The easy-shifting 5-speed manual transmission, standard on the GXE and SE, is an excellent partner for the engine. So is the electronically controlled 4-speed automatic, which actually improved on the manual Maxima's gas mileage during the EPA city cycle test. Either engine/transmission combination is more than acceptable, regardless of intended use.

Around town and on the freeway, the redesigned suspension provides the kind of comfort most buyers want, and equals the best in its class in terms of silence and smoothness. From the driver's point of view, the Maxima is maneuverable and has light variable-assist power steering that takes the effort out of parking and lane changing.

But aggressive drivers, those who have come to expect their Maximas to dart through twists and turns with the sportiest of rivals, may find the latest version to be a letdown. There's no incompetence here, just a reluctance to play. The steering is not quite sharp enough, and the suspension's not quite taut enough, for extra-hard use.

That said, it must be emphasized that only a few pilots will want to take their Maximas to such extremes, and they are likely to do so based on past Maxima performance. Few of the big Nissan's rivals can match its roadholding as is, and only a couple can best it in this highly subjective area.