{N WHAT appears to have been a
shrewd marketing move, Nissan
lowered the price of the base
Maxima sports sedan by $2,000 in
late 1990 putting the well-equip-
ped Maxima in the same price
fange as cars like the uplevel

Nissan Maxima

The Maxima SE, however, this
week’s test car, gets a new 190-

automatic temperature control,
power windows and central door-
locking, power-operated front
seats, cruise con:rol, heated power
mirrors, and an anti ft system
are all standard equipment. The
only options available on the base

64 Another standard feature on the Maxima SE is Nissan's
Jront-wheel-drive viscous limitec-slip differential which
significantly improves traction and handling, particularly in
slippery conditions. Nissan is one of very few automakers to
offer this safety feature on a front-wheel-drive car.9¥

Toyota Camry and Honda Ac-
cord.

Sales of the Maxima skyrock-
eted by 250% in one year, and
despite a slight increase in price
for 1992, the Maxima remains 2
good value for a base price of
$23,190.

Even the base Maxima offers a
high levet of standard equipment.
A 3.0-lHitre V6 engine, 4-speed
electronically-controlled automatic
transmission, air conditioning with

Maxima GXF are ABS (anti-leck)
brakes and a sunroof.

There are three Maxima models,
the GXE, the sporty SE, and the
top-of-the-line Brougham. For the
1992 model year, the front grille
and tail-end styling have been
altered slightly, but appearance
hasn't changed much. The GXE
and the Brougham models con-
tinue to offer a standard 3.0-litre,
single overhead cam V6 engine
with 160-horsepower.

chnical: date

Price as tested $29,196

Type 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Layout transv e front
engine/front-wheel-drive
Engine 2960 cc V6, DOHC, 24
valves, valve timing control,
sequential multi-point fuel in-

horsepower version with dual
overhead cams and four vaives per
cylinder, the same engine used in
the 300ZX sports car. Mounted
sideways and driving the front
wheels, this smooth and sporty-
sounding engine has a flat, even
power curve. The Maxima SE ac-
celerates quickly and smoothly but
without the ‘kick-in-the-pants’
feeling one might ordinarily
associate with this much horse-
power.

Another standard feature on the
Maxima SE is Nissan’s front-
wheel-drive viscous  limited-slip
differential which significantly
improves traction and handling,
particularly in slippery conditions.
Nissan is one of very few
automakers to offer this safety
feature on a front-wheel-drive car,
and I'm sure others will follow
suit. Four-wheel disc brakes with
ABS (anti-lock braking system),
which improves braking and steer-
ing control on slippery roads, are

jection

Horsepower 190 @ 5600 rpm
Torque 190 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Transmission S-speed manual
(electronically-controlled  4-
speed automatic, Comfort/
Power selector)
Tires 205/65VR-15
radials

Curb weight 1427 kg/3146 Ibs.

all-season

also standard equipment on the
SE.

While the GXE and Brougham
have a standard automatic
transmission, the SE offers a
standard five-speed manual unit. 1
found it well-positioned for reach,
but moving from gear to gear is
stiffer than 1 would have liked in a
$30,000 car. Even some small
economy cars have smoother units
than this one, and I think this is
one area that could be improved.

More than 80% of the people

who bought Maxima SE models
last year ordered leather uphol-
stery, so Nissan made it standard
equipment for 1992.
The celectrically-adjustable front
sport seats have recline, slide, tilt,
height, and lumbar adjustments,
and felt very comfortable.

The interior is roomy and bright
with good outward visibility with
plenty of front and rear legroom
and headroom. A driver's side
airbag is now standard equipment.
The Maxima has unique white-
faced analogue instruments with

Height 1400 mm/55.1 in.

Trunk space $10 1/14.5 cu. ft.
Fuel econemy City 11.5 1/100
kms/25 mpg, Hwy 8.5 1/100
kms/33 mpg

Warranty Basic 3  yrs/60,000
kms, Powertrain 6 yrs/100,000
Check out the Nissan Maxima
at Northshore Nissan, 1160
Marine Dr., North Van.

NEWS photo Neti Lucente

black letters. A head-up digital
display (instruments projected on-
to the lower, inside windshield) is
available on the Brougham model.

Priced at $29,190, my test car

See Engine page 32

Greg
Wilson

TEST DRIVE