REVIEW: 2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV

Dreamboat.

That’s the initial word that popped into my head when I slid behind the wheel of Nissan’s amazing 2012 Maxima 3.5 SV sedan for the first time. 

2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV

I’d always been curious about these sleek, somewhat masculine-looking cars with the rear fender wells that resemble a pair of armor blisters on a battleship. They just looked substantial and intriguing, but I’d never had the opportunity…or the pleasure.

The interior is roomy—as you might expect a four-door sedan to be—but it’s also conveniently comfortable, with everything within easy reach.

Ingress and egress (those are fancy, NASA terms) is very easy, with the generous doors, and the low floor.  It’s got a sunroof and a smooth-running CVT to harness the power of a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6, and a killer sound system that will allow you to record music direct to a 1-G hard-drive. But enough about all that; anyone can read the brochure.

The 4-Door Sports Car.
Indeed.

This is a fine road car.
This is an exceptional car for a road trip.

This is a car you almost don’t want to stop driving for the night. 

And while 26-mpg might not be the efficiency stratosphere some are seeking, it’s a safe bet the fuel may run out before your stamina behind the wheel does. It's that comfortable to drive.

We drove on the highway for a few hours, taking some of those winding, backroads in Texas, and just let the car find its own groove. It’s very stable at freeway speeds, and still has lots of “oomph” for passing, if needed. 

Visiblity is excellent, the ride is quiet, and the SV features an 8-way power driver’s set, with two memory presets—which makes switching drivers no problem, and adjusting it to your own inner lumbar a snap!

Nissan calls the Maxima “the 4-door sports car.”

I would agree with that boast.

View more photos of the 2012 Nissan Maxima in my pictorial review.