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Under the Hood

Regardless of which trim level or option package you pick, you’ll get Nissan’s excellent 3.5 liter V-6 engine. The “VQ” engine family consistently wins engineering awards, and for good reason: It offers lots of power, torque and respectable fuel economy all at the same time. For the 2009 Maxima, power was bumped up to 290 horses and torque is up to 261 lb.-ft., all while keeping the displacement at the same 3.5 liters. EPA mileage estimates are 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, one mpg better on the highway that the previous model.

Connected to this engine is Nissan’s continuously-variable automatic transmission. Unlike a standard automatic or a manual transmission, a CVT doesn’t actually change gears, it alters the diameter of two pulleys which are connected by a belt, thus giving an infinite range of “gears.” To bump up the sport factor on its CVT, Nissan offers a manual mode, operated either by moving the gear shift back and forth or, on some models, flipping paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. This puts the CVT into a fixed ratio, simulating a manual gearbox.

The suspension for the Maxima is all independent, with struts in front and a multi-link setup in the rear. The steering system is also new, and uses a similar variable power assist mechanism as the company’s 350Z sports car. The brakes are also upgraded, with ventilated rear discs now standard.

The 2009 Nissan Maxima goes against the usual trend of making cars larger in every dimension; this one is actually shorter and lower than the car it replaces. However, it’s also wider, all of it combining to give the new Maxima a wide, aggressive stance. Dimensionally, it’s very similar to Nissan’s other sedan, the Altima, albeit with a smaller interior.