2021 Nissan Maxima Review

　　

2021 Nissan Maxima Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Drivers with a penchant for performance are usually willing to make sacrifices for a sporty edge. The Nissan Maxima has long catered to this set by offering standard V6 power and sharper handling than the typical midsize sedan. With the 2021 Maxima, you get a 300-horsepower V6 plus lots of standard features. Even the base-trim Maxima comes with leather upholstery, for instance.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 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 SV

　　Maxima 3.5 SV

　　3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) - $37,090 MSRP3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) - $42,250 MSRP3.5 Platinum 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $42,320 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Unfortunately, the 2021 Maxima, which is part of the eight-generation car that debuted for 2015, has little else to distinguish itself. Fresher rivals, such as the Honda Accord, Kia K5 and Toyota Camry, offer similar performance potential with fewer compromises. They typically cost less, too. We generally suggest going with one of these rivals, but check out the categories of our Expert Rating to learn more about the Maxima's strengths and weaknesses.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Maxima drive? The Maxima isn't quite the "four-door sports car" that Nissan says it is. It's not even really a sport sedan. But it is a sporty midsize sedan, with above-average handling and strong acceleration from a V6 engine. Oddly, the Maxima feels heavy at low speeds but lighter and more agile as speed increases.

　　This sensation largely comes down to the steering feel. In many cars it's the opposite — lighter at parking-lot speeds and heavier at higher speeds. In turns and corners, the Maxima's dynamic limits are fairly low, but the car communicates well enough that drivers can be confident not to overstep them. Overall, this Nissan is a friendly and easy car to drive.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Maxima? The Maxima's quiet cabin — a joint effort involving acoustic glass, ample sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation — gives the sedan a premium feel out on the road. The ride is firm and controlled, and the suspension does well at absorbing bumps and road imperfections. (A firmer sport suspension is available for drivers willing to trade ride comfort for sharper handling.) Overall, the Maxima rides better than most midsize family sedans and more like an entry-level luxury car.

　　The Maxima's seats also straddle the line between sporty support and long-distance comfort. They'll keep you in place through fast corners but remain comfortable for long stretches.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Maxima's interior looks great, the controls are easy to use, and the infotainment system's structure is logical. But there's a price to pay for the Maxima's sleek exterior design. Passenger space is limited, and the cabin feels small. Front passengers get decent headroom, but intrusions in the footwells and high armrests make things feel cramped.

　　Rear passengers endure even less legroom and headroom. And getting in and out of the Maxima, particularly for those in the rear seat, is more work than it should be. Visibility also leaves something to be desired, and the front corners of the car are hard to judge. Useful side mirrors and safety aids help for awareness.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Nissan's technology features are easy to use, but aside from up to two USB-C ports (in addition to two regular ones) and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, the infotainment feels dated and behind the curve. The stereo and touchscreen are adequate, especially if you like bass, but other midsize sedans cost less and offer more fully featured systems and better audio.

　　Most basic infotainment features can be controlled through voice command, but we found the system finicky about word choice and phrasing. Driver aids are also limited. Adaptive cruise control works well and can bring the car to a complete stop, but Nissan's innovative ProPilot package isn't offered.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Considering the Maxima's size, its overall cargo capacity is disappointing. The Maxima lags behind similarly sized cars in both small-item storage and trunk space, but the trunk has a wide and low opening, which makes for easy loading. Additional useful features include hooks for hanging shopping bags and in-trunk pull tabs to release the fold-down seats.

　　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.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? At 24 mpg combined (20 city/30 highway), the Maxima falls short of midsize competitors with upgraded engines. In our time with the car, we had trouble matching EPA numbers, falling short even of the city mpg estimate. The fact that 91 octane is recommended adds even more cost.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Maxima a good value? The Maxima tries to thread a line between a near-luxury car and one that delivers better-than-average performance. It doesn't quite succeed at either. Sure, the interior looks nice with a veneer of luxury and many touch points covered in soft or premium materials. It also offers a measure of sophisticated handling and performance, but nothing you can't get from another competitor for less money.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The Maxima manages to capture a sense of luxury and sportiness in an accessible package, even if it doesn't quite excel at either. It's a car designed to make the driver feel good. Largely it succeeds, even if it's far from the best value.

　　

Which Maxima does zzdcar recommend?

Since one of the Maxima's few selling points is its sporty performance, we suggest the SR trim that comes with a stiffer suspension for sharper handling. You also get some comfort and safety features to help justify the added cost.

　　

2021 Nissan Maxima models

The 2021 Nissan Maxima is a midsize sedan that is offered in SV, SR and Platinum trims. Powering all Maxima models is a 3.5-liter V6 engine (300 horsepower, 261 lb-ft of torque) that is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives the front wheels. Standard feature highlights include:

　　SV

　　The base SV trim starts you out with:

　　LED headlights Keyless entry and ignition Dual-zone automatic climate control Leather upholstery Heated front seats Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration 8-inch touchscreen Remote vehicle monitoring and control Eight-speaker audio system In-car Wi-Fi hotspot Satellite radio Standard advanced safety features include: Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Automatic high beams Traffic sign reader Drowsy driver monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) SR

　　The sporty SR trim adds plenty of racy touches and a few convenience features such as:

　　Foglights Sunroof Sport-tuned suspension Ventilated front seats Driver-seat memory functions Faux-suede seat upholstery elements Heated steering wheel Paddle shifters 11-speaker Bose audio system Additional safety features such as: Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Platinum

　　The top-of-the-line Platinum model goes without the SR's sport-tuned suspension and paddle shifters but adds:

　　Automatic wipers Premium leather upholstery Rear window sunshade40th Anniversary package

　　The Platinum trim is eligible for this option that commemorates the Maxima's history with:

　　Two-tone paint Unique interior and exterior trim Premium leather upholstery Heated rear seats

　　

2021 Maxima Highlights

Trim: 3.5 SV3.5 SR3.5 Platinum3.5 SV

　　

Base MSRP	$37,090
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