2007 Nissan Maxima SE

2007 Nissan Maxima SE - At the heart of every 2007 Maxima is a 3.5-litre, DOHC, 24-valve V6 that makes 255 hp and 252 lb.-ft. of torque and is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This powerplant makes Maxima one of the fastest midsize sedans on the market. Great bursts of energy are instantly available, giving Maxima the ability to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. With an 80-120 km/h time of just 5.4 seconds, passing slower traffic is a shockingly quick exercise.

And you can count not only Passat and BMW 525i in that slower traffic, but Saturn Aura, Lexus ES 350, Infiniti G35X and Acura CSX Type S, according to acceleration tests conducted by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Lots of good stuff comes as standard equipment across the Maxima lineup: heated front seats, cruise control, speed-sensitive variable intermittent wipers, automatic dual-zone climate control, power locks/windows/mirrors, a 320-watt Bose eight-speaker audio system with auxiliary input jack, fog lights and leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated switches. I really like the keyless ignition ? just turn a switch on the dash with the fob in your pocket. And for valet parking, the key that locks the glove box can be removed from the fob at the press of a button.

The optional leather package (see data box) adds more good stuff and is almost worth the money just to get the power assist that automatically slides the driver's seat back and forth for graceful entries and exits, and that also comes with two memory settings so your optimum driving position is there every time you fire it up.

Our test car also came with the optional GS-based DVD navigation system. By now, regular readers know how I feel about such expensive devices. I'd rather invest a few bucks in some maps. However, I did turn it on in heavy traffic to try to find a different route to Nissan Canada's Mississauga headquarters. When I did, the pointer showed the vehicle in a blank spot as if that stretch of Matheson Boulevard didn't exist. The position of the Nissan building was indicated on a side street — you just had to find your way through a lot of nothingness to get there.

This is a good looking car, especially when seen from the rear, where its kicked up deck with trunk-mounted spoiler and dual exhausts, each with twin chrome tips, warn trailing traffic that this is one serious sedan. Extensive styling changes have been made to Maxima's front end, including a new grille, hood, bumper and headlamps with built-in cornering lights.

The interior also has been extensively reworked with upgraded materials that include real aluminum accents, a new gauge display for better visibility and a redesigned centre stack. The low dash gives a feeling of spaciousness while contributing to good outward vision.

Although more expensive than some competing midsize sedans, Maxima nonetheless offers a lot of style, luxury and performance. It's the kind of car that makes you feel on top of the world when you're behind the wheel, and as another TV spot airing during the hockey playoffs might say, such a feeling is "priceless."