My, What a Nice Little Maxima.

When Nissan unveiled a new Sentra, one journalist was heard to say, "My, what a nice Corolla." After all, the Sentra has been the economy bread-and-butter of Nissan's lineup for some time. Then I got into it and closed the door, and the world went away.

Now that we've also driven the Sentra, it's clear that this isn't a baseline car anymore. It's moved up a class -- in refinement, if not in size. Tasteful interior appointments; quiet ride; styling; and particularly its handling make the Sentra look and feel more like a smaller Maxima than the economy box it used to be.

Although the drivetrains haven't changed much, the more refined Sentra steps out briskly, and a stiffer chassis -- particularly when coupled to the SE suspension -- invites you to throw it through corners.

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An E for Effort.

Earlier this year, we touted the Maxima as proof that Nissan was coming back from some questionable decisions about their product line. Nissan had decided to drop sports cars and sporty cars from its lineup, to focus on sedans. But the world discovered SUVs, landing Nissan in serious financial straits that meant even the sedans weren't as good as they should be.

Under new leadership, and with a cash infusion from Renault, Nissan has produced winning SUVs, replaced its pickups, and will soon get back in the sports car market. The tremendous new Maxima and stunning Sentra leave only the Altima to complete the rejuvenation of the lineup.

That's a lot of work in just a few years, and Nissan should be proud. And now comes the cherry on top. The company is deciding whether one last thing needs fixing. They don't like the corporate logo anymore.

Then again, with the cars speaking so well of Nissan, who needs a badge on the nose?