Test drive Nissan Maxima 2004 sedan
Maxima 3.0i 24V qx
Whatever you say, but much depends on the choice of the coordinate system. Here is the new generation Nissan Maxima, which was definitely developed with an eye on the tastes of the American buyer adoring large cars (the main market of the Japanese model), becoming longer for a good 150 mm, still remained in overseas tags about the ranking of a medium-sized car. At the same time, for the Old World, her dimensions clearly went beyond the business class, and she came close to representative sedans, and in such a parameter as the volume of the trunk, even many of them surpassed, while its price compared to the predecessor Almost did not change. It is difficult to say, it is difficult to say it is difficult to say what such a non-systematic Nissan top model of Nissan turns to her in Western Europe, where traditionally strong positions of the German Superrio Audi, BMW and Mercedes are. As for Russia, where many follow the principle of more than a car for less money, the Nissan news has every chance to repeat the success of the previous generation model, for several years that has been the unconditional sales leader in the business class sedans sector. True, now she has to withstand competition from the five BMW of the Kaliningrad assembly, and for this the car is no longer enough to be just large and black. More good arguments are required. What can the new Nissan Maxima offer? 
It is enough to look at the complex profile of the hood with the elegantly outlining the contour of the branded Nissan wings with a chrome lining, the characteristic front headlights in the Chrysler LHS style and large rear lights entering the trunk cover to understand that the accusations of gratitude that sometimes sounded to the predecessor, MAXIMIM Sample 2000 years do not threaten. In addition, the silhouette of the car has acquired previously the lack of rapid due to elongated stern and more elongated shape of the windows of the rear doors, as well as the use of low -profile tires with a landing diameter of 16 inches. Now, as an option on Maxima, you can set the rubber with the dimension of the R17 or the standard R15, which is important for Russians who are not spoiled by good quality of the road surface. 
Maxima also has noticeable changes in the Maxima salon. The ceiling became above. Even in a car equipped with an electric drive, it does not press. Due to the increase in the wheelbase by 50 mm, the legs for the legs of the rear passengers were significantly added, whose privileged position is emphasized by such a detail more characteristic of representative auto, as facilitating the process of planting/planting the handle on the back of the front seats. Another small touch also speaks of the possibility of using maxima as a staff: an additional outlet is displayed to the rear sofa, which can be used not only as a cigarette lighter nest, but also to connect a variety of electronic devices. 
Built -in high -tech systems are concentrated in the front of the cabin. Instead of conventional devices, the electoluminescent Fine Vision shield, manifested on the black background of the display when the ignition is turned on, is typically American little thing. Under the panel is located a multi -block immobilizer of the last, fifth, generation of the Nissan anti -theft system NATS (see No. 4, 2000). The audio system is now included in the standard equipment, and the ignition keys, a chip capable of remembering the radio station, as well as the timbre and volume level, are built into the standard equipment. It is a pity, but for the well -known reasons, the Maxima is supplied without the ultra -modern 3D BirdView navigation system, so the freed niche in the upper part of the front panel acts as an additional glove compartment. Well, what a modern car without cup holders: two pairs are located in the back of the rear sofa and under the lid on the central console. As usual, it was not without a small spoon of tar in a barrel of honey. The location of some secondary governing bodies cannot be called ergonomic. Previously, the regulator of the luminous of the dashboard
he was on the end part of the base of the armrest between the front seats. It was exotic, but at least convenient. Now he, like the torsion of the headlight washers, was in the inaccessible zone directly under the dashboard. On our most clean roads in the world, you pay attention to the fact that the janitor from the driver's side leaves a fairly wide unprocessed sector. Large mirrors in modern standards (intra -sulfate with the effect of automatic dimming) make it possible to control the situation on the flanks well, but taking into account the dimensions of the machine, for safer maneuvering, it would not hurt to install ultrasound sensors in the rear bumper. The sightseeing in the front hemisphere due to the lowered waist line of the body is simply excellent. And in the dark, the road is illuminated by the halogenes who have replaced the halogenes of 2 times more powerful headlights with xenon lamps. 
And yet, what is the new Maxima in the case? The most successful element of the design of the Japanese model was rightly considered a magnificently balanced 3-liter V6. It was hard to assume that he was able to work even softer. But Nissan engineers managed to seem impossible. The noise of a modernized engine at idle is not heard even with open doors of the machine! Any vibrations are also not noticeable. The fact that the motor is turned on can only be guessed by the tachometer arrow that has moved from the zero mark. Fiction! This is explained by the technical miracle by super -prophet processing of engine parts and the use of pistons with molybdenum coating, which allowed to reduce internal friction. In addition, on Maxima with an automatic gearbox (and for the test we chose just such a machine), the engine is installed on electronic hydraulic controls that change their damping properties depending on the number of revolutions. As a result, up to about 4000 rpm of the engine sound 
it practically does not penetrate the salon. The silence is violated only by the noise from the tires. However, perhaps the fault of this is a specific asymmetric, directed pattern of tire tires Michelin Pilot Primacy. But the character of the engine and the accelerated dynamics of the car remained the same. Before the line of 4000 rpm, the 3-liter V6 is still in no hurry to reveal its capabilities. A certain increase in power and torque, achieved by changing the design of the intake tract and the camshaft cam profile, only compensated for the weight gain. In addition, it seems that the gearboxes of the automatic gearbox are slightly stretched, and switching to a higher level in the usual (not winter) mode occurs at too low speeds, although you notice
the moment of transition is almost impossible to work so smoothly. It is clear that in this way the fuel consumption is reduced, and in terms of efficiency of Maxima with a machine gun, it is ahead of many of its competitors with a mechanical gearbox, but the engine potential is not fully used. Otherwise, how to explain the unusually large difference in the values \u200b\u200bof the maximum speed (18 km/h instead of standard 57) and acceleration time from a place up to 100 km/h (1.4 s instead of 0.5) for Maxima with mechanical and automatic gearboxes? Of course, you can tighten the automatic transmission by forcibly blocking the button on the box selector the transition to the long IV transmission or selecting the sports mode of the transmission (the transition to it will happen automatically if you 
often use the Kick-Down mode), and then the matter will go more fun. Nevertheless, the one who buys Maxima for himself will rather prefer a more dynamic version with a mechanical gearbox, but a car with a machine gun is more suitable for the role of staff. Is MAXIMA harsh for transporting VIP passengers? The question is logical, if you recall the previous generation model in a sporting suspension. But no, despite the reduced tire profile, Maxima has become softer, more comfortable on the move, and its steering, without having lost excellent information and sharpness, is now much less sensitive to the tricks of the road surface. It is gratifying that from changing the chassis settings
car controllability has not suffered. The increase in the fragmentary distance improved the exchange rate stability of Maxima at high speeds, and in corners, thanks to the modernized rear multi-link suspension (the mutual location of the longitudinal levers and the cross-installed mechanism of Scott-Rassel has changed) and increased by almost a third of the hardness of the car's stiffness to twist great honeness. Under the discharge of gas, the sliding of the rear axle outwards begins earlier and occurs very smoothly, which allows more accurately to withstand the given trajectory of movement. MAXIMA brake pedal detects a complete absence of free move and
it requires a very careful attitude. Press it a little stronger on it so that the mechanical system of emergency braking Brake Assist perceives this as a signal to action. The four -channel ABS interferes in the matter not rudely and at the most suitable moment, that is, on the verge of wheels lock, and now in the basic package, the electronic system of redistribution of brake force helps to prevent the car with the selected trajectory, including on coatings with heterogeneous lines . The level of passive safety has become above. In addition to the frontal airbags on Maxima, side
for the driver and the front passenger, and their seats are equipped with active head restraints, which, when hit from behind, protect the cervical vertebrae from injuries. So, let's summarize. The revolution did not happen. Geometric proportions, the nuances of the car behavior have changed, its filling has become more diverse and richer. But this turned out to be quite enough to change the perception of Maxima, which was previously considered a strong middle peasant. Now the Nissan sedan looks half a class higher. No wonder Russian high -ranking officials have already laid their eyes on him. And then to say, in black livery, with flashing lights and forests of special communications on the roof of Maxima will look very impressive ...
Some technical characteristics of the Nissan Maxima 3.0i 24V Qx
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm 4920x1780x1435 (1440)*
Base, mm 2750
Front/rear track, mm 1530 (1520)*/1510 (1500)*
Equipped mass, kg 1425 (1530) **
Trunk volume, l 520
Type of engine gasoline V6 24-valve
With multi -point injection
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 2988
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 200/6400
Max. moment, nm/rpm 271/3600
Mechanical transmission 5-speed
Or automatic 4-band
Tires 215/55 R16 (205/65 R15, 225/50 R17)
Max. speed, km/h 230 (212) ***
Acceleration time 0-100 km, from 8.2 (9.6) ***
Fuel consumption city/highway, l/100 13.1 (15.1) ***/7.4 (7.8) ***
Tank volume, l 70
* With tires 225/50 R17
** with an automatic gearbox and a complete set of options
*** with an automatic gearbox
Mikhail Yaroslavtsev
Photo by E. Amanova
Source: Avtopanorama magazine
