Exterior styling: like it or hate it
The third-generation Maxima (1989-1994) had styling that stood out of the crowd. The offerings of luxury brands such as BMW (325i), Audi (90) and Acura (Legend) didn't look as modern. The current Maxima still stands out, but this time it's because it looks a little unusual.

Nissan's flagship sedan has received a facelift for 2007.

With its 2004 redesign, the car adopted Nissan's current edgy styling trend and borrowed cues from other models, such as the 350Z and the Quest. The long rear overhang and high trunk lid give the Maxima a hunchback look. Overall, I don't dislike the exterior appearance, but despite the slight revisions for 2007, including a new grille and headlights, it looks dated compared to the muscular new Altima, and to such rivals as the Acura TL and the Infiniti G35.

Swell cockpit
The interior of the 3.5 SL is nicely appointed with supportive leather seats and good-quality materials. The dash and steering wheel look and feel rich and wood trim brightens the centre console and door panels. The instrument panel counts on tasteful and simple dials; gone is the ugly, orange-colored numerals, replaced by white and red. The cockpit is an improvement over last year. The only thing I don't really like is the chrome shift gate cover, which looks a little cheap.

I've never been a fan of Nissan's joystick-controlled navigation system, as it's a hassle over a touch-screen setup. Once you set up your route, however, the navigation is precise and easy to read while driving. The heating steering wheel gets hot quickly, although its button is oddly placed on the side of the center armrest. The climate control buttons are simple, and the wheel-mounted buttons for the radio are among the most convenient I've tried, and they're on the left spoke.

The rear seat is fairly accommodating, but the sloping roofline means you'll bang your head if you don't be careful. Once you're in, though, headroom is adequate. Trunk space is generous, but its opening is rather narrow.

The dashboard looks good and is well assembled.