Road Test 2010 Maxima: Still The 4 Door Sports Car?

No, it's no longer the 4-door Sports Car. It stopped being that with the 4th generation (the G37 now fills that role). But it's still a great, fun-driving 4 door with lots of style. I like it a lot.

...and lots of personality.

In all honesty, I always saw the "4 Door Sports Car (4DSC)" as just a tag. It was NEVER a 4 door sports car. If you want to be technical, you can say "Sporty 4 Door Car".

Just my 2cents...

Agreed. It's definitely a sporty sedan today. There are a lot of available upscale options --- electric rear window shades --- didn't expect to see that in a Maxima. How about AWD and a V8?

4DSC i have one best 4door car ever

The Maxima is a great car, being a front wheel drive car with the high price tag that it has makes people not to consider it. Why would anyone not go and pay the $40k+ on a G37 instead?

The G is smaller in interior dimensions. I would agree if you would have said M37 but the G is much smaller inside.

If you log onto the Nissan or Infiniti site, you will notice the Max and G are very close in interior and exterior size and space.. Almost exactly the same size. The Max, which is EPA classified as a mid-size just like the G, has a 109 inch wheel base compared to the 112 inch wheel base of the G. Max=290hp 19/26 mpg vs the G 328hp 18/26 mpg. Both require premium unleaded fuel. The Maxima SV cost more than the G37. The G37 has 99 ft of total interior space compared to the Maxima at 95 ft. The G37 even has a longer better warranty.
I don't know why anyone looking for a sporty mid-size sedan would purchase a Maxima over the G37.

Ive owned both the infiniti and Maxima and they are not even close in size. Try packing a family of 4 into a G. Unless the kids are really young, its not going to be comfortable. Infact, the Maxima is argurably the only sports sedan on the market (maybe the CC). What other car is fun to drive yet functional for a family and trips. This and the CC may be the only cars that meet that decription for this price. It is more closly in size with the M than the G. And to be one of the only cars in its respective class (fun to drive sports sedan), the price is actually fitting.

Plus the lease specials on them are always pretty low. Not sure where you all are getting your information, but try sitting in both of them and then telling me they are even somewhat close in size. The G is around the size of a 3 series. The maxima has a huge trunk and backseat leg room.

I really like the new Maxima. Design, power, interior everything but it's price is very close to G37 and that is even better car. Nissan should reduce the price of Maxima and also offer the new 2.5 V6.

JUGNU

I dont get how ppl would consider this in the same class as a G. An altima is much larger than a G. The maxima is probably longer than a ford explorer.

I agree with Lacman here. That little sticker on the windows of the rear doors was just hype. And when they moved to the 5G with that crappy live axle rear end on who are/were they kidding? They have since moved to a multi-link setup, but the car has now become so irrelevant next to the Altima.

I still haven't warmed up to the "peanut shaped" exterior..

Plus in my book... If you can't chirp the wheels in 2nd gear. the "sports car" moniker needs to be dropped..

Nissan blew it when they made the altima so big back in 2001. with the altima growing so much in size, there was no room for the maxima, so I think they decided to make the maxima more upscale and let the name lure people in. The previous maxima was too big and bulky. This one is better. the 2nd generation altima that came out in 01 ish should have been the maxima. They invaded the maximas territory when they made the altima so big. The only way to rationalize the maxima was move it more up to a more upscale market. they are really stepping on eachothers toes. the altima should be smaller to compete with the fuzion and let the maxima battle the taurus for example