Maxima

Although it hasn’t been restyled since the 2016 model year, the 2023 Nissan Maxima’s exterior still turns heads thanks to its floating roofline and swoopy profile. Too bad its road manners aren’t nearly as interesting. The Maxima feels more nimble than the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger but it’s not as refined as the Volkswagen Arteon. All Maximas come with a V-6 engine that pumps out 300 horsepower, but it’s mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that’s a buzzkill. The Nissan’s cabin is spacious and surprisingly upscale for the price, so if you’re looking for a lower-cost alternative to something from, say, Nissan’s Infiniti luxury brand, it’s worth a look. Otherwise, we’d gravitate to the Arteon or other smaller sports-sedan offerings from Audi or BMW, which have a similar price tag.