2019 Nissan Maxima Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

Updated front and rear styling with standard LED headlightsMore standard and optional safety featuresNew Reserve package for Platinum models includes diamond-quilted leather seatsPart of the eighth Maxima generation introduced for 2016

　　The 2019 Nissan Maxima is a midsize sedan with a bit of twist. Nissan differentiates the Maxima by calling it the "four-door sports car" of the category. Now, sports car aficionados will beg to differ, but the statement does have some merit. The Maxima is typically more responsive to steering inputs than its rivals, and its standard V6 engine produces a healthy 300 horsepower.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 S 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$193/mo  for Maxima 3.5 S

　　Maxima 3.5 S

　　3.5 S 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) - $34,050 MSRP3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) - $36,060 MSRP3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) - $38,540 MSRP3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) - $39,630 MSRPPlatinum 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $41,540 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　On the inside, you'll notice an easy-to-use and comfortable cabin. Most functions can be accessed and controlled via touchscreen, direct button access, a rotary knob, or even voice control, making the learning curve very shallow. The Platinum trim gets stylish trim pieces and luxurious quilted leather seats, while the SR gets a combination of leather upholstery, simulated-suede seat inserts and contrasting orange stitching.

　　This dual sport-and-luxury aspect is the Maxima's primary draw. But it's not the only sedan with these qualities. The 2019 Toyota Camry XSE V6 produces 301 horsepower from its V6 engine, and its smoother ride and larger interior and cargo space will appeal to more buyers. And from a price perspective, the 2019 Mazda 6 Signature has similar levels of luxury and handling capability for less money. But if both performance and luxury are what you want, the Maxima might be worth a look.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Nissan Maxima Platinum (3.5L V6 | CVT automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The Maxima isn't a "four-door sports car" as Nissan claims. It's not even a sport sedan, but it is impressive for a midsize sedan, with above-average handling and strong acceleration from the 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Torque steer is evident, though.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　The V6 doesn't feel particularly assertive in typical driving. But its power delivery is smooth and our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds is good but slower than some competitors with upgraded engines. There's noticeable torque steer under hard acceleration.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　Firm brake pedal is reassuring and easy to modulate. In our tests, the Maxima came to a stop from 60 mph in 128 feet, which is acceptable, if a bit behind top competitors. But the results were consistent, and we experienced minimal brake fade.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering is heavy enough at parking speeds that it may be a deal-breaker for some drivers. At speed, it lightens up, becoming fluid and responsive with a good amount of feedback from the road.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　The Maxima offers above-average handling, remaining stable and predictable through corners. Its limits are relatively low, but the car is communicative enough to make the driver confident in not unexpectedly overstepping them.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The CVT automatic responds quickly and smoothly, and the faked gear shifts under acceleration make it feel a bit more familiar. It's a little sleepy in Normal mode, but Sport mode makes it feel much snappier. Heavy low-speed steering aside, the Maxima is friendly and easy to drive.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　The Maxima is a quiet car with a ride that nicely toes the line between comfort and feel for the road, and it isn't tripped up by bigger bumps. It is certainly akin to entry-level luxury cars and a step up from most midsize family sedans.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　The Maxima's front seats are comfortable but sporty. They're firmer, with pronounced bolstering to keep you in place, with adjustable thigh support for the driver. There is a slight concavity in the seatback and forward headrests that make some seating positions less comfortable.

　　

Ride comfort

9.0

　　The ride is well-controlled, absorbing speed humps and bumps easily and maintaining the car's composure. The Maxima keeps you feeling connected to the road, but it has a pleasantly less busier ride than most sedans. A firmer sport suspension is available, but we can't see the appeal.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　Acoustic glass, ample sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation result in a notably quiet cabin. The CVT automatic thankfully doesn't create intrusive droning noises.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The climate control system is straightforward to use, and it easily maintains temperature. The heated and ventilated seat controls use knob-based controls that we like, and the system effectively blows cold and hot air. The dual-zone system has trouble with temperature splits of more than a few degrees.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　Overall, the Maxima's interior looks great and the controls are easy to use. But passenger space is limited, and entering and exiting can be difficult, especially in the rather tight back seat. Visibility also leaves something to be desired, though useful side mirrors and safety aids help.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　The controls are generally well-labeled and easy to find. Nissan's infotainment system is logically structured and offers physical button shortcuts to important functions. The redundant rotary controller is a mixed bag. It's primarily meant for use with nav functions, so it doesn't offer the smoothest integration elsewhere.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.0

　　The long front doors help some with entering and exiting if you have room to open them fully, especially considering the very wide doorsills. The rear doors are shorter, and getting into the rear requires ducking forward quite a bit, making for some awkward maneuvers.

　　

Driving position

7.5

　　The Maxima encourages a low, slung-back seating position. The high armrests can be a problem for shorter drivers, where they will impinge on elbow room rather than provide support. The sporty setup doesn't mesh well with a more upright driving position.

　　

Roominess

5.5

　　The front seats have decent headroom, although the cabin feels small. Front passengers have intrusions into their footwells. Rear-seat legroom is tight behind taller front passengers, and headroom is severely limited. Even adults of average height will notice the cramped conditions.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　The windscreen is pushed far enough forward that the roof pillars are consistently in your forward view, and the front corners of the car are hard to judge. The convex side mirrors provide a wide view, and the blind-spot monitor helps, but the massive rear pillars severely hamper the driver's over-the-shoulder view.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　Nissan has generally made the Maxima's interior look nice, giving it a veneer of luxury. Quite a few touchpoints are covered with soft-touch or more premium materials. Plastics have been treated to make them seem less cheap. Still elements of the interior can feel flimsy.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The Maxima's overall cargo capacity is disappointing considering the vehicle's exterior size. In terms of both trunk space and small-item storage, it ranks behind similarly sized vehicles. That said, the Maxima has a few tricks to add some convenience back.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　Front passengers get a cellphone cubby, a medium-size center console box, and door pockets capable of holding water bottles. The front cupholders lack anti-tip features. Rear passengers also get cupholders and door pockets with space for water bottles. Storage is useful but par for the course in modern midsize sedans.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　The Maxima's trunk has a wide opening, and liftover isn't too high for a sedan. Built-in folding hooks for hanging shopping bags and in-trunk pull tabs to release the fold-down seats are useful extras. Significant wheelwell intrusions mean the total space is 14.3 cubic feet, which is just shy of average and a few cubic feet behind class leaders.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　The Maxima has four clearly marked lower car-seat anchors across the back seat and sufficient space for most car seats. The downside is the sloping rear door opening that will require some parental contortions for access.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　Nissan's technology features are easy to use. Smartphone integration is standard, and the Maxima offers quite a few features standard or on low to midtrim levels. However, the overall functionality and appearance are a bit behind the curve of the newest systems from competitors.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　The Maxima's stereo and touchscreen are acceptable, especially if you're looking for a lot of bass delivery, but behind the curve. You can get more fully featured systems and more balanced stereos in midsize cars that cost significantly less.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features, and both the front and back seats get a USB and USB-C port, for four total. Both front ports connect to the head unit via USB. Integration is largely smooth, although we experienced occasional connectivity issues with multiple devices.

　　

Driver aids

6.5

　　Because of its old-fashioned steering, the Maxima can't get lane keeping assist, only lane departure warning. Adaptive cruise works well and can bring the car to a stop, although it automatically deactivates and releases the brakes after a few seconds at a standstill. In fact, there's no brake hold feature at all.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　Nissan's voice controls have relatively limited functionality, but you can use commands for most basic features. The system can be finicky about phrasing and word choice. A list of prompts is displayed on-screen, but you can skip intermediary commands if you get the phrasing right.

　　

Which Maxima does zzdcar recommend?

　　If you're looking at the Maxima, it's because you want something that rides and handles more like a sports car. For that reason, we'd opt for the SR. This trim comes with retuned dampers, stiffer springs, and a larger front stabilizer bar to optimize the car's handling ability. It also has paddle shifters to give some control of the transmission back to the driver.

　　

2019 Nissan Maxima models

　　The 2019 Nissan Maxima sedan comes in five trim levels: S, SV, SL, SR and Platinum. The S comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (300 horsepower, 261 pound-feet of torque) that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission.

　　Standard features include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, foglights, remote engine start, keyless entry and ignition, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, adjustable driving modes, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split rear seat, a navigation system, an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and an eight-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

　　Standard safety systems include a rearview camera and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

　　The Maxima SV adds navigation, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, heated mirrors, heated front seats, leather upholstery, and an upgraded driver seat. The SL doesn't cost much more, and its impressive list of extra features includes a dual-panel sunroof, active noise reduction, front and rear parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, and a Bose premium audio system.

　　The SR upgrades with 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters, active engine sound enhancement, and a few braking-based features that subtly enhance the car's ride and handling. The panoramic sunroof is no longer standard, but the SR does add a few luxury features such as ventilated front seats, simulated-suede seat inserts, special interior trim, and rear collision mitigation.

　　The top-trim Platinum does away with some of the SR's performance add-ons, though it retains the ventilated front seats. It then adds automatic wipers, a surround-view parking camera, a power-adjustable steering column, driver-seat memory functions, a power-adjustable passenger seat, upgraded leather upholstery and interior trim, a rear power sunshade, and NissanConnect services. Finally, this year's new Platinum Reserve option package adds premium leather upholstery, heated rear seats and bronze-look interior trim.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Maxima articles

　　

2019 Maxima Highlights

Trim: 3.5 S3.5 SV3.5 SL3.5 SRPlatinum3.5 S

　　

Base MSRP	$34,050
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$193/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles