The Nissan Maxima has been re-styled, and cast in a slightly more conservative mold.The change is most apparent up front. The new grille is shaped similarly to the old one (and to the Altima's). But the former, '58 Buick-inspired texture of individual chromed studs has been replace by three horizontal, charcoal-colored slats; and the bold, dark-chrome center medallion has evolved into a simple central bulge. The full-width lower bumper opening that formerly stretched from foglight to foglight has been replaced with three smaller, albeit taller, openings. The hood and headlights are new, too, and also a bit more conventional in appearance than before, although the new headlights now incorporate built-in cornering lights.
The remainder of Maxima's exterior is less radically changed. Big, round fender openings still pay homage to enormous alloy wheels; although the side sills are now more aggressive, and the wheel lips themselves less flattened and chiseled. Both the 17 and 18-inch wheels are now seven-spoke designs. The rear roof still slopes into the trunk lid, flanked by buttress-like sail panels. Large triangular taillight clusters, like the headlights, wrap around to the sides of the car. But the deck-lid spoiler (standard on SE, optional on SL) is now more prominent, as is the cutout at the bottom of the bumper for Maxima's four exhaust tips.