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MOTORING enthusiasts across the globe have dubbed the stylish new Nissan Maxima as an ‘evolution of the four-door sports car concept’, combining design, performance and luxury appeal to create an ultimately cool ride.
Not surprisingly, YK Almoayyed & Sons, the authorised Nissan distributor in Bahrain, consider it to be the sportiest and most powerful Maxima ever built and say that the vehicle has been ‘well received’ in the local marketplace.
Eager to know what’s so special about a vehicle that has already had many of my friends ranting and raving, I rolled up to the Sitra showroom to pick up a beautiful blue number to test drive.
After handing over my ID, driving license and signing my life away to a sales representative, I got the keys to my brand new ride for the day. It was love at first sight. Looks wise, the redesigned eighth generation Maxima is lower, longer and more athletic than the previous model boasting a prominently, evocative V-shaped front grille, crisp and curvy body lines, boomerang-shaped lights and a dramatic floating roof.
In terms of power I was informed that the 3.5L VQ Series V6 engine generates a roaring 300 horsepower and is complimented by a new performance-oriented Xtronic CVT transmission that allows for faster acceleration and torque. Then again, it was developed using the Blue Angels based at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, US, as inspiration, as reported earlier in MotoringWeekly.
Yes, this sexy sedan with aircraft accents commands attention and it had mine from the moment I sat in the cushy seat and gazed upon the leather dashboard and stitching. I was captivated by the Dual Panel Panoramic Moonroof which came in handy since it was a bright and sunny day. It accentuated my driving experience.
The cock-pit theme continued in the interior. The column-mounted paddle-shifters stared at me from behind the power-adjustable steering wheel which included an array of buttons to control the car’s many features from entertainment to Bluetooth.
My eyes danced over the metal and mahogany trimmings and the 8-inch multi-colour control touch monitor in the centre console. For a gamer feel, the console command knob switches between features as well. Otherwise, swipe, pinch and slide your fingers across the easy-to-use navigation system on the screen.
Driving directions can also be slid from the display to the 7-inch screen centred in front of the driver between the large gauges – analog and speedometer. The screen can display turn-by-turn directions, caller ID and even warns you if it senses you need a break. The Advanced Drive Assist Display helps reduce the need for you to look away. You can also change the colour of the display to match your mood.
The steering wheel features cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking when a crash is imminent.
With Maxima’s powerful appeal, it only makes sense that the designers have made sure to kit it out with as many safety features as possible. It boasts an array of cameras and sonar detectors to help prevent collisions and keep the driver alert.
There has to be music whilst I drive. While there are two USB ports to plug in my mobile device to listen to my own sounds, I chose radio this time round. I selected a station and sat back to enjoy soulful rhythm and blues from the 11-speaker Bose sound system.
The system also includes Active Noise Cancellation to reduce unpleasant low-frequency sounds from outside. Don’t worry though; it won’t cancel the real music to a driver’s ears which is the purring of a spirited engine. That’s where the Active Sound Enhancement system comes into play, increasing the engine sound directly into the cabin.
Driving down the Sitra highway, I was able to cruise with ease. With the wind in my hair thanks to the two-panel panoramic sun roof, I was sitting pretty and feeling safe and sound … until I reached a roundabout. An idiot got too close and the Maxima’s safety features beeped like mad which helped me quickly adjust myself to the situation. No matter how good a driver you may be, remember you are still sharing the road with some reckless individuals.
After taking a spin around Sakhir I also got to see how well the Maxima handles itself before driving back to the showroom. I hated handing back the keys but, alas, all good things must come to an end.
When I met up with one of my motor-mad mates, he asked me how the test drive had gone and I smiled and replied: “Everything you said it would be – absolutely MAXnificent.”
The Maxima 3.5SR starts from BD14,995. There are also S and SV models available too. For further details, contact Nissan’s showroom at 17732732 or visit www.almoayyed.com
