2012 Nissan Maxima vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

It's best to forget the claims of the Maxima as a sports car or a sport sedan and rather think of it as a V-6 luxury sedan that's perkier and more stylish than most other offerings in this class.

Without hesitation, for luxury shoppers who are a little hotfooted, we'd recommend the Maxima over a top-of-the-line Honda Accord EX-L, and probably the Lexus ES350, even though you give up the Lexus dealership experience that's part of the price.

A Toyota Avalon would get you a lot more space for similar money, but bland styling inside and out limits its appeal.

Probably the most formidable rival to the Maxima is the Acura TL, which has sharp looks and, while a bit more conservative-looking in some respects, really delivers on its performance potential, especially in SH-AWD guise.

The Acura also offers a manual transmission.

The Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus are positioned and priced in the same range, but they're far more sedate in style.

In the opposite direction is the Dodge Charger, which in base form isn't a performance sedan, but it is rear-wheel drive and boldly styled.

For those on a budget, consider the base Volkswagen CC, a nice-looking, curvaceous sedan that might appeal to the same senses as the Maxima.