Click here for the Ride&Drive Index!

For 2005, the Nissan Maxima continues to be a popular mainstay of the company's line. Changes for the 2005 model year include the addition of the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System, passenger seat belt warning chimes, an additional 12-volt power outlet, black-tone brake calipers, new titanium-tinted interior trim, chrome interior door handles and satellite radio availability on Bose audio-equipped vehicles. An advanced Traction Control System (TCS) becomes standard beginning with November, 2004, production.

Styling is something that either pushes your buttons or it doesn't. The styling of the Maxima doesn't, but little of what's coming from the Japanese manufacturers does these days and it hasn't seemed to hurt them in the marketplace.

Large 18-inch, six-spoke alloy wheels come standard on the 3.5 SE, which we tested, while 17-inch wheels are standard on the 3.5 SL.

Standard on all models is a segment-first Skyview glass-paneled roof, which creates an open environment for front and rear passengers while maintaining a solid roof structure. The Skyview is a single elongated rectangular-shaped glass panel that stretches from the front of the roof to the back. It comes equipped with sliding sunshades to block out the sunlight when desired. Again, either something you like or you don't.

The driver's seat is eight-way power and the passenger's seat is four-way power (standard on 3.5 SL and optional on SE) with height-adjustable head restraints. Optional to the 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL is a driver seat memory system that adjusts the seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors at the touch of a button.

An optional Elite Package four-seat layout gives the interior a sports car-like design. With the Elite Package, the traditional bench style rear seat is replaced with two independent bucket seats. The design of the rear seats resembles the front seats.

Standard Maxima interior features include wood tone trim on 3.5 SL and metallic tone accents on 3.5 SE, automatic front dual zone climate control and outside temperature display, rear air conditioning vents, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto on/off headlights, driver's and passenger's sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and extenders and a 240-watt eight-speaker AM/FM/cassette/CD with steering wheel audio controls is standard on the 3.5 SE. A 320-watt Bose audio system with 8 speakers and AM/FM/cassette/6CD in-dash is standard on 3.5 SL and optional on 3.5 SE.

From a safety standpoint, Maxima now comes equipped with the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System, which helps to reduce the risk of air bag-induced injury through the use of advanced dual-stage air bags and a passenger occupant classification sensor. This is an interesting feature.

There has been much in the news recently about the sometimes lethal danger air bags pose to small children. What is not generally understood is that air bags nearly always cause some sort of injury when they deploy, even with adults. Years ago, I was involved in a serious accident with a press vehicle. A student attending Johns Hopkins University here in Baltimore ran a red light and prompted a three-car pile-up. The air bag in my Acura went off, breaking my glasses, and giving me a slight concussion and a hemorrhage in my right eye. Everyone I know who has had an air bag deploy has suffered similar minor injuries. Of course, air bags prevent infinitely more serious injuries and constitute a great safety advance. Don't leave home without one, as the saying goes. Still, having a bag blow-up in your face is not without consequences and Nissan engineers are to be commended doing anything they can to mitigate this problem.

The Maxima uses Nissan's VQ 3.5-liter engine. The DOHC 24-valve V6 produces 265 horsepower and 255 lb-ft torque, and has achieved a ULEV/LEV2 vehicle rating for 2005.

Maxima also utilizes continuous valve timing control, variable induction system, a silent timing chain and electronically controlled throttle. The engine also features a modular engine design, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons, a resin intake collector, digital knock control, six individual coils (one per spark plug) and a cross-flow coolant pattern.

All 2005 Maximas come equipped with a standard five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with manual shift mode and gated shifter. Maxima also offers available Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS), which is optional on all A/T models. For the serious driving enthusiast, a six-speed close-ratio manual is optional on 3.5 SE models.

Our Maxima test car rode well and handled well, as we expected. It also stopped well, which is equally important. Braking is provided by standard four-wheel disc brakes with a four-channel, four-sensor, four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Front rotors are class-leading at 12.60 inches in size. Also standard is Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which optimizes brake force depending on load condition (passenger and cargo) and Brake Assist (BA), which senses hard or panic pedal application and helps provide maximum braking capacity.

In sum, we liked our Maxima test car. The styling did nothing for us, but that's subjective. From every objective consideration, Nissan has done a good job with the Maxima. R&D