1997 Nissan Maxima An athlete in a three-piece suit. By Matthew Phillips, New Car Test Drive .com

The Nissan Maxima is one of those cars that doesn't quite fit into any single

set of competitive parameters. Is it a sport sedan or a luxury car? Is

it a family hauler or an executive express?

The answer, of course, is all of the above. The Maxima is versatile,

with enough variety in the various equipment levels and model distinction

to be what you want it to be.

The Maxima is the largest four-door sedan wearing a Nissan emblem in

the U.S., about the same size as the new Toyota Camry and somewhat more

expensive. On the other hand, it's considerably less expensive than a BMW

328i, and in sporty SE trim makes an attractive alternative.

Beyond that, when it comes to performance, room, ride, build quality

and value for the buck, there are few--if any--vehicles that have Maxima's

combination of virtues.