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As you approach the new Nissan Maxima, it's easy to see the resemblance of the rear C-pillar to that of the hip and trendy-looking Volkswagen Passat. Get closer to the Maxima and things look very different, however.

The rear roof slopes into the trunklid with buttresses, and two large triangular taillight clusters wrap around to the sides of the car. The headlights do the same trick in front. It's a look that took some time to grow on us.

Maxima's bold design innovations include the new Skyview roof, a glass panel running lengthwise over the front and rear seats.

> all Maxima pictures

The Nissan Maxima comes with an interior that's innovative and comfortable. The seats are both supportive and luxurious: You dream of all-day interstate cruises across the Wild West in seats like this. In front of the driver are three gauges set in their own pod, which instantly endears the instrument panel to motorcycle fans.

We like the details of the interior of the new Nissan Maxima, specifically the light colors and the proximity of the switches and controls to the driver. We did notice that operating the climate and stereo switches required more concentration than they should, but not because the switches are too small, rather we think the lettering on each switch is too tiny for our aging eyes. Owners will likely not find it a problem as they learn which switch operates each function.

We didn't care for the large section of trim on the center instrument panel, neither the aluminum-colored plastic in the SE nor the faux wood on the SL. It seems like wasted space. Also, there's a lot of dashboard area that stretches way out to the leading edge of the windshield, similar to the cab-forward look of Chrysler's 300M sedan.

Seated in the back of a four-seater Nissan Maxima with the Elite Package, you get the feeling you're in the passenger seat of a sports car. With the narrow fixed roof window above your head, you don't feel like you've been relegated to the kid seats while the folks in the front seats enjoy more of the drive. Nissan says it found a lot of people rarely open their sunroofs. A conventional sunroof over the front seats is also available. Nissan expects a quarter of Maxima buyers to opt for the conventional sunroof.