its powerful engine, although the spacious passenger cabin with notable amenities for comfort portrays a different image, one of four-door convenience and people-toting capability.
Such contradiction defines a unique position for Maxima in a crowded field of mid-size sedans where one model often appears essentially similar to the next: Nissan makes Maxima different from that lot.
It's larger than the others, incredibly comfortable in the cabin, but also so sharp in style that it stands apart.
Concepts for the new design came from Nissan's designers in Japan, but assembly occurs in the United States at a massive manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn., where Nissan's patented Intelligent Body Assembly System welds chassis, bodyside panels, roof and other key parts simultaneously to forge an extremely rigid body structure.
New mechanical hardware mounts on Maxima's structure, beginning with an independent suspension system adapted from Nissan's Skyline supercar that's available only in Japan.
The arrangement has an ingenious multi-link independent suspension in the rear that produces firm stability to keep the tail in line by minimizing camber change when tracking around a tight corner.
Shocks and springs at rear wheels stand apart from one another to trim friction and each shock lines up with the center of the wheel for acute damping but low harshness. Maxima's two trims vary suspension tuning.
The sport-oriented 3.5 SE version uses a performance-tuned suspension for tight handling control, and the comfort-oriented 3.5 SL edition has cushy settings for a luxurious ride quality.
Brakes set a big disc for each wheel, and a four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) is also on hand.
