Mark Lennihan / The Associated Press

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When the sun set on the Datsun name in the United States and the company was rechristened Nissan — its Japanese name — the top-of-the-line model, the 810, also got a new moniker, the Maxima.

Always an athlete, the Maxima has long proclaimed itself a "four-door sports car," which was believable until 2004 when the vehicle chunked out, gaining a heavy, bloated appearance in an effort to battle the equally elephantine Toyota Avalon. In the meantime, the Maxima's 4DSC label was successfully taken up by the cheaper and smaller Nissan Altima. So the question remains: Is the 2009 Nissan Maxima really necessary?

Before you answer that, let's consider the car.

For 2009, the Maxima loses the fat suit; it's 1.9 inches shorter and 1.5 inches wider than last year. With enough curves and bulges to convince anyone this is, indeed, a track star; it almost tries too hard. You'll swear it should sport a Nike logo.

Behind the wheel, you'll find the athleticism is more than cosmetic.

Under the swoopy hood lies a 3.5-liter engine derived from the same one that powers various Infiniti models. Here, it produces 290 horsepower through the front wheels.

A continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT, feeds the power to the ground. Although the transmission uses an infinite number of gears to deliver a responsive feel and overall fuel economy of 21.2 mpg, a new Drive Sport mode adjusts the microchips to deliver a more enthusiastic driving experience.

Like to shift for yourself? Nissan provides optional steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that allow for sequential manual shifting. It seems pointless here because the CVT works fairly well, providing quick, smooth power delivery with little of the delayed response normally associated with CVT gearboxes.

The Maxima has a fairly aggressive feel, thanks to its powerful V-6 engine and quick steering. It also has an anxious feel.

Tackling corners is typical of a front-wheel-drive car putting nearly 300 horsepower to its front wheels. Yes, there's a ton of grip and the steering is quick, but it doesn't impart confidence. Body lean is fairly well-controlled but still evident.

The ride is quiet and hushed. Bumps are absorbed, but you'll still notice them.

Nissan's flagship has its share of goodies, although some of the expected luxury goodies — heated front seats, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, XM satellite radio, a navigation system, a 9.3-gigabyte music hard drive, a six-CD changer, paddle shifters, auto-dimming outside mirrors, rear bucket seats, Bluetooth, a power rear-window sunshade and dual sunroofs — are options.

Leather trim is standard on the upper-level SV model. Base S models get cloth. Both models feature four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, stability control, traction control, a single moonroof, MP3 input and power bucket seats.

You'll find the Maxima's interior has the look, layout and feel of an Infiniti, with many of the same items and a price to match.

So the question becomes, why not just get an Infiniti G35? The G35 is slightly smaller — but not so much that you'd notice — comes with a six-speed manual transmission and rear- or all-wheel drive. The Nissan Altima is about the same size as the Maxima, and although its V-6 has fewer ponies under the hood, the price is significantly less as well.

In the end, the Maxima offers exclusivity. Buyers seeking value often opt for the Altima; status seekers move up to a G35.