2008 New York Auto Show Preview: 2009 Nissan Maxima

Yikes, I don't know if its just these pictures, but no me gusta the outside of this thing. To be honest, when I first looked at the picture, I was expecting it to be a Lexus article.
 
I think Nissan's styling for cars is bizzare. They had a hit with the Altima (even before they trimmed down the fat back end), but the Maxima and Sentra are just booooring.

Looks pretty sweet! The front end looks like the GT-R, although I'm not feeling that little part of the headlight that sticks into the corner. Overall, a great car I think.

That interior looks great, but the rest of it...not so much. The headlights are a bit strange for me, and the back end looks like the new Impreza...or a Yaris.

Rear/side looks like a new Camry, front looks like an Accord/Altima/Q45.

I agree that the front hints at the Q45. If they're going to kill the Q, this is the way to ensure it dies.
 
I remember Nissan did this imitating with the Infiniti J, how the Altima was made to resemble it's big brother, and then they killed off the J.
 
Some how, it all works for me. The rear looks very wide-bodied. The front looks like a Q at half the price. The c-pillar is a little too generic, but the gorgeous interior makes up for any sins.

The Q45 is dead, and has been dead for a couple of years.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean a car can't look like it. ;)
 
And even though it reminds me of those other cars, I like it more than any of them. The new Altima is heavier, slower (V6), less efficient (V6), smaller, uglier, and has a fatter ass. I'll take this Maxima over it any day of the week. I don't see what's so radically "different" or "groundbreaking", though.

Those headlights look horrible and unfinished. Just nip those little "lashes" and it would improve the overall appearance dramatically. And why does every Nissan have to have frumpy rear lights?

I'm not feeling the headlights (how the fender "cuts" into them) and the front grille (too boring and blunt/upright).

I hope they give it a stick, conventional (non-CVT) auto, and optional AWD.

i like the styling.
It fits the name...Maximaaaaaaa......
good looking car

Did Nissan hire a few Honda designers? The Maxima hasnt been a looker since the 89-94 models. My mother owned a 1994 Maxima SE 5MT, maroon/blk leather years ago, I loved that car.
 
The interior looks as if Nissan actually spent some money over the current Max which is certainly a good thing. I like the interior but I dont like the exterior one bit.
 
People say that Honda/Acura cars look too similar to one another but I think Nissan/Infiniti have a much stronger design relationship.

all i can say is EWW! to the new headlight design. different does not equal good.

personally, i think it looks great. a huge improvment over the current generation, styling and interior qulity-wise.
 
i do agree that the rear end looks like a yaris. and thats not a good thing. the yaris is a piece of garbage. the inside is gross, and so is the engine. a car as refined as the maxima shouldnt look like the yaris.

Looks good. My only complaint, like a few others here, are those (in my opinion) sail-boat-looking head lights.

This gives credence to the photos of the 370Z we saw earlier.
http://66.160.188.111/Straightline/4457

The first time I saw the front photo, I immediately thought how much the front end resembles the Scion tC. Upright rectangular grille, prominent center badge, matching lower intake, basic shape of the lights minus those, um, extensions... take a look for yourself:
 
http://www.cartype.com/images/page/scion_tc_02.jpg
 
Certainly more interesting to look at than the outgoing model...

That's exactly what I was thinking, estreka. The photochopped car's headlights might accurately depict the real thing. And that's a bad thing, folks. :(

interior looks just like that of the G35 ... wont the prices of these cars be in similar territory? I dont see why Nissan is creating inter-brand competition.

Hey, it could be much much worse (07 Accord- 08 Accord)

Looks like an ES from the side. Give it a different face and a 6 speed slushbox instead of the CVT and its the best family sedan in the $30k area.
 
That being said, the mileage will suck on this thing.
 
I have an 08 accord and agree its not the prettiest, thats why I got it in black. With no 4 cyl option and the mileage (and premium gas) of the VQ, I can't imagine this will do very well. Give that interior to the Altima.

You people bashing the Accord's looks are crazy...

I haven't seen any full-on side views, but that squiggle down the side has me nervous. That reeks of Hyundai.