2021 Nissan Maxima Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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As the 2021 Nissan Maxima enters middle age, the full-size sedan takes on a more relaxed character.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima celebrates 40 years on sale, making it one of the oldest Japanese automotive nameplates in continuous use. While it’s impressive for any model to survive four decades, the Maxima has spent most of its history mired in mediocrity.
The Nissan Maxima name first appeared in 1981 as a rebranding of the Datsun 810 sedan. The original Maxima/810 was a true enthusiast’s car, boasting rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a sporty character that led Nissan to declare it a “four-door sports car.” However, that only lasted for a few years.
With its first redesign for the 1985 model year, the Maxima switched to front-wheel drive (FWD) and was positioned as Nissan’s flagship sedan. It’s been that way ever since. Nissan has continued to gesture in the direction of that original RWD model, but for most of its 40 years, the Maxima has been a slightly sportier alternative to full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon, rather than a BMW beater.
So it is with the current, eighth-generation, Maxima, which debuted for the 2016 model year. It enters the 2021 model year with few changes. We drove the Nissan Maxima Platinum trim level for this review.
As one would expect of a flagship sedan, the current-generation Maxima has set the tone for other Nissan models. Styling elements that debuted on the Maxima—including a “floating” roofline and “V-Motion” grille—have since been applied to those other models, including the smaller Altima, Sentra, and Versa sedans.
The Maxima mainly distinguishes itself from the other Nissan sedans by going bolder. With its steeply-angled front end and massive grille, it looks like an Art Deco locomotive going down the road. It’s also worth noting that the current Toyota Avalon is equally bizarre looking.
The 40th Anniversary Edition trim shown here is not available in Canada, though certain elements are offered on the SR grade such as 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, black exterior trim (including exhaust tips), and heated rear seats, the latter being standard equipment.
The Maxima is available only with a 3.5-litre V6 making 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and FWD. Shoppers in snowier climates should note that the Kia Stinger, Toyota Avalon, and Volkswagen Arteon are available with all-wheel drive (AWD), although that comes with a big power penalty in the Toyota.
If you’re expecting a “four-door sports car,” you’ll be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean the Maxima is a bad car to drive. It felt as quick as its 300 hp would suggest, and the V6 engine sounded great. A CVT is usually a buzzkill, but this was one of the better examples we’ve experienced. It had no problem meting out power, responding more quickly than some conventional automatic transmissions we can think of. Pairing that transmission to a naturally-aspirated V6, rather than a smaller turbocharged engine, as in the most potent Nissan Altima, likely helped.
The Maxima can also be decent fun in the corners, but that’s also where its limits start to show. While it proved remarkably agile for a big sedan, the helm was a mess of garbled communication.
The steering itself lacked feel and precision, making it hard to tell what a given amount of input would actually do. The front end also lacked grip and, like many powerful FWD cars, the Maxima is susceptible to torque steer, a tug at the steering wheel under heavy throttle. It’s not catastrophic, but it is there, sapping confidence and making the Maxima that much less enjoyable to drive on a twisty road.
Compared to the competition, though, the Maxima still looks good. It’s clear that Nissan designed the Maxima to be sporty from the beginning. The Volkswagen Arteon emphasizes comfort over performance. Only the Kia Stinger truly tops the Maxima, and that’s because it offers RWD.
At a more relaxed pace, the Maxima felt more in its element. The cabin was quiet (thanks in part to active noise cancellation) and, freed from the multitasking of hard cornering, the car felt rock-solid during highway cruising. Nissan did give the Maxima a fairly stiff suspension to improve handling, but the ride was still comfortable over all but the worst road imperfections, despite our test car's 19-inch wheels.
The Maxima gives the driver and front passenger a generous amount of space at the expense of rear-seat passengers. Front headroom and front legroom are the highest among the Maxima’s competitive set, but rear headroom is near the bottom of the class, and rear legroom is the worst among current full-size sedans.
Nissan also positioned the seats far inboard. That’s (probably) good for weight distribution, but not for creating a feeling of spaciousness. Despite the generous front headroom and legroom, we still felt cramped because of how close the centre console was to the driver’s right side. That should have at least made it easy to reach controls and cupholders, but some things, such as the knobs for the heated seats, were positioned too far aft requiring an awkward arm twist.
That oversight aside, the Maxima is clearly a “driver’s car,” in the sense that the cabin is designed around the driver. Rear-seat passengers may get a cramped feeling, but the driver gets an expansive view of the road, along with excellent side visibility thanks to a low window line and large exterior mirrors.
Like most Nissan models, the Maxima features Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” front seats. If you haven’t heard the sales pitch, they’re designed using NASA research on the human body for optimum support. The Maxima versions get eight-way power adjustment for the driver, four-way power adjustment for the passenger, three-way foam padding, and extra bolstering. They were very comfortable, but we still would’ve liked a bit more thigh bolstering.
At 405 litres, the Maxima has the least cargo space in its competitive set. While the Nissan is a sedan with a conventional trunk, the Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon are hatchbacks, providing a bigger aperture for loading and unloading cargo.
Technology is where the Maxima starts to show its age. While the standard infotainment system covers the bases in terms of feature content, it falls short on functionality.
The Maxima comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. A built-in WiFi hotspot is also newly standard for the 2021 model year and Nissan included both USB-A and USB-C ports. They’re located in a cubbyhole where you can also stash your phone, removing the temptation to use it while driving. An 11-speaker Bose audio system is also standard.
Those are the basic features you should expect in a mainstream infotainment system, but the Maxima’s system was unpleasant to use. The touchscreen’s graphics looked dated, and small icons made it difficult to navigate menus while driving. Also dated were the various notification sounds, some of which also sounded like emergency warnings. We couldn’t tell if we were receiving a text message or about to crash into someone.
Nissan did at least provide plenty of analog controls, including shortcut buttons for most touchscreen menus, as well as knobs for climate control and audio volume/tuning. That means you don’t have to rely on the touchscreen, although the jarring notification sounds appear unavoidable.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima received an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+” rating—the organization’s highest. It got top “Good” scores in all crash tests, and the top “Superior” rating for front crash prevention tech, although headlights were only rated “Average.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2021 Maxima a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal, side, and rollover crash tests.
Standard safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 banner include automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Additional standard features include adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system is available on the SR and Platinum grades. We appreciate that Nissan included a large button for the camera view right on the dashboard, rather than hiding it, as many automakers do.
The Maxima doesn’t get the ProPilot Assist system available in the midsize Nissan Altima sedan and Nissan Rogue crossover. This adds automated lane centring to the adaptive cruise control, but still requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel at all times. That’s not a big deal, though, as the hands-on nature of ProPilot Assist limits its practicality.
Natural Resources Canada ratings for the 2021 Nissan Maxima are 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined (11.6 L/100 km city, 7.9 highway). A V6 Toyota Avalon does slightly better, and the AWD Avalon with the 2.5-litre engine achieves even lower numbers. The Nissan also burns more fuel than the Volkswagen Arteon, but that’s not surprising, as the VW uses a smaller turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Despite a mix of highway and city driving, we only managed 11.4 L/100 km during our week with the Maxima.
Nissan offers a three-year, 60,000 km, basic warranty and five-year, 100,000 km, powertrain warranty.
Pricing starts at an MSRP of $41,440 for the base Maxima SL trim level, rising to $44,490 for the Maxima SR, and $46,100 for the range-topping Maxima Platinum. That’s less than you’ll pay for a fully-loaded Toyota Avalon or VW Arteon. A $1,960 destination charge is extra.
The Maxima offers a better blend of sportiness and comfort than those two vehicles but lacks the VW’s more modern infotainment system and the Toyota’s spacious back seat. Expanding the field a bit further, the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger offer V8 power and a retro feel, but with lower-quality interiors and worse fuel efficiency, while the Kia Stinger offers a better driving experience and a longer warranty. The Honda Accord is considered a midsize sedan, but it's still pretty spacious, and pretty nice to drive as well, although it doesn't feel as special as the other cars mentioned here.
Overall, the Maxima is a solid choice for anyone looking for a big sedan. It’s enjoyable to drive, feels more upscale than most other Nissan models, received the highest IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings, and is competitively priced. It may not be a “four-door sports car” anymore, but that hasn’t been the case for a long time. Maybe it’s time to move on?
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2021 Nissan Maxima Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.1 · Rear brake width: .63 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): USB front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: bin · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 5.25
Engine
Alternator: 150 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: SiriusXM Movie Listing · Infotainment: NissanConnect · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in. · Warnings and reminders: low washer fluid
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front pedestrian · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Parking sensors: rear · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 24 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear shock type: monotube · Rear stabilizer bar: diameter 27 mm
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: NissanConnect · Smart device app function: vehicle location · Wifi: hotspot compatible
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive · Power windows: remote operation
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: element · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 10
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.1 · Rear brake width: .63 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with pass-thru · Floor Material: carpet · Foot pedal trim: aluminum · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): USB front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: voice recognition controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 5.25
Engine
Alternator: 150 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: decklid · Rear spoiler color: black · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: NissanConnect · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in. · Warnings and reminders: low washer fluid
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: reverse gear tilt
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close · Moonroof / Sunroof: power sunshade
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: rear · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather-trimmed · Upholstery accents: faux suede
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 26 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear shock type: monotube · Rear stabilizer bar: diameter 27 mm
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: NissanConnect · Smart device app function: lock operation · Wifi: hotspot compatible
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 10
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.1 · Rear brake width: .63 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with pass-thru · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: front seatback · Sunshade: power rear window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 5.25
Engine
Alternator: 150 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust: integrated exhaust · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: SiriusXM Travel Link · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in. · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: anti-trapping feature · Moonroof / Sunroof: power sunshade
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front pedestrian · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather-trimmed · Upholstery accents: leather
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 24 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear shock type: monotube · Rear stabilizer bar: diameter 27 mm
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: DVD navigation system · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: NissanConnect · Smart device app function: lock operation · Wifi: hotspot compatible
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse