So we put in a call to Nissan H.Q. in Nashville, Tennessee, and selected a 2009 Maxima 3.5 SV in Tuscan Sun red with a charcoal interior. The optional $2300 Sport Package added such performance goodies as 19-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, paddle shifters, leather seating surfaces, and a firmer suspension.

For another $2250, we picked up the Sport Technology package, which swapped out the all-season tires for summer rubber and added a navigation system with a seven-inch touch screen, voice recognition, a 9.3-gigabyte "Music Box" hard drive, iPod connectivity, satellite radio with traffic monitoring, and a rearview camera. Topped off with a five-piece floormat set ($180), our Maxima rang the register at $37,415, which borders the fast four-door territory occupied by such favorites as BMW's 328i and Infiniti's G37.

So how does the Maxima compare with those beloved rear-drive four-doors? Is it, in fact, a 4DSC? We have a year to find out, but at first blush, it seems at least some of the essential bits are in order. At the test track, our Maxima turned in respectable numbers-0 to 60 in 6.0 seconds flat and the quarter mile in 14.5 at 99.0 mph-for a 3598-pound front-driver. Sure, it's no Evo or Cobalt SS, but it is arguably better looking than both.

"Nissan has done an excellent job on the styling. It's soooo much better looking than the car it replaces," says photographer Brian Vance. "The rear three-quarter-shoulder shelves are very impressive, and as far as I can tell, have never been used before on a FWD sedan." The interior has received glowing praise, as well: "The cockpit is superb," raves editor at large Arthur St. Antoine. "Light years better than the old car and one of the best in the class."

With 4506 miles already on the clock, the Maxima has been a solid runner thus far. Our local Nissan dealer has had to remedy only one minor issue-a dash light indicating low tire pressure, which came on at around 3500 miles, had to be reset. Otherwise, we've breezed through the past couple months with no major issues. Whether the Maxima breezes through the next 10 months remains to be seen.