Weidel on Wheels: Nissan whips Maxima back into shape

While more heralded rivals Toyota and Honda still maintain their lofty reputations, even during a time when both are suffering from poor sales, Nissan doesn't receive as much credit for also continuing to churn out quality vehicles up and down its lineup, often times making enhancements with each passing year.Take the Maxima for example. The knock on it in the past came because of its own stablemate, the Altima. Maxima didn't distance itself enough from the well-received Altima, leaving some car shoppers questioning a purchase of a Maxima when they could have an Altima at a reduced price.Perhaps tired of the constant comparisons, Nissan decided to do something about it in 2009, intentionally bringing more of the sporty appeal back to the Maxima with a redesign. Introduced in 1981 and now in its seventh generation, this year's version of the Maxima has a shortened wheelbase and a wider track, making it more nimble and giving it a slightly sexier overall makeup.Let's not go overboard with excessive praise for the redesign, the Maxima still falls short of the Infiniti G37, produced by Nissan's luxury division. Yet the Maxima, classified as a mid-size entry-level luxury sedan, comes with a lot of value and still arrives at a fairly good price, ranging from $30,160 to $37,380 with all the accoutrements.The Maxima S, priced at $31,160, was test driven here for a week of mostly city driving. One of the first things observers will see is the Maxima has slimmed down, dropping 30 pounds and losing four inches in total length. What it picked up is more performance, delivering plenty of acceleration with its enhanced 3.5-liter, V6 engine with 290 horsepower. The redesigned headlights, wider grille, sloping roof and a front end that sits lower combine to give the Maxima exterior an edgier look. Now sharing a platform with the Altima, Nissan claims it has increased the Maxima's handling. Improved handling, factored in with larger rear brakes and a new steering system, made the Maxima definitely fun to drive.Interior improvements were easy to spot as well. Well placed buttons and knobs made mastering the operation of the Maxima control panel relatively easy. Seating is both supportive and comfortable up front, and the second row also delivers in those two areas. Even a third person in the back isn't a space problem, which can't be said for most sedans. A wide-opening trunk is a real plus, although the overall space could be better.----------Nissan Maxima 3.5 SPrice: Starting at $31,160Mileage estimate: From 19 mpg city to 26 mpg on the highway Power: 3.5-liter, V6 engine with 290 horsepower Standard features include: Automatic headlights; sunroof; keyless ignition; dual-zone automatic climate control; eight-way driver and four-way passenger power front seats; anti-lock disc brakes; stability and traction control; intelligent key; in-dash six-CD changer, MP3 with CD playback capability and nine speakers