2011 2012 Nissan Auto Cars Reviews

2012 Nissan Maxima

2012 Nissan Maxima

The 2012 Nissan Maxima isn’t likely to get significant mechanical changes. It’ll return with one engine, the same 3.5-liter V-6 available in the Altima, but again with at least 290 horsepower, 20 or so more than in the Altima. Maxima will continue to use only a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Unlike a conventional automatic transmission, which shifts through a defined set of gear ratios, a CVT employs a belt-and-pulley arrangement to continually adjust the amount of power that gets to the wheels. The advantage is a better balance between engine output, acceleration, and fuel economy. Not all CVT powertrains work as effectively as this one, though Maxima still is affected by the odd CVT sensation of the engine revving ahead of the actual pace of vehicle acceleration.

Nissan could team the expected 2012 Maxima facelift with some suspension updates to sharpen handling and fine-tune ride quality. These changes would likely be minor and hopefully would not jeopardize Maxima’s historically pleasant trade-off between comfortable ride and secure handling.

The 2012 Nissan Maxima will continue solely as a front-wheel-drive car. Front-drive places the weight of the engine over the drive wheels, which assists traction in rainy or snowy weather. Front-drive handling, however, can’t match the better weight and steering balance of rear-wheel drive. Still, Maxima has plenty of grip and its road manners are more than competent. And it’s hardly affected by torque steer – the condition in which the front wheels pull to one side or the other during full-throttle acceleration – a nuisance with many powerful front-wheel drive cars.

Article Sources : Iguida.com

By Blogsdna

Tags: Nissan Maxima 2012 photo, Nissan Maxima images, Nissan Maxima pictures, nissan maxima reviews

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