All Maximas have a wonderfully executed interior, which has an open
and airy cabin with good all-around visibility. There is room for five,
plentiful up front, adequate in back.
The gathered leather seats in our GLE added a touch of elegance and
wonderful fragrance to the interior. They are comfortable and supportive,
but are obviously designed for cruising comfort. Attractive wood-tone interior
trim compliments the leather-clad seating. All in all, the cabin feels
warm and luxurious with good operational layout.
Switches and controls are logically placed within easy reach of the
driver with clear layout for easy operation. The GLE's automatic climate
control is placed high up at the center of dash between the driver and
passenger and takes only seconds to master thanks to its clear icons and
digital readout.
It performs as intended, unlike some automatic systems, which have minds
of their own.
Directly below the HVAC controls, dominating the middle of the dash,
is a 200-watt Bose stereo which includes an integrated AM/FM/CD/cassette
sound system with six speakers. This stereo is one of the best you will
find in any car at any price and will put some home systems to shame. Our
only quibble here is that the more frequently used audio controls would
be better placed above the climate controls.
Controls such as the power windows and the door and window locks, are
conveniently placed on the driver's door armrest. The power window switches
have a lift-for-up feature that makes them easy to find and use at night.
Also of note--and new to the Maxima GLE for 1997--is Nissan's Integrated
Homelink Transmitter. This feature allows the driver to operate up to three
different radio-controlled devices--garage doors, house lights, TV sets--from
the sunvisor-mounted controls.
Powering all Maximas is Nissan's wonderful 3.0-liter aluminum V6, which
generates a healthy 190 hp and gives the Maxima a power-to-weight ratio
that's within ounces of the Mustang GT. Not many family sedans can boast
that. In fact, not many vehicles in this class even offer five-speed manual
anymore.
Although a manual transmission will always produce better performance,
the electronically-controlled four-speed automatic produces surprisingly
brisk acceleration, and we were impressed with its flexibility and smooth
operation.
The Maximas ride on front struts and Nissan's clever Multi-Link Beam
suspension at the rear. This not-quite-independent setup may give up a
tiny bit of performance in absolute handling, but it more than makes up
for it in packagability, a trait that pays off in increased trunk and rear
seat space.
In the GLE, the suspension setup is biased slightly more towards comfort
than handling, yet still manages an overall feeling of athleticism. The
Maxima GLE is fun to drive and handles uneven pavement with aplomb, but
it won't put as big a grin on your face as the SE which has bigger tires,
tighter springs, shocks and front struts. On the other hand, the SE's ride
quality is distinctly stiffer.
Like most front-drive cars, the Maxima is subject to understeer--the
tendency for the front end to travel straight ahead--when it's pushed hard
into a corner. But this trait will only be apparent at high speeds, and
it's easily corrected by simply slowing down. No drama, and no surprises.