Leasing Special

Aggressively sculpted lines at the front and rear fenders emphasize ready-to-pounce muscularity. A relatively high sill line kicks up even higher at the back door, where it dovetails with the downward slope of the fastback roofline. Blacked-out A- and B-pillars, and horizontal strip of black trim at the C-pillar, give the roof the appearance of a floating canopy.

In three-quarter view, the Maxima’s dramatic contours give it an almost lithe appearance. In profile, however, when the undulating curves seem to flatten into character lines, the sheetmetal’s proportions can look bulky and stubby—rather like those of a sleek crossover.