Safety

The Maxima failed to impress me when it came to its Latch connectors and child-safety-seat fit. The backseat has bolsters that interfered with the fit of my sons' booster seats. The result? The booster seats sat slightly crooked. Sounds safe, doesn't it? The Latch connecters were difficult to access, so it looks like some kid-friendly renovations are in order in the Maxima.

The Maxima has all the standard safety features we look for, including side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags for both rows of seats, antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system.

I also like that the emergency trunk release handle is easily visible in the trunk. It made me feel secure knowing it's in there in case I ever find myself stuck in the trunk for whatever reason. I should really watch less "Law and Order."

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: There's plenty of room for a rear-facing infant-safety seat.

In School: My sons' booster seats didn't fit well in the backseat because of the bolsters.

Teens: This is a distinctive-looking sedan that any teen would happily drive.

    See also:

    Vehicle information display
    1. Outside temperature 2. Clock 3. Operation indicators and warnings — Trip computer — Cruise control — Settings menu — Intelligent Key operation* 4. Odometer 5. Twin trip od ...

    Window antenna
    The antenna pattern is printed inside the rear window. CAUTION ● Do not place metalized film near the rear window glass or attach any metal parts to it. This may cause poor reception or no ...

    Manual command selection
    Commands can be selected manually. While the commands are displayed on the audio screen, select a command by operating the audio tuning switch, and then push the switch. Once a command is m ...