The Nissan Maxima is back and better than ever. With the two version offerings, the Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV, Nissan has reclaimed it’s place in a very competitive market with it’s flagship sports sedan. With pricing starting below $30,000, around $28,000, and not topping out above $35,000, a buyer would be hard-pressed to not consider the newly re-designed 2009 Nissan Maxima when shopping for a sports sedan.

The 2009 Maxima comes with the new 3.5L V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 261 lb-ft of torque at 4,400, an increase of 35 horsepower over the last year. Even more impressive is the fact that Nissan managed to add one mile per gallon to the EPA ratings even with this power increase, getting 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. But, if you are looking for a manual transmission you’ll have to settle for the only option offered, the revised Xtronic CVT™ with manual mode. For 2009, Nissan added a new “Ds” (drive sport) mode that is an electronic control logic, that enhances sport driving through increased acceleration feel with higher engine revolutions, automatic engine braking and maintaining engine speed during cornering.

On the interior, the available packages allow the buyer to customize the vehicle to meet their needs, while also incorporating things like the dual panel moonroof that’s usually only expected in luxury vehicles. In the Premium package, you can load up on technology. A few perks in the Premium package are the iPod integration, navigation system, climate and entertainment control panels in the back seat, and wood-grain paneling, whereas in the Sport model, navigation is not available and the interior console is more utilitarian without the wood-grain touch. The Sport model also does not have the 60/40 rear seat split but instead has a pass-through for your skis that improves torsional rigidity by 17 percent for stiffer suspension alongside the 19″ rims with low profile tires to provide a sportier driving experience.

But, to see how good the new 2009 Maxima looks both inside and out, and to hear the sounds of the new V6 engine, you’ll have to watch our car review video.

Click here for 2009 Nissan Maxima pictures.

If you’re in the market for a car that is both sporty and luxurious at a good price, look no more because the 2nd generation 2008 Infiniti G35 S sedan is most likely the car for you. For a reasonable starting price of $33,050 (as-tested price of $37,000), the G35 S makes sure the buyer gets the best bang for their buck. Available amenities include RearView Monitor, a touch screen, hard drive-based navigation system, and an impressive audio setup by Bose. And, luckily, with today’s high gas prices, practical meets performance underneath the hood. Surprisingly, the G35 S does not gouge at the gas pump, still getting 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway even with the 6-speed manual transmission paired to the 3.5L V6 engine that produces 306 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm.

But, enough talk. If you want to know more about the handling, interior, styling, and available features, you’ll have to watch the 2008 Infiniti G35 S Video:

Click here for more car review videos on YouTube.

Join our host Charlie Romero as he tests the 2008 Porsche Cayman at Barber Motorsport Park outside Birmingham, AL. The mid-sized Cayman sport coupe is sized in between its siblings, the slightly smaller Boxster and the larger 911 Carrera.

The base model Cayman has the 2.7L H6 engine that produces 245 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 201 lb-ft. of torque from 4,600-6,000 rpm. The fuel economy is impressive considering the performance, getting 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The 3.4L H6 engine of the 2008 Cayman S produces 20% more horsepower, making 296 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 251 lb-ft of torque from 4,440-6,000 rpm, with a 0-60 time in 5.1 seconds. The Cayman S, like the base Cayman, also gets surprisingly good mileage with 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. For ride comfort in either model, you can opt in for Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) that lets you choose between Normal or Sport settings depending on the driving situations and conditions.

The Cayman proves that Porsche can excel at other things than performance, mixing in an appealing look and practicality. Even with the sleek, sloping styling, the rear trunk has more space than the new Honda Accord with room to hold a set of golf clubs while there is even more additional space in the front trunk. For convenience, the Cayman includes the optional Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system, packaging navigation, twenty-three stages of map magnification, and a 5.8-inch color monitor paired to a multifunction steering wheel with controls for audio, navigation, and telephone features.

Discuss the 2008 Cayman model: Porsche Cayman Forums

Specs for the 2008 Porsche Cayman:
Wheels and tires: 6.5J x 17 with 205/55 ZR17 (front) 8J x 17 with 235/50 ZR17 (rear)
Engine: Water-cooled, mid-mounted, horizontally-opposed “Boxer” six-cylinder
Horsepower: 245 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 201 lb-ft. @ 4,600-6,000 rpm
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, or Tiptronic S
Redline: 7,300 rpm
0-60 mph: 5.8 sec.
Fuel economy: 20 city mpg/29 mpg highway
Fuel: Premium unleaded
Base price: $49,400
As tested price: $52,635