Nissan Maxima (1995 - 1999) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

It definitely feels like youre driving a sports sedan because the acceleration and braking are top notch. The car is still Nissans flagship sedan and this car can outperform many brand new cars. I have owned this car for about 8 months and it doesnt look too sporty of car but it the engine feels powerful compared to a lot of cars out in the road. The fuel economy is good and the space inside the car is huge. Ive sat my friends and family and nobody ever complains. I actually fit a wheelchair in the trunk! I drive alone most of the time but this would be a perfect family sedan. I wanted a bmw but my maxima has definitely impressed me.Nov 28, 2012

165,000 Miles and she still runs like she is brand new, the nissan VQ engine is a phenomanon, with just 3 liter the twin cam V-6 is just a dream, the power sometimes even surprises me, punch her and she takes off, drive mellow and she is serene, the only major item I have replaced is the alternator at 150,00 miles, she starts on the first start everytime, check engine light came on once, had to replace one of my direct coils, and that's all the work I've done, had 1987 Nissan Maxima before, had till 200,00 miles and until my brother overheated her and blew the head gasket, 110 deg La heat, 8 highschool kids in the car, A/C full blast, and paying no attention to the temp guage, would have rebuilt the engine if I had the time, The maxima has and will always be the 4DSC, the four door sports car, in my mindOct 10, 2012

Great everyday vehicle. Bought it with about 65k, 5 years later now at 151k.. Never needed anything but brakes and tires till this year.. Replaced calipers, rotors, pads, ball joints, pass half shaft, all o2 sensors (3 of them), knock sensor, mid pipe and muffler, heated seat switches, starter, alternator, and battery, and more can't recall at the moment.. All worth it, this car runs perfect, always did, most of the things replaced were for inspection and emmissions. Car throws no codes. Of course the usual places are wearing out (edge of seat, few dings on body), but no rust, everything inside and outside works, power and heated seats, power antenna, and sunroof/moonroof.. I would trust my maxima to drive cross country, this 3.0 liter is fun to drive, never been so satisfied with this maxima. probaly gonna buy a new or late model maxima eventuallyJun 06, 2011

car has a great fit and finish.all controls have a good solid feel.quality materials used that hold up well.styling of the vehicle never seems to date itself,has a sophisticated but sporty look for a four door!they recommend premium gas which does help with performance,but is not necessary.gas mileage is about 28-30 mpg combined driving.repairs are typically slightly higher than the average car,but reliability is worth the little extra!the car is fun to drive and the ride and performance are great.handles like a sports car when you run low profile michelin tires on it.had my maxima for 4 years and replaced the struts,drive axles,and egr valve.thats about it other than regular maintenance.runs smooth,quiet,and strong with 162000 miles!Apr 03, 2011

Performance: Quick 4 door! 0-60 in under 7 seconds, and the 1/4 in high 14s (modified) Build Quality: Top of the line! Appearance: The car could use some changes with the front fascia and such...Nissan did this in '97-99 models. Cost of Ownership: Not too bad, did basic maintenance. Got 31mpg on a trip to florida Fun Factor: One of the funnest FWDs I've driven.Aug 23, 2010

For what it is....a mid-level, modestly-priced Japanese 4-door sedan....the Maxima is an impressive car; and doesn't receive half the credit it deserves. Manual transmission models from 1995-2003 were (for their time) one of the best-kept secrets.....due to a very good power-to-weight ratio and and industry-leading V6 engine that was shared with the 300ZX sports car. Handling isn't great, due to a simple solid-beam rear axle(to keep weight down), and soft shock absorbers. SE models, with a better wheel / suspension package, are fun to drive; and don't exhibit as much understeer as the comparable (but incredibly front-heavy) Accord V6. For its time, the Maxima was the only Japanese-built 4-door sports sedan with a V6 engine and a manual transmission. Oct 06, 2009

I bought my Nissan Maxima not long after I sold my previous car, a Daihatsu Charade. The advert was on carsales.com.au and it turned out, by a sheer coincidence, to be very close by (Bronte) and was being sold by an old friend of Dad's. Looked at the car that Sunday; and was instantly ready to buy it. People had been queuing up to see it and waiting to buy it, but the seller held it for us. The next day I paid for the car and took it to the RTA where it became my car. And what a car. The Nissan Maxima A32 (the series to which my car belongs) has got to be one of the best used-car buys, period. The car is immensely solid, indeed even more solid than a Commodore, with far more of a luxury feel. The doors open and shut with a nice solid sound, not the clang you get on a Commodore. Everything about the car is solid. The interior is plush and well-appointed. The seats are velour, but this is in no way a bad thing. They have got to be the most comfortable car seats I've ever been in. Even the back seat, usually the most neglected part of a car, is immensely comfortable - "like a sofa". There is a fold-down armrest of course. Legroom is ample, comfort is excellent. The interior carries with it the feel of solidity as well - very few squeaks or rattles, everything is built very well. The standard features list is equally impressive. Mine is a 30G; and it has automatic climate-control air con which works very well; power windows with an auto-up on the driver's side; power mirrors; cruise control; power steering; ABS; alloy wheels; an alarm; remote central locking; independent rear suspension; six-speaker stereo with cassette, radio and CD; as well as seatbelt pretensioners and a driver's airbag. Now we can come to the greatest asset of the car - the engine. My Maxima has done nearly 200,000kms; and the engine has got to be the smoothest, quietest and most powerful of everything I have driven. At 200,000kms it is better than a Commodore's V6 at 120,000kms. The amount of grunt you can get out of the motor is awesome - it can get the Maxima up to speed very briskly. And it does all that with a minimum of fuss - it hardly makes any noise, and smoothly winds up to speed. The motor cruises at barely above 1000rpm which is excellent. On the highway it does 90km/h at 2000rpm which has got to be the best I've seen. A low-revving motor is a reliable motor. The VQ30 engine in my car has been awarded Best Engine for a consecutive five years in the USA. That's no easy feat, and it's obvious to me why it was awarded; because it's an absolute jewel of an engine. The car is very easy to drive, the steering is very well-weighted and the car handles very, very well. Body roll is suppressed going round corners; the car manages to stay flat to the ground most of the time. The ride has got to be the best I've experienced. The suspension is soft, but not floaty or wallowy at all. It does a great job of soaking up the bumps; and the independent rear suspension is also to thank for that. The Maxima costs more to run than my previous car - a Charade!! However it is no gas guzzler, not by a long shot. It's quite easy on fuel. It gets an easy 400km to the tank around town - which is excellent. On the highway it can manage at least twice that. Going from Sydney to the Blue Mountains and back it used up about 12 litres - excellent. All in all I gladly pay the extra money for a car of real quality. The V6 rewards you all the time. Maintenance is cheap enough - it costs no more than my Charade did for a service, and it's had less problems too, at a higher mileage to boot! So far I've only had to have the brakes fixed - all that was needed was new pads and remachined discs. After that, the car's stopping power increased and it's brakes are like brand new. It's worth the money. It cost, all up, $300 including the service where I was told nothing needed replacing besides the oil and oil filter. It's a rewarding car to drive, so easy, and it challenges your expectations of a Japanese car in every way. It's quicker than a Commodore and is miles ahead in refinement, quality, reliability and economy. Interior spaces easily equals the Commodore, yet the Maxima is so much quieter and more refined to drive, it walks all over it. Appearance-wise, it's appealing, not breath-taking, but very easy to live with. It looks good, it is impressive. It looks like an expensive car. It's definitely aged a lot better than some of it's contemporaries. The styling is pleasant, but also safe from a driving point of view, because you can actually see where you're going inside the car unlike a Commodore where you can't see anything through the back window. All in all, I'd recommend a Maxima to anyone. They're excellent cars, mechanics agree, and they are just as safe as the Commodore from the same era; but as for refinement, build quality, economy, reliability etc; it's ahead of it's time. The car is nearing the 200,000km mark, and it drives like new and has given no trouble. That's Nissan for you.Jun 02, 2009

This thing's a tank and it moves when you want it to. Decent gas mileage, quiet, doesn't look ancient 12 years after being built. It is a fun car to drive. Not quite as well thought-out as a Honda but it holds up about as well. The brakes are a constant problem but they can be ignored to an extent while still working alright since the front brakes work alright. The car doesn't rust as easily as most Hondas do. Parts are expensive but last a long time for the most part.Apr 14, 2009

The mid 90's Nissan Maxima was a SUPER car. Not only was it a fast family four door but also a good luxury car. I never found another car that came close that was in the same category. If it wasn't for some crazy driver that hit the car in the front left corner of the car.. I would still be driving this great car. This was - hands down - the best car I have ever owned.Sep 18, 2008

Nissan did a very good job at creating the "4 door sports sedan." This car performs and handles very well with its sport tuned suspension and 190 hp 215 ft-lbs tq vq30de engine. Which constantly is titled as the best v6 out there, making this car is very reliable. It has impecible acceleration (7.1s 0-60). Gas milage is around 21-27 on average. Which is pretty good in its class. If your'e looking for a fun, reliable, and practical vehicle, the maxima is for you.Aug 28, 2008

It is SMOOTH and QUIET, even after 180k miles. It has been VERY reliable for things that are not considered regular wear service items (brakes, cv joints, etc) It's no rocket but it has decent torque for accelerating in passing/merging situations. No torque steer and very neutral handling. Gets about 22mpg currently...I think. For a 4 door sedan, it's a lot more enjoyable than any Camry or Accord out there.Jun 25, 2008

I inherited this car from my husband >> drive is still great even tho the car is almost 9 yrs old, but we only have about 65k on the car. >> very minimal maintenance, does not give us any probs. >> acceleration and braking is still great, still a powerful car! >> BOSE system still sounds excellent. >> large trunk space, prob even bigger than the 7. >> spacious front and back seat, 3 adults can seat in the back comfortably.Mar 28, 2008

This is a great, practical, and reliable vehicle. For the price it's one of the best deals on the used car market. With a powerful and torquey V6 and the 5-speed manual transmission, you have power in almost any gear whenever you need it, and plenty of passing power in 5th gear on the highway. The car gets great mileage for a V6, looks great but doesn't draw unneeded attention to itself. Very roomy interior, with power windows and locks standard. Feb 11, 2008

I liked this Maxima, but the longer I owned it the more it felt like a family car. As a single guy I wasn't interested in looking like a family man. I needed something more flashy with better horsepower. This car is rather bland and lacking sheer performance. I had it about 4 years before the engine dropped a cylinder and faced the prospect of replacing the engine or replacing the car.Oct 01, 2007