Comparison Test: 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV vs. 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
Taking Shapes
Side by side, the G8 and the Maxima represent vastly different visual interpretations of the word "sporty." The Maxima is slender, flowing, sculptural-a Henry Moore modern on wheels. The G8 is far longer, wider by an inch and a half, and about as soft and rounded as a cheese grater. The ladies on our staff unanimously hate it ("Eeewwww! It's so...eighties!" cried one). We guys, on the other hand, kinda, well, you know...like it. The G8 is bold and aggressive without undue adornment. Besides, those big gnarly wheels are really cool.
Edge: Maxima. Gymnast physique trumps bodybuilder's.
Insides Story
Both cars make fine daily drivers, delivering room, comfort, and conveniences aplenty-from dual-zone climate control to premium audio with iPod inputs. The G8 has a conspicuous edge in rear-seat head- and legroom; a six-footer can sit behind another six-footer with knee space to spare. Pontiac offers a huge pass-through in the rear seat (you could almost stuff a canoe in there); Nissan buyers can opt for a 60/40 split-folding rear seat or a bench with a smaller pass-through (the rear buckets of previous Maximas are gone).
The G8 is nicely trimmed in leather, "technical" materials, and brushed-metal accents; it's almost spare in its straightforwardness. Strangely, the otherwise excellent driver's seat has power fore-aft control but recline is operated by a rotating knob that's hard to reach and use-manual fore-aft and a power backrest would make more sense.
The Maxima's cockpit, though more intimate, is a cut above. It's dressy without being flashy and radiates quality. Sophistication rules, from the designer shapes to the supple feel of the leather to the crisp numerals on the display screens (the G8's center stack is marred by low-res, bright-red amp and oil-pressure readouts that appear to have been lifted from a 1970s Atari computer). The Nissan's huge dual-panel sunroof (only the front glass opens) draws lots of passengers "wows" when you hit the button and the shades retract, if you insist on being a showoff.
Edge: Maxima. Sport-sedan cockpits don't come much nicer.
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