On the sporty front, the Nissan Maxima has it. Maxima also impresses with a snazzy interior. This midsize sedan is the real deal, and that’s been heavily underscored since the 8th-generation debuted in 2016. For 2017, Nissan’s flagship sedan puts Apple CarPlay as standard fare on all five trims: S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum; the Maxima is the first Nissan vehicle to have this iPhone connectivity. Predictive Forward Collision Warning and Forward Emergency Braking are standard equipment across the lineup with the addition in 2017 of the Maxima S and SV grade trims.

Powering Maxima is a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 300 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 261 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. The engine mates to the Xtronic continuously variable transmission with manual shift mode. During a week-long test drive, Maxima’s comfort was underscored with abundant legroom for front seat occupants (45 inches of legroom). Rear seat passengers have 34.2 inches of legroom. Trunk space in the 109.3-inch wheelbase sedan tallies 14.3 cubic feet. The test driven front wheel drive Maxima Platinum collects estimated mpg of 21 city/30 highway and carries a MRSP of $39,990.