Nissan Maxima – Review: The Maxima delivers on style but isn't destined to be a classic and the build quality could keep it in summer school. Inside, the Nissan Maxima is comfortable, quiet and stylish but the use of cheap plastic abounds and keeps the real aluminum trim from excelling to its potential. It also delivers on power and torque through a CVT transmission but the torque steer from the front wheel drive and the less than adequate handling detract and lower the overall grade curve. Though the Nissan Maxima strives to be its best it falls short and lands somewhere between honor roll and valedictorian.