Nissan Maxima
Quick Drive: 2012 Nissan Murano LE Platinum AWD
Taking price point, overall capacity, fun-to-drive factor, and style into consideration, the Murano has some stiff competition at this ($40K) high-spec level. It’s fair to say that, like most vehicles, when you shop Murano in the middle of it’s pricing spectrum, you get a far better value for each dollar you plunk down than you can expect at the top trim level. As my fellows above point out, there’s a lot to like about Murano, but how does it stack up against the significant competitors?
Driven: 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
According to convention, convertibles are coupe-based. That’s fine; we love a brisk drive in a sporty little thing, and being able to lose the top and enjoy the elements on a nice day is an adventure we seek out whenever possible. But what happens when we actually need to use the car? If we were to pack the bags for a summer weekend Up North, we’re usually stuck either leaving the top up to make room in the trunk, or we forego the convertible altogether. And that, friends, is a crying shame.
Quick Drive: 2011 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV
Generally speaking, continuously variable transmissions are pretty unloved in the Winding Road office, mainly because they are attached to buzzy, I-4’s that require a very heavy foot (and therefore high revs) to really get moving. One exception to this rule comes in the form of our Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV tester. Rather than the typical CVT/four-cylinder combo, the Maxima makes use of a beefy, sweet-sounding 3.5-liter V-6, that, in a slightly different tune, once sat under the hood of a Nissan 350Z.
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