October 18, 2006 - Remember Nissan's shift_ campaign four years ago? It signalled the start of the company's dramatic product -- er, shift -- that resulted in vehicles such as the dramatically styled Altima, Quest and Murano.

A pillar of Nissan's new product strategy was to make the Altima a stronger Honda Accord/Toyota Camry contender by giving it an optional V6 engine for the first time and enlarging it overall.

But didn't Nissan have an existing, family-sized V6 sedan called the Maxima?

Yup. So when it came time to redo Nissan's flagship sedan in 2004, the Maxima moved up in size and price. Longer, wider, more powerful and more luxurious than its ancestor, the Maxima was now a near-luxury, mid-sized sedan. Instead of duking it out in the mainstream family sedan class, Nissan's big kahuna was now going up against Acura, Lexus and Volkswagen.

Fast forward to fall, 2006. Nissan's blasting out its shift_2.0 ad campaign, signifying Round Two of product development. And that's how it wants you to look at this year's revised Maxima: It's upgrade time.



Beyond retaining the Maxima SE and SL models and the 3.5-litre V6 mill, Nissan has also upgraded the front-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan's front and rear styling and improved its already roomy interior's ergonomics.

But driving enthusiasts, and those who still remember Nissan calling the Maxima its "four-door sports car," need to be aware of a decision by Nissan to replace last year's available six-speed manual and five-speed automatic gearboxes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Having a manual tranny certainly separated the Maxima from the rest of the sedate sedan herd. But with the Acura TL, Volkswagen Passat and Subaru Legacy all offering sticks in their premium family sedans, should those who like to drive keep the big Nissan on their short list?

If you're familiar with the traditionally visceral experience of working a car through its gears, a CVT's lack of fixed gearing makes for a decidedly different driving experience. To constantly and automatically regulate the CVT's gear ratios for the most advantageous acceleration and fuel economy, engine revs don't always relate to the speed of the car.

But this is the same company that makes the 350Zed sports car. So has Nissan made a CVT-equipped Maxima that drivers can enjoy?

To find out, I tested a 2007 Maxima 3.5 SL. Compared with the sportier and less expensive SE, the SL comes with a softer suspension, 17-inch instead of 18-inch tires and wheels and more luxurious amenities. Both Maximas share a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 255 horsepower. Actual performance remains the same from last year as does the smooth, gutsy nature of this mill, but what about that wacky tranny to which it's hooked up?



Nissan has programmed a more natural gearing map compared with its first-generation CVT found in the Murano. Stomp the gas and instead of the feeling of the engine being ahead of the car, the CVT whoops through the gears in an expected, stepped manner. From speed, downshifts are similar. And, I might add, all are done in an ultra-smooth fashion that equals -- or betters -- some of the industry's superior, conventional torque converter automatics. Mercedes-Benz's new, seven-speed auto comes to mind.

Despite being a front-driver, steering is communicative with little torque steer. With its softer suspension, the SL is less of a curve carver than the SE. But around town and on the highway, its ride is composed and the cockpit remains luxury sedan quiet.

Of course, for others, the lack of a manual transmission on the Maxima means the four-door sports car moniker is dead. Nonetheless, as many of the SL's luxo mods can be had on the $5,000 cheaper SE with the same drivetrain yet more driver-oriented suspension, the SE is the maximum 2007 Maxima for drivers, CVT and all.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com



Just the facts...
Build quality 
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Overall value


TYPE OF VEHICLE Front-wheel-drive, four-door sports sedan
ENGINE 3.5L DOHC V6
POWER 255 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 252 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
TRANSMISSION Continuously variable
TIRES P225/55HR17
BRAKES Four-wheel disc with ABS
PRICE: BASE/AS TESTED $41,498/$45,873
FUEL ECONOMY L/100 KM 11.1 city, 7.8 hwy.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT Leather front seats with heat, heated steering wheel, power sunroof, power windows/mirrors/door locks, Bluetooth, HomeLink, keyless remote and intelligent key, Bose eight-speaker, 320-watt sound system, luxury suspension
OPTIONS Navigation Package $2,950; metallic paint $125

© National Post 2006. This article originally appeared in The National Post's Driving.