Certainly, the car was stylistically and charismatically challenged when compared to some of its more illustrious European competitors, but it delivered solid performance, high levels of comfort and specification, and plenty of space. The South African Guild of Motoring Journalists thought it none too bad either, and voted it the Car of the Year in 1992.

The days of that locally manufactured Maxima are now in the past, with the range being replaced in SA by the fully imported Nissan Maxima QX. Only a single model, powered by a 3,0-litre V6 engine, is available, although buyers have the choice of manual (R187 000) or automatic (R197 550) versions.

The good news is that the positive attributes of the previous model range are still there and mostly have been improved upon. Styling is also far better, in our opinion; and with this comes an improvement in charisma.

We would have thought Nissan SA's marketing team still faced a challenge to convince potential buyers that the QX could match the charm of the likes of the similarly priced BMW 328i, Volvo 850 GLT or Saab 9000 CD. But it seems we thought wrong: a cock-a-hoop Nissan has just announced that demand is exceeding its "most optimistic expectations" and the waiting list now stands at more than six months.

Both private and fleet buyers are taking the QX, say the company's executives, and additional orders have now been placed with Nissan Japan for extra units to fill the backlog.

The car has arrived on SA shores with an international pedigree already in place, particularly in the US, where it has sold well. The magazine Car and Driver named it one of its 10 best cars of 1995 and called it: "a delightful enthusiast's car masquerading as a practical sedan". Another reputable publication, Automobile, said the QX's dynamics "gave it a personality we fell for on the first stretch of open road". On the other side of the Pacific, New Zealanders voted it their Car of the Year recently.

Styling of the new Maxima QX is the result of a joint effort between designers at Nissan Design International in the USA and Nissan Technical Centre in Japan. The company calls the new look "both sporty and sophisticated" while retaining the Maxima heritage.

The gleaming off-bronze (Mink Metallic in Nissan-speak) QX manual which arrived at Topcar's offices for testing certainly projected an air of refined sophistication, but a sporty element seemed lacking, save for the prominent bootlid spoiler.

Certainly, the Maxima is still a big boot/big bonnet car although as we alluded to earlier lines are more flowing and elegant than before. View the car from side-on, and the pronounced but smooth curve of the bonnet moves seamlessly into the sharply raked line of the windscreen and on to the gently curved roofline.

The rear window then flows gently downwards and into the high bootline. By comparison with the long nose of the QX, the rear seems almost stubby, but this is an illusion caused by the long nose and way in which the gentle angle of the rear window and broad C-pillar meet with the bootline.

Characteristic large Maxima overhangs remain at both front and rear, although these are less pronounced than before, thanks to the wheelbase being extended by 50 mm, while retaining the overall length and width of the previous model.

Another change from the previous Maxima is the replacement of the body-coloured beading which passes through the midriff of the car with a black rubber strip that runs from bumper to bumper. This complements the black detailing around the window frames and rear view mirrors and, on our lightly coloured test car at least, provided additional style lines which are pleasing to the eye.

Also aesthetically pleasing are the stylish seven-spoke alloy wheels which carry the imported Bridgestone Potenza RE88 205/65/R15 tyres.

View the Maxima front-on, and there are two prominent style lines which run the length of the bonnet, ending at the bumper, where they bracket a small, but distinctive, grille. Below the bumper sits a long, narrow airdam which also houses two spotlights.

The rear of the QX is noteworthy for the bootlid spoiler with integrated third brakelight, and lights which extend across onto the boot. A plastic panel stretches across the width of the boot and joins the light clusters.

But while the aesthetics of the Maxima QX are pleasantly appealing without stirring any great feelings of excitement, the attributes hidden beneath the skin are among the best you'll find in this class.

Nissan is proud of the new powerplant, dubbed the VQ, which the design team built almost from scratch in conjunction with advanced powertrain engineers at the Nissan Technical Centre in Japan. This will power not only the QX, but other company products through the next decade.

The engineers adopted a short stroke design and a chain-driven, two-stage cam drive that allows the use of a more compact cylinder head. This helped to reduce engine height by 31 mm and width by 100 mm.

The new powerplant is also lighter than its predecessor: using an aluminium engine block rather than a cast iron one has reduced mass by 30 kg; the weight of the pistons, crankshaft and other moving parts has been cut by 5 kg; the valvetrain and cylinder heads by 9 kg. The overall weight reduction is 49 kg a saving of 23 percent. In practical terms, this has translated into less energy loss and engine vibration, with subsequent gains in reliability and engine response.

Other improvements have come in cooling, combustion and idle control, fuel consumption and emissions.

The alchemy has worked; the QX, which delivers 142 kW at 6 400 r/min and 255 Nm of torque at 4 000 r/min, is one of the smoothest and most refined cars we've tested recently. It arguably matches the attributes of its European competitors - which, of course, traditionally set the standard in executive cars. In day-to-day driving conditions there's an unflustered feel to the car, aided by a smooth-as-silk gearchange.

And should the Maxima-owning executive wish to exploit the big V6, there's also a feeling of effortless power as it pushes some 1 400 kg of car from 0 - 60 km/h in 3,81 sec, 0 - 100 km/h in 8,26 sec and to 120 km/h in 11,97 sec. By way of comparison, the BMW 530i tested by Topcar in early 1994 obtained figures of 3,68 sec, 8,57 sec and 12,10 sec respectively.

The QX also delivers its power with ease, thanks in no small part to a limited slip diff which reduces wheelspin to a minimum. Top speed was 223,5 km/h, a creditable figure given that it was obtained at Highveld altitude. To once again use the BMW 530i as a yardstick, the German car attained 227,5 km/h in our top speed test.

Being an upper level executive steed, ABS brakes are standard on the QX, which is equipped with disc brakes all round. Our Gerotek testing showed an average stopping distance of 26,97 m in an average time of 2,36 sec. Over our series of five tests, the best distance achieved was 28,4 m and the best time 2,31 sec. All are figures in line with expectations in this class.

Another area which received careful attention from Nissan's development engineers when they re-designed the new Maxima QX was that of ride and handling. In an effort to find an ideal compromise between ride comfort and dynamic handling, they developed the patented Multi-Link Beam Suspension system.

This adds a lateral link/control rod combination to the lightweight rear torsion beam design which, says Nissan, provides the best balance between handling and ride comfort. The system allows the rear tyres to remain vertical with wheel travel in order to aid stability and enhance cornering capabilities.

Other advantages include less suspension weight, fewer mounting points, and soft-mounted upper and lower shock-absorber points for less noise intrusion into the cabin.

As a result, the QX displays admirable road manners. Stability when cornering at speed or moving through long sweeps is excellent, with a minimum of body roll. Steering is precise and responsive to driver inputs helped by improved suspension mounting point stiffness - while the characteristic understeer associated with front-wheel drive cars is at a minimum.

When travelling in a straight line the car also feels composed, although it becomes a little skittish when driven slowly on bumpy surfaces.

That the Maxima is a big car which handles like a smaller one is a fact which is amply demonstrated by the figures obtained during our standard ISO double lane change test at Gerotek. In one of the most consistent groupings we've seen in some time, the QX recorded a best handling speed over six runs of 114,0 km/h and a worst of 112,7 km/h - giving an average speed through the bollards of 113,6 km/h.

To try to put this into perspective, the average handling time is better than that which we recorded for the little Alfa Romeo 145 in last month's Topcar a car which we were, by the way, particularly impressed with.

Ride quality is further enhanced by the low levels of road noise which emanate from the Bridgestones and the suspension. This is partly due to rubber bushings being incorporated in both the upper and lower shock mounts.

The low noise level contributes to an enjoyable driving experience within the spacious cabin, which also benefits from the extensive use of sound-deadening materials around the compartment, as well as the fitment of electronically controlled and hydraulic engine mountings which reduce vibration when the engine is idling or working hard.

In addition, driver and passengers benefit from extra interior space compared to the old model, thanks mainly to the extended wheelbase. Rear seat passengers, in particular, benefit from the extra room, although tall occupants will find that head space is slightly limited by the sloping roofline.

The cabin is elegant and plush, offering every comfort expected by buyers at this level. Upholstery in our test machine comprised classy stitched grey leather throughout, including the door inlays, steering wheel and gearknob. Polished wood grain panels on the centre console, radio and front/rear armrests add to the luxury ambience.

Once the driver slips behind the wheel, he finds himself seated in a well-sculpted and comfortable 'S-shape' seat which is eight-way adjustable. And if comfort is still unattainable, there's adjustable lumbar support, the headrests are multi-adjustable and the steering wheel can be adapted to suit via a tilt lever. A four-way adjustable seat is standard for the front seat passenger.

The instrument binnacle is well laid out and logical. Cruise control switches can be activated from the steering wheel and there's a climate control system and Pioneer radio/tape/CD. The latter is standard for the Southern African market. Other features include central locking, electric windows and mirrors, heated mirrors, lockable glovebox, and a fold-out rear armrest. The latter reveals a flap which opens into the boot to allow long, narrow items to be transported.

Safety is catered for via an airbag for both driver and front passenger, and seatbelts which are of the automatic locking/rectractor design. Seatbelts for the front occupants are height adjustable. The entire cabin has been strengthened, and now has increased torsional and bending stiffness. Front side members, side sills, A-pillars and the area behind the rear doors have also been reinforced.

Conclusion - The Nissan Maxima QX left Topcar's testers in something of a quandary as our notes and performance figures were reviewed before committing this compact road test to paper. Usually there are many positives which are then balanced by a number of negatives. In this instance, the 'For' column was lengthy and comprehensive, while the 'Against' one was almost non-existent.

Being that a road test is about gut-feel, personal opinion and hard scientific fact in equal measure, our negatives are based on the first two immeasurables, rather than the latter. Styling is not bland, but competent rather than eye-catching or exciting. Similarly, the QX seems to lack the excitement of a BMW, the presence of a Mercedes-Benz, or the 'dare to be different' attitude of a Saab of Volvo.

But look at the 'hard facts' and the QX is up there with the best. It has a smooth and powerful engine, excellent ride and handling, great comfort, space in abundance, and all the luxury features necessary in this class at a competitive price.

If you're an executive who places practicality above the need to make a social statement with your car, the latest incarnation of Nissan's Big Max is worth a second look. The six month waiting list shows many buyers are doing just that.