Cruising on the highway is effortless in the Maxima, and the 3.5-liter V6 pulls strongly in passing situations. In fact, the Nissan V6 has such a broad power band that the Maxima is happy being either a high-revving hard-charger or a boulevard loafer. You can keep the engine at high revs to extract the most acceleration on challenging roads, or you can lug it along at a cruising pace without concern. It's a great engine, and no wonder it has become one of the most popular choices in sport-compact drag racing of the Fast & Furious type.

It's exactly the same engine it was last year with the same amount of power, but it has been downrated to 255 horsepower for '07 (from 265 in '06) because the industry now measures horsepower differently; indeed, nearly everyone's numbers are being adjusted downward. Called VQ35 by Nissan's engineers, the Maxima V6 features microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum-coated lightweight pistons, a resin intake collector, digital knock control, six individual ignition coils (one per spark plug), a cross-flow coolant pattern, and a silent timing chain. Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control (CVTCS) and a variable induction system, contribute to its broad torque curve, while its electronically controlled throttle delivers great response.

All 2007 Maximas come with Nissan's Xtronic CVT, a continuously variable transmission. Though an automatic, it has a manual mode. Instead of gears, the heart of the CVT is a pair of variable-diameter pulleys connected by a segmented steel belt. The belt rides in a "V" in each pulley; the V can expand or contract, forcing the belt to ride a smaller or larger diameter. By moving the belt away from the center of one pulley and toward the center of the other, the CVT changes the ratio between the pulleys. Changes in ratio are thus stepless and therefore smoother than the conventional shift from one set of gears to another. And since it's continuously variable, and not limited to four or even six fixed gear ratios, the CVT can keep the engine operating closer to peak efficiency more of the time.

Although it sounds new, this is proven technology. CVTs have been used in small European cars since 1958, and in industry well before that. Now modern electronics (replacing vacuum-mechanical control) have made CVTs smoother, more reliable, and more efficient than ever; and we expect to see more of them in the cars and trucks we buy off the showroom floor. Nissan has offered a CVT in its Murano crossover SUV since 2003, and it's considered one of the best in the industry. As a result, Nissan is expanding its CVTs to the Maxima, Altima, Sentra and Versa.

We drove the Maxima down some winding canyon roads and found it handles very well with high grip limits. The Maxima feels bigger and more ponderous than the lighter Altima, however. The Maxima and Altima share basic structures, but the Maxima weighs more. The steering is accurate, though it seems light and slow. Body roll is minimal, meaning Maxima doesn't lean much in corners. But turn-in is slow, so when you come into a high-speed curve and turn the steering wheel the car is relatively slow to respond. Charge into a corner past the grip of the tires and the car understeers initially. Coming out of the corners, the Maxima doesn't spin the wheels, which is a good thing, but there is some torque steer, a slight tugging sensation at the steering wheel. Traction control is standard, and Vehicle Dynamic Control, Nissan's electronic stability system, is optional.

Both models handle bumps well, a benefit of the Maxima's independent multi-link rear suspension. We prefer the sporty SE over the slightly softer SL because it feels more connected to the road yet it still rides smoothly and quietly, even on bad pavement. Overall, the Maxima feels like a sporty sedan that's enjoyable to drive.

Braking is provided by standard four-wheel discs with four-channel, four-sensor, four-wheel ABS, which allows you to brake and steer at the same time; Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which improves braking stability and performance; and Brake Assist, which helps the driver achieve maximum braking perfomance in a panic stop.