The interior space is good because this is not only a large car, but also comes with a tall roof, as well as a long cabin, the latter by courtesy of Maxima using front-wheel drive. The front seats are large and well padded, though they aren't really sporting in their nature by the way of aggressive side bolsters. Many like it that way, but a little more side support would have been appreciated at times on winding roads. Legroom in the back is particularly impressive and you really can carry four large adults in comfort. However, the Maxima isn’t quite as wide as the Commodore/Falcon, so try if for size if you want to cart three big teenagers in the rear. Nissan Maxima, again because of its front-drive layout, has a very large boot. It’s well-shaped and reasonably easy to load, though the distance from the back to the front can make it a bit of a reach to get to the far end. The boot uses a ski port to let it cater for extra-long loads. The big Nissan feels positively sporty in the engine department. Which comes as no surprise when you realize the power plant is a modified version of the 3.5-litre V6 used in the 350Z sports model.

The Maxima has been a dependable vehicle for me for the last three years. It is a high-quality car that rides very well. However, it does not get the best gas mileage.