The change is most apparent up front. The new grille is shaped similarly to the old one (and to the Altima's). But the former, '58 Buick-inspired texture of individual chromed studs has been replace by three horizontal, charcoal-colored slats; and the bold, dark-chrome center medallion has evolved into a simple central bulge. The full-width lower bumper opening that formerly stretched from foglight to foglight has been replaced with three smaller, albeit taller, openings. The hood and headlights are new, too, and also a bit more conventional in appearance than before, although the new headlights now incorporate built-in cornering lights.

The remainder of Maxima's exterior is less radically changed. Big, round fender openings still pay homage to enormous alloy wheels; although the side sills are now more aggressive, and the wheel lips themselves less flattened and chiseled. Both the 17 and 18-inch wheels are now seven-spoke designs. The rear roof still slopes into the trunk lid, flanked by buttress-like sail panels. Large triangular taillight clusters, like the headlights, wrap around to the sides of the car. But the deck-lid spoiler (standard on SE, optional on SL) is now more prominent, as is the cutout at the bottom of the bumper for Maxima's four exhaust tips.

Overall, Maxima still presents a muscular body with pronounced character lines; aerodynamic and modern and yet architecturally Art Deco. It's just the Flash Gordon-style flash that's gone.