May D and the classic machine in his garage

Mayokun Awodumila, popularly known as May D, is one of the popular musicians that Nigerians may not forget in a hurry. His hit single, ‘Ile ijo’ was one song that brought a new dimension to dance style in the entertainment industry and it rocked the airwaves for a long time.

Sometime ago, May D, a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, acquired the 2012 model of Nissan Maxima. It costs about N6m in the auto market.

One good way to enjoy one’s success might be to ride in the 2012 Nissan Maxima, being a fancy car that combines likable driving experience and satisfactory performance with luxury. It is an ideal car for those who like the Nissan badge and something less ostentatious

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Should the driver choose to saunter through corners, the well-engineered chassis can carry plenty of speed around the bends. It’s just that the driver should watch his/her right foot. It doesn’t take a lot of time behind the steering wheel of the 2012 Nissan Maxima to realise that it is a very competent sport sedan. In its standard form, precise steering and a well-tuned suspension make it a good bit of fun to drive.

Performance

The 2012 Nissan Maxima is a midsize entry-level luxury sedan available in S and SV trim levels.

Both the base model and the SV trim are powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine that puts out 290hp and 261 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission, which operates smoothly. In Edmunds performance testing, the Maxima SV accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which is quicker than almost every other entry-level luxury sedan (with a base engine). The EPA estimates fuel economy at 19miles per gallon in the city, 26mpg on the highway and 22mpg combined.

Features

Inside, the 2012 Nissan Maxima features an upscale cabin with a sleek design and top-quality materials. Add an assortment of available luxury features and you have an interior that looks as if it was lifted out of a more expensive automobile.

The standard equipment list for the base S model includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery and power front seats. Also included are an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, trip computer, Bluetooth phone capability and an eight-speaker stereo with a six-CD changer and an auxiliary audio jack. The new Limited Edition option package for S models includes HID xenon headlights with smoke-tinted lenses, foglights and a rear spoiler.

The SV adds to the base S equipment leather upholstery and a nine-speaker Bose audio system with satellite radio. The monitor package adds a 7-inch touchscreen electronics interface, 2GB of digital music storage, an RCA auxiliary audio-video jack, a rear-view camera and an iPod/USB audio interface.

The SV’s premium package includes dual-panel sunroof, a rear-view camera, the 7-inch touchscreen, rear-seat audio and climate controls. It also has RCA auxiliary audio-video jacks (replaces standard aux jack) and an iPod interface. High-performance summer tires are an added option with the Sport package.

The Technology package can be added to either of the above option packages. It adds a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic and weather, DVD playback and a single in-dash CD player (which replaces the six-disc version), Bluetooth streaming audio and 9.3GB of digital music storage.

Safety

Standard safety equipment for every 2012 Nissan Maxima includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags that cover both rows and active front-seat head restraints. It also has child safety locks. In Edmunds brake testing, a Maxima SV with the Sport package came to a stop from 60 mph in 122 feet, an average distance for both entry-level luxury cars and family sedans.

In terms of crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Maxima its highest score of “Good” for frontal-offset and side crash protection and a second-best rating of “Acceptable” in the roof strength test.

The Maxima competes with other stealthy luxury models like the Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen CC, which are all essentially luxury cars without a traditional luxury badge.

The good: It has precise steering, strong acceleration, high-quality interior with high-tech features, excellent iPod integration and other features that put it ahead of similarly priced luxury sedans.

The bad: Some reviewers complained that its price is above the features it offers and that its fuel economy is low for its class.


 Sources: www.edmunds.com and usnews.rankingsandreviews.com.