A completely redesigned 2016 Nissan Maxima was unveiled at the 2015 New York Auto Show, and the early results are good. Granted it'll need to be taken out on the track to see if it really has earned its billing as a 4-door sports car, but what was shown and said sounds promising. What is known right now is that the 8th-generation Maxima looks a lot more exciting than its frumpy predecessor, something that can be attributed to Nissan's new design language.
Nissan's press release for the 2016 Maxima touts its redesigned exterior, which includes what it calls boomerang lights, a V-Motion front pillar and a floating roof. While that may sound like corporate fluff, the fact of the matter is that the design of this Maxima does look more inspired. Inside the cabin looks comfortable and is filled with tech, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment center. Nissan is promising that it will rival the interiors of luxury cars. In addition to its refreshed interior, the engine of the Maxima has been almost completely redesigned and features 60 percent new parts. These new parts up both its horsepower and mpg.
The 2016 Maxima delivers 85.7 horsepower/per liter, which is good for 300 horses (up from the last model's 290). At the pump you should see a return of 30 mpg highway. That figure could decrease if you decide to open things up and put the new fun-focused Xtronic transmission to use. The new CVT allows for quicker starts from standstill thanks to a wider gear ratio range and something called "D-Step shifting logic" quickly shifts at high throttle openings. Since it's a sedan there are a slew of safety features. Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Warning are a few of the things that'll protect you.
The 2015 New York Auto Show has been the place for Japanese automakers to debut refreshed models focused on being fun to drive. Honda started it with its new Civic, and Nissan made it a trend. The new Maxim is set to launch in early summer 2015 and will carry a base MSRP of $32,410.
