http://www.motorweek.org/features/podcasts

Episode 119.

John Davis and friends fall into the marketing hype pit obsessing about how the Max isn't really a 4DSC.

 

It's a carry over from the 7th gen. Very few thought that one was a 4DSC either including most on the 7th gen board.

 

Ya I test drove one and immediately saw the 8th gen has the same unibody. They just changed the sheet metal. Not a new car like the 5th gen Altima was to the 4th gen.

 

8th Gen Max is built on the current Altima platform. Basically an Altima with different body.

 

The point of the maxima for me is that its under 40k, comes loaded, is sporty, 300hp, and looks great with pretty good resale value. Im not worried about what they call it.

 

I have always recorded and watched Motorweek. John Davis never misses an opportunity to take another dig at any vehicle with a CVT. Not only does he disparage the CVT (no matter whether it performs well or does not), but his program has taken a route in recent years that is not useful to the general public. Motorweek has gone a little overboard in recent years testing exotic vehicles costing from over $100K to around a half million bucks. If someone is paying that much for a vehicle, they will not be getting their info from Motorweek.

In fairness, other than the inevitable dig at what may be the best CVT yet, and a snide comment about the exterior styling, everything else they said about the 2016 Maxima was very nice, even very complimentary, especially the ride, the many features, the handling and the interior.