Just received the April CR annual car issue. Here are the Maxima highlights:

• Recommended!
• Reliability - above average
• Satisfaction - above average
• Owner Cost - average

In the section where the magazine highlights 16 specific areas (engine, transmission, electrical, brakes, etc) the 2009 Maxima is "significantly better than average" in most categories. The only average is "body integrity". Nothing is "below average".

So, overall - a very good report.

 

Too little, too late. There is nothing (other than an abject, formal, published apology) that Consumer Reports can do to atone for the unfair test report they did for the 7th generation Maxima over a year ago. As a 49 year CU subscriber, I was most disappointed by the clear bias their tester showed against this new Maxima.

Test reports from various auto magazine testers, subsequent sales volume statistics, and recent repair reports from TrueDelta are showing that CU's Maxima-hating tester was either biased or incorrect on almost every count. The truth will always eventually come out.

The ratings posted by rkurlander reflect the responses of a whole nation of car owners, so represent the voice of the public. In this instance, the public is very clearly saying that last year's CU evaluation of the Maxima was not correct. If CU rates their own inhouse testers as carefully as they say they rate the products they test, their tester who pumped up the TL and disparaged the Maxima a year ago will no longer be testing Maximas, or any other vehicle. Unless he can get a job doing so in China.

If I sound bitter, I may be. To disparage something as an individual is simply a freedom we have in America. But to let personal prejudices influence one's test report when officially representing a supposedly neutral, unbiased and honorable publication which hundreds of thousands of people rely on to help with buying decisions is either an abdication of responsibility, or even deception and fraud, and should be dealt with as such.

 

I agree with you man, both consumer reports and consumer guide gave really lousy reviews and ratings for the 2009 Maxima and after test driving one and now having a 2010 SV, I disagree with most of their review and ratings; both rated the ride quality very poorly but I have found that the Maxima, at least the SV without the sport package, has a wonderful ride quality with just the right amount of comfort and feedback! Both also complained about the lack of ease to get into and out of the rear seats! I find it pretty easy to get in and out of the back seats, apparently they never tried to get into the backseat of a TL, G37, or EX35!

do you know the EX35 has LESS rear legroom then a G37 coupe???

 

The review was positive wasn't it? I test drove Acura TL-S, Chevy Corvette C6, Trailblazer SS, GTO, Maxima, BMW 3, Honda Accord....the second I drove the Maxima I was sold on it. The comfort of the car was #1 for me, style was sharp, and quality was proven. The Acura was cheaper at the time, (leftover) the vette was high priced but powerful (obviously), the Accord didn't have the luxury feel at all the Maxima had, the GTO was just fast with barely any options for the 34k sticker, the TBSS was a fast SUV....BMW was a nice car, but fully loaded I was looking at 53k. Maxima, for the price, 0%, the options available...is one heck of a car. Doesnt mean I would mind a high horsepower V8 AWD version...but

 

The computerized display of customer experiences with the '09 Maxima as displayed in this spring's CU Annual Auto issue (and referenced by rkurlander in the post that started this thread) were very positive.

However the ONLY official test performed by CU on the 7th generation Maxima, done a year or more ago, presented several questionable 'problems' as justification for down-rating the Maxima. The 'problems' involved were mostly imaginary things that also existed in competitor's cars (such as 'hard to get into the back seat'), but were not used as reason to downgrade those competitive cars. Also, that test complained about off-the-wall generated garbage such as 'bare screws/bolts visible in the cabin' (which I have yet to see mentioned by any poster here in the 20 months since the '09 went on sale) and 'ride is too firm', which I also am not seeing as a point of complaint here on the ORG.

Taken as an entity, the official CU Maxima test of a year ago was a sham done by a tester with a clear (and hardly disguised) bias against the Maxima. Most of those here who read that test report feel the same as I do about the bias shown.

 

Bias reviews suck. I read a couple myself for each side, Maxima and TL. I decided I had to go test drive and go with what I thought. Test drove them both and was sold on the Max. I had previously owned 2 honda accords and liked the acura company for personal experience with reliability so I was very much considering steping up from the accord to the TL but after seeing the interior I asked myself do I really want another accord? Way to similar and like I said I wanted to step up. Loved the maximas interior. It was love at first test drive.

 

I hear you about the TL and Maxima, luckily I couldn't decide that is why I have a 08 TL and a 10 Max SV!!

 

How peculiar.... One for the wife and one for you? It's almost like owning a Jimmy and an Explorer, same category just different name.