2016 Nissan Maxima Quick Drive | Consumer reports
Every year, it seems that the task becomes more difficult each year, players get more impressive But every year we look forward to the challenge and selecting a vehicle that we believe are the most deserving of the title, Trend Motor Import Car the year is the candidate field this most beautiful season probably ever assembled for a contest ICOY, covering the full range of econocars of autodom, high performance machines, family sedans, coupés, convertibles, even luxury cruisers a minivan for good measure, but when the last box has been checked, we found ourselves with a favorite This standout has an exceptional combination of style, function ality, performance, security, significant technology and value the singular mixture made our consensus winner vehicle is the new Nissan Maxima Motor Trend's 1995 import v oitures of the year.
Our winner selection criteria were straightforward ICOY The competition included all brand new or substantially changed car or van classified by the EPA as an import and sales by 1 January 1995, we submitted all vehicles eligible for scrutinizing process large designed to help us choose the newcomer we believe will have the greatest impact on consumers and on the automotive industry as a whole.
Back to BasicsSince development began in early 1990, the redesigned Maxima was designed to reflect the changing market preferences and focus on consumer-based technology The impetus for this shift in development came from the highest levels of business management admit that during the 70s and 80s, many Auto manufacturers were so entangled in games during the engineering of a upmanship they lost sight of the importance of basic technologies, Nissan Motor Company Director Kenichi Sasaki Management supports the Maxima team to go beyond accepted conventions then to the 90 and the new century beyond, we need to reconnect with our customers by building cars that are again a joy to drive, that space efficient packaging, which have powerful yet efficient drivetrains fuel, which s are environmentally friendly, and are easy to own and maintain.
Under the direction of Director of the main program Atsushi Fujii, this vision has been transformed into a stunning reality so doing, the new Maxima was chosen to showcase the state of the art engine and suspension technology intended to appear on many other Nissan vehicles well into the 21st century.
To ensure that he would appeal to the largest group of buyers possible, Nissan has expanded the range of Maxima models for 1995 are carried forward the capital value GXE, which base 19999 and account for nearly half the volume, and sporty SE, which should take another 30 percent Topping this triple-threat range is the new luxury oriented GLE, which stickers for 24819.
Doing less equal Morea key objective in the development of the fourth generation Maxima was to create a vehicle functionally superior to its predecessors even more profitable to produce responsibilities for this seemingly paradoxical task was shared by Nissan Design International in San Diego, California, and Nissan technical Center in Atsugi, Japan, the team also Cray supercomputer and NASA structural analysis program to optimize the design of the base platform to ensure high quality construction, is assembled the new Maxima in modern Oppama plant Nissan, the same facility that also produce the new Infiniti I30, which is based on the Maxima platform how was the mission despite being progressively longer and wider, the new Maxima is lighter by some 138 books and price a little below the 2400 model I 94 l is also stronger, safer, quieter, more spacious and improved dynamics in virtually all areas in addition to better performance, the new Nissan is more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly as well.
Sharp edges have been replaced by much softer contours 95, but the new sheetmetal maintains a Conservative certain MT staff feel too conservative flavor Nevertheless, this evolutionary style treatment, with its front end distinctly carved and raised the bridge behind the Maxima, gives the car a more contemporary look and helped drop the drag coefficient of 0 32-0 31.
Although it remains a midsize sedan, the Maxima 95 within the generous dimensions offer more usable space in the areas of front and rear seats Longer-106 wheelbase 3 with respect to 104 inches and a 3 wider deserves credit for most track April 3 cubic- foot gain, the highest increase being single on January 1 inch of room for added rear legroom.
The interior of the Maxima has received a complete makeover, which improved both the appearance and functionality Revised front bucket seats a good balance between comfort and support, while the back seat, with its central armrest folding, provides plenty of space for two adults or three children midsize houses edge reworked highly legible analog gauges, and radio and climate control equipment has been repositioned for easier access As might be expect in a car of this class, standard equipment is plentiful in the long list are mirrors power locks windows, air conditioning, AM FM cassette stereo and cruise control upscale options include an excellent both Bose sound system and leather upholstery are standard on GLE.
In addition to the additional inner chamber is a major advantage in the passive safety of sinking capabilities better shock absorption have been designed in the integral structure of the Maxima, which has 10 percent more torsional rigidity and bending that version 94 also added to the mixture are a passenger side airbag, adjustable shoulder belt anchor, the locking improved belt pretensioners, and side impact door beams 97 that meet federal specifications.
Maxima engineers have used several mitigating sound towers to further reduce the levels of the harsh sound vibrations to true luxury car standards All models benefit from improved fixing suspension techniques, while the SE and GLE also get filled engine mounts liquid electronically controlled triple seals are used on doors, and a variety of other acoustic materials surround the cabin.
Explore the power of WithinOne technical highlights of the 95 Maxima is its new V-6 engine, which is standard in all models This new power plant VQ is similar in configuration to the VG-replaces are March 2 0 liters series 24- DOHC sixes 60 degrees but that's where the parallels end the revolutionary VQ is smaller, lighter, cleaner, cheaper to build and easier to maintain It also makes more power and torque even offers better economy fuel.
Because it would be used for a variety of future applications worldwide, would move between 0 and 3 0 2 liters, and would both transverse and longitudinal installation, Nissan has spared no effort in the development program in either DV its preproduction reliability testing for the first time in its history, the company employs a special team to design in manufacturing efficiency on the all-aluminum demand extensive computer modeling has contributed to a further optimization and contributed to reduce the total number of this component of 10 percent the assembly process VQ is also the state at the leading edge, with 70 percent of its final accumulation made by the machine.
Using a relatively short stroke, the new two-stage cam driven drive chain, and a more compact cylinder head assured that this engine would set new standards for effectiveness Repositioning packaging various auxiliary components carried in deduction further gains, cutting end has 1 to 2 inches of the complete overall height of the assembly VQ 3 and 9 inches of its total length.
The relentless assault on the excess weight in the VQ began with the decision to move a cast iron block with an aluminum counterpart with cast iron liners all major internal components has also been redesigned to drop mass unnecessary ultimately, the new V-6 ended 23 hundred and one 108-pounds lighter incredible than the engine it replaces to ensure that the necessary structural rigidity is maintained, the DV is equipped with a belt beefy piece main bearing and a heavy, CAST sump aluminum.
The VQ based on two single-track system to circulate coolant separately through the block and heads this division routing not only promotes more uniform cooling of the individual components, it provides warm-up faster cold start, which reduces hydrocarbon emissions.
To help increase the fuel consumption, the design team also attacked the internal friction on this front critical crankshaft and the camshafts are microfinished surfaces, while the pistons trimmed down using more narrow rings and a molybdenum coating to further reduce drag Convert the mileage of tweaks improved cutting emanations comprise a more precise control of ignition timing and fuel injection systems and intake ports redesigned the consumer also has manifolding has been modified to improve torque at low.
The effect is nothing short of brilliant Despite its tremendous output VQ makes 190 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 205 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, it collects the route number of the EPA city mpg 22 27 combined with the five-speed manual transmission 21 and 28 mpg when matched with the four-speed automatic that the gain of the 4 percent and 13 percent, respectively, on the V-6 in the standard 94 Maxima which is only 160 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque.
A new new twist on BeamThe new Maxima advantages of a generous portion of suspension wizardry MacPherson struts carry at the front, but the rear struts with parallel links have given way to a new configuration of the multi-link beam light with the rear arm, more compact more expensive to produce, and less expensive space-efficient, the new system also offers tangible dynamic improvements it replaces Nissan will use the patented design of the rear axle on many of its vehicles coming FWD including the new Sentra.
The challenge facing Nissan engineers was to design a rear suspension that deliver a pipe correctly in accordance while preventing undesirable changes of camber and lift suspension cornering and eliminate the transverse movement of the scraping body change by relative to the axle on uneven surfaces are two common problems in the conventional axle beam design located by a simple rod Panhard Nissan variation on the basic theme comprises two key changes the first substitutes a special socket overthickness bottom of the Panhard rod is vertically rigid but laterally flexible second piece of the puzzle is a formally known link control as a Scott-Russell link that connects the Panhard rod to the axle to provide additional stability This combination ensures that the axis from moving up and down, thereby maintaining a camber ppropriée in the rear tires anytime This unique material also maintains a more uniform relationship between the vehicle's roll center and the center of grav ity, contributing to improved cornering feel and less body roll, whatever loading since the springs and dampers are no longer cope with such lateral force, they can be smaller and lighter due both ride and handling are improved and, as an added bonus, fewer attachment points of the suspension result in less noise being transmitted back into the body structure.
Pushed to ExcellenceEven a brief perusal of objective testing numbers confirmed that, regardless of the model, the new Maxima delivers the goods Thanks to the powerful regime mounted free 3 0 liter V-6 engine, even an entry level GXE with four automatic transmission -Speed runs 0-60 mph in about 7 6 seconds only a second performance of a five-speed sE model that is fast enough for the person to family sedan Our only minor complaint we found that the clutch engagement on Maximas with a manual transmission had a tendency to be a little abrupt.
The Maxima handling numbers are equally impressive Even the less aggressive variant can shoot 0 80 g on the skidpad and meander through our slalom 600 feet at a brisk 63 5 mph Sport SE with its tire fitting setting the tightened suspension and more aggressive, the ante bumps further, nailing 0 83 g side and blasting through the slalom 65 1 mph.
These agile Nissans are equally at home on the highway or a road, it showed respect for good behavior and a progressive behavior, predictability at the limit While GXE and GLE owners notice a bit more body roll and push in corners in return for added ride comfort, all models share a rack and pinion steering gear unit and power that provides good feedback and disc brakes on all four wheels, which can be equipped with optional ABS.
As the cornerstone of US triumvirate sedan of Nissan, including the Sentra and Altima, the Maxima 95 has an essential role to play in the global business marketing success since its introduction in May, it contributed significantly to helping the nameplate set a sales record set -time calendar year 1994 Nissan expects the eclipse line that marks 95, when the volume is expected to top 140,000 units.
Winning the title of Motor Trend Car of the Year Import is never easy to do on a vast field of strong competitors, highlighted by the first offers the new BMW 7 Series Lexus LS 400, Mazda Millenia and Porsche 911 Carrera requires a very particular type of vehicle the new Nissan Maxima is such a car, we pay tribute to all those who played a role in its development and the name proudly this luxury sports sedan affordable Motor Trend 1995 car import of year.
1995 Nissan Maxima Japanese Car Magazine Motor Trend 1995 nissan maxima engine.