Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima started life as the Datsun 810. The name "Maxima" first appeared as a trim on the 1981 model, and by 1982 both the Datsun and 810 names were phased out, and the auto maker's largest sedan was officially known as the Nissan Maxima. It is known as a luxury sedan and also a four-door sports car.

The Maxima has always been the runt of the full-sized sedan litter. It competes with cars like the Toyota Avalon and Chrysler 300, and despite growing after each redesign, is still smaller than its cohorts. The Maxima does manage to offer similar interior room as its competitors, however. Its powerful engine and sporty handling has set it apart from the rest of the full-size pack.

The Maxima suffered in the late '90s, as its cousin the Nissan Altima grew in size and gained a six-cylinder engine. The similarity in size and power made the cheaper Altima the more popular choice. However, in recent years the Maxima has soared ahead of the Altima in quality and amenities, once again returning to its luxurious past and offering a fun, peppy drive. It was refreshed for 2007, along with Nissan's other sedans.

The Maxima is also popular among tuners and customization enthusiasts. The fourth generation Maximas, from 1995-1999, are especially popular, since they are good looking and cheap to purchase,  with many after market parts to be had.