2002 Nissan Maxima

Promise the customers more power, and they will buy. That seems to be an axiom among many automakers these days. It's a rule that Nissan has followed to the letter when modifying its full-size Maxima sedan for the 2002 model year.

Maxima's 3.5L V-6 also appears in the shared-platform Infiniti I35 as well as the new Altima. An optional limited-slip differential helps put plenty of the Maxima's 255 horses to the ground.

Shoving aside last year's 3.0-liter V-6, with its measly 222 horsepower, is a 3.5- liter engine that whips up a lusty 255 horsepower, along with 246 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2002 Maxima is described as a "minor-change model," especially when compared to the company's redesigned (and formerly compact) 2002 Altima. This might cause Maxima shoppers some confusion. Because the Altima has grown so much—wheelbase is extended by a whopping 7.1 inches for 2002—this "compact" has leap-frogged past its Maxima cousin, nearly approaching full-size sedan territory. Marketers needed to consider whether Altima would steal sales from its previously bigger mate.


"Altima and Maxima will coexist naturally," said Jack Collins, vice president of product and marketing. Could be, but consumers might be bewildered when they see that the two sedans are exactly the same length. The Altima, with its bigger span between the wheels, might even appear to some eyes to be the "flagship" automobile—a title that Nissan has reserved for the Maxima for the past 21 years. To help differentiate the two, the Maxima "character has become even sportier," Collins said. The revised Maxima four-door body is "aggressive but not a flashy kind of a facelift," starting with a brand-new grille and front fascia that incorporates four-bulb high-intensity-discharge (HID) xenon headlights. Side-sill spoilers add a bolder touch to the bodysides. This year's taillights have clear reflectors. Aluminum alloy wheels have grown to 16-inch size for the "entry-level" GXE and measure 17 inches in diameter on the sporty SE and top-of-the-line GLE.

Lamps that appear to be inspired by Nissan's Infiniti division are the most noticeable change to the new Maxima.

Nissan calls its Maxima a "performance luxury sedan," so technical details and personal conveniences can make more of a difference than reshaped sheetmetal. An all-new, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission goes into the sporty Maxima SE. The four-speed automatic, standard on sedans and optional on the SE, has been strengthened. The new engine is controlled by a drive-by-wire throttle, rather than by a mechanical connection, and the suspension has been re-tuned for the current V-6. All-disc antilock braking now incorporates Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist features.


Moving inside, white-faced gauges are gone. Instead, the Maxima dashboard holds instruments that feature a new titanium look, which transforms into blue in the evening. Redesigned front seats promise greater comfort, according to Nissan, and can have luxury cloth or leather upholstery. Also improved is the Bose seven-speaker, 200-watt premium audio system, which includes a cassette player and in-dash 6-CD changer, as well as speed-sensitive volume control. Nissan's three-dimensional "Birdview" navigation system is optional. A new Meridian Edition of the SE gets heated seats, mirrors and steering wheel.