Long Term Update 3: 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV
By Ron Kiino
Photography by William Walker
At 15,000 miles, our Maxima paid a second visit to Nissan of Thousand Oaks for an oil change, full inspection, tire rotation, and cabin air filter replacement for $168.75. While most editors consider the Maxima's $37,415 as-tested price too steep and its CVT too unenthusiastic, senior editor Ron Kiino feels otherwise.
"I know there are plenty of sport sedans to be had for 37 large, but how many offer a heated steering wheel, 19-inch alloys, 290 horses, power moonroof, leather, Xenon headlamps, backup camera, and navigation with traffic updates like our Maxima? On a spirited drive home, I found the CVT's manual mode sufficiently sporty: The steering-wheel-mounted paddles are big and well placed, and the 'shifts' are quick and do a commendable job mimicking actual gear changes."
| 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV |
| Months/miles in service | 7/15,058 |
| Avg econ/CO2 | 20.8 mpg/0.93 lb/mi |
| Unresolved problems | None |
| Maintenance cost | $225.02 (2 - oil change/inspection/rotate tires, 1 - replace cabin air filter) |
| Normal-wear cost | $0 |