Nissan’s Maxima sedan has returned to Korea with stronger performance and an upscale feel.

The Japanese carmaker’s all-new Maxima, which had its Asia launch on Oct. 1 in Seoul, is a four-door sports sedan boasting 303 horsepower.

The 2016 Nissan Maxima, ranked the first in the “affordable large car category” by U.S. News & World Report, has one of the most powerful non-turbocharge six-cylinder engines on the market.

Under the hood, the all-new Nissan Maxima’s 3.5-liter VQ-series V6 engine has been redesigned with more than 60 percent new components compared to the previous generation’s 3.5-liter V6.

A continuously variable transmission, or CVT, is standard, and test drivers say it responds better than most CVTs because of the way it simulates a conventional automatic.

“Backed by low oil prices, we were confident that 2016 Maxima would appeal to Korean car buyers, who have sought gasoline-powered sports sedans at an affordable price,” a Nissan Korea official said. The new Maxima is priced at 43.7 million won ($38,700) here, including tax.

Industry watchers said the all-new Nissan Maxima could be a game-changer that sets a new benchmark for the driving experience in the premium midsize sports sedan market where German carmakers are dominant.

Rivals for the new Maxima here are not only traditional big imported cars like the Chrysler 300, but also smaller, sportier entries like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.

On top of driving performance, the 2016 Nissan Maxima’s upscale feel and premium materials earn praise from car reviewers as forming one of the best interiors available in its price range.

The new Maxima’s cabin offers a dynamic and futuristic aesthetic and a low-gravity seat made of premium leather etched with a diamond quilt design.

“It is too early to talk about the success of Nissan’s luxury sedan, but sales of the eighth generation of the Maxima are exceeding market expectations, reaching 185 units as of Oct. 19, three weeks after the launch,” a company official said.

The new Maxima also strengths safety features. New safety and convenience features available for the 2016 model include a 360-degree parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a forward collision warning system with automatic braking.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)