Al Seider 
2016 Nissan Maxima Sedan 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
Beauty And The Beast
 The new Maxima really is the Beauty and the Beast! It is extremely attractive, both inside and out and is very well constructed of quality materials. People stare at this car and frequently compliment me on it. The beast part is the revised engine. Put this thing into Sport Mode and it blasts up to high speeds in what seems like nanoseconds. It blows away my 2012 Maxima as far as acceleration goes. The new CVT is deserving of the highest praise possible. This is a CVT that absolutely does not behave like one. It provides immediate responses, is super smooth and feels just like a regular automatic transmission. It feels very "connected" to the drivetrain. There is no perception of slippage or hesitation - this thing just moves! I'd far rather have this excellent CVT than some of clunky 8 or 9 speed transmissions I have driven that are constantly changing and can't quite decide which gear to select. I challenge anyone who drives this to honestly admit that this is one of the best transmissions they have ever driven behind.The interior quality rivals that of much more expensive cars. It truly has one of the nicest interiors at any price. I could rave on and on about it. Nissan has certainly set a new standard in ergonomics, interior detailing and the quality of materials. As expected with Maximas, it rides, steers, handles and brakes very well. Pay no attention to the purists who condemn it for being a front wheel drive with a CVT. This is an exceptionally well engineered vehicle. I have reached 29mpg on the freeway which is incredible for an engine of this size, and I like to AWAKEN the beast under the hood. The only criticisms I have is that the audio system on the SV is not up to the standard I expected. I would have probably opted for the SL if had realized how mediocre the sound system is in the SV. Also, the Continental tires are very noisy and don't provide for a particularly smooth ride. It is impossible to use the sound system or have a normal conversation at freeway speeds because of the tire noise. Why Nissan manufacture a superlative, best-in-class vehicle like the Maxima and then condemn it to a set of inferior tires is beyond me. Nissan, PLEASE do something about this. I will be replacing these rolling pieces of garbage with Michelins or Yokohamas which I've had on my previous Maximas. Unfortunately a pricey upgrade for a vehicle so new, but I can't live with the constant tire noise.