2000 Nissan Maxima Se

The Maxima SE is one of the most under-rated cars on the planet. Its size and four-door configuration may turn off the Civic crowd, but if you need to haul people and stuff, there are few vehicles that deliver its level of performance. In fact, our empirical testing conducted with a Vericom performance computer provided some eye-opening results. Taking our three best runs, the Nissan blasted to 60 mph in 6.87 seconds and carried on through the quarter mile at 15.22 seconds at 94.8 mph. This puts the four-door ahead of the Acura Integra Type R and 2000 Eclipse, which tout published acceleration figures of 7.0/15.3 and 6.9/15.3, respectively. The one fault for some is the styling, but we have proven that a Stillen body kit does wonders and lowering the car adds more zest to the look.

The EngineThe Maxima's 3.0-liter, 24-valve, DOHC V6 proves that attention to small details can result in power. The four-valve-per-cylinder engine ingests air more efficiently as a result of Y2K improvements in the intake and exhaust manifolds and a Skyline GT-R-derived muffler set-up. The intake features Nissan Variable Induction System (NVIS) that has long and short runners to deliver maximum output at all engine speeds.

The exhaust manifolds are equal-length propositions that lead to the GT-R-style muffler. The muffler sports a flap valve, which opens above 2000 rpm to relieve the backpressure and increase output.

The engine shines when the internals are examined up close. The crankshaft has been micro-finished at the journals, as have the cam lobes. The pistons feature a high-tech molybdenum coating and the ignition system is a six-coil masterpiece.

For 2000, Nissan has added a new ECU, now mounted inside the cabin, a larger intake plenum, thicker radiator, upgraded cooling fans and new engine and transmission mounts. The liquid-filled mounts are not power generators, but cater to the car's luxury quotient. The Maxima rings the bell at 222 hp at 6400 rpm and 217 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.

When it comes to aftermarket performance parts, on a scale of 1 to 10, the Maxima is rated around four because the outlets are few. Stillen and Jim Wolf Technology are the big players and for the most part, the companies' expertise lies with Nissan-badged vehicles.

Performance ComponentsWe used a cat-back exhaust system, air filter and light dose of laughing gas for this "Power Page" adventure. For the exhaust, this car was used to prototype HKS' set-up. The HKS system uses the factory mounting points and terminates in a polished twin outlet tip. We were apprehensive about trading out the stock system, which flexed a close relationship to the famed Skyline GT-R. Would the HKS set-up make power?

When it came to intake air, we thought it would be interesting to see if a drop-in filter would result in noticeable gains. We contacted K&N and got one of its direct replacement filters.

Headers were not available when this article was compiled and the engine bay in the Maxima is cramped, making it harder to find volunteers to do the install. We figured a light blast of nitrous oxide would add more power than headers and be easier to install, while allowing us to add headers later and reap the benefits of both components.

Dyno TestingSo, would the HKS set-up be able to make power over the GT-R-bred OE exhaust? Yes, the HKS system delivered the goods throughout the powerband. Peak output jumped by 5.3 hp and 4.4 lb-ft of torque as measured at the wheels on a Dynojet chassis dyno.

Next was the K&N drop-in element. Installation was a snap-we un-snapped the stock box and swap elements. Quick work equated to quick power; we saw a 4-hp increase. Impressed by the results, we decided to conduct another test with no element and were shocked when the open element test showed a 0.4-hp increase.

The final power hitter was the ZEX nitrous kit. With minimal jetting, we pumped 220.1 hp to the wheels. This represents a 25.5-hp jump, with plenty more on tap from more aggressive jetting. At this level, the Max could ingest nitrous all day.

ConclusionOn the road, the increased kick could be felt by the body and the ears. The engine revs quicker to its redline in first gear and feels more responsive to throttle input at speed. The V6 sounds like it means business with an aggressive rumble under hard acceleration, yet an unobtrusive hum at speed. This is one of the keys to a real world exhaust system. Not only should it make power, it should do so without sounding like a foghorn when the car is cruising at 60 mph in high gear. We have endured some ungodly drones of exhaust noise in the past and can tell you that after a few hours on the highway, these systems make you want to drive to the nearest mental hospital and check in for the mandatory 72 hours.

The nitrous system performed flawlessly. One of its strengths is packaging. The Maxima has a super cramped engine bay and the design of the ZEX distribution block made the install possible. The ZEX system is one of the easiest we have installed. There are more power-producing parts on the market, with the Holy Grail being forced induction kits from Stillen and Jim Wolf. This Maxima "Power Page" proves that four-doors can fly.

The FactsEngine Tested: VQ30DEApplications: Nissan Maxima, Infiniti J30Common Swaps: NoneReplacements: None