2021 Nissan Maxima Review

Name: 2021 Nissan Maxima Review
Brand: Nissan
Price: 19998 USD

2021 Nissan Maxima 3.5 Platinum Sedan Exterior Shown

+76

The Maxima offers an appealing bridge to luxury sedans with sporty handling, above-average performance and a classy interior. Yet despite its ample mass, this midsize sedan doesn't offer a lot of space for either passengers or things. Many rivals also deliver better tech and more features for less money.

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2021 Nissan Maxima Review

byMark Takahashi^{Correspondent
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 Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

Pros

Well-made, attractive cabin
Sharp handling for a midsize sedan

Cons

The back seat and trunk aren't very spacious
Overly firm ride quality in the SR trim
Compromised visibility
Dated infotainment system

What's new

Limited-production 40th Anniversary Edition
Streamlined trim level lineup
Part of the eighth Maxima generation introduced for 2016

Overview

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 Drive^{Cost 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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$227/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds 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

edmunds 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 Edmunds 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 sunshade

40th 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

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#8 out of 13 among Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Maxima from 2008-2022.}

$465/yr

vs. $474/yr
for Average Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.05x/yr

vs. 0.97x/yr
for Average Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

13.6%

vs. 13.4%
for Average Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Nissan Maxima.

5 (71%)

4 (16%)

3 (0%)

2 (3%)

1 (10%)

4.4

31 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 31 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

An Elegant, Sporty Sedan that Packs a Punch!

Paul H, 12/29/2020

2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

I could not be happier with my 2020 Nissan Maxima SL sedan. Like the title states, it's elegant, sporty, comfortable, and possesses absolutely effortless power. I looked at upper trim levels of several popular vehicles, but I kept coming back to the Maxima. To me it had the best combination of attributes, with very few cons. Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are nice, but they are more …

Better MPG than expected!

Cody, 10/25/2020

2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

I traded in a 2009 GMC Sierra that was rusting apart, I looked around for several months before purchasing. I was initially looking at the new camry and altimas that offered AWD, but when I test drove the maxima I knew immediately I would be purchasing it. Black on black SV trim 32,000 miles so far! I average 27.5-28 mpg in remote eastern ky, which Is amazing for a V6 with all the …

Love it

Anthony, 02/27/2020

2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

All car types are just right for some individuals, and not for others. I've owned my 2020 Maxima for over 90 days, and I am very happy with it. I went for the SV trim which has most of the bells and whistles, including leather seating and navigation, but doesn't have some of the items that have little or no value for me. Safety wise, it has more than I know what to do with, Intelligent … cruise control, Intelligent forward colllision warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Lane departure warning, Blind spot warning, Rear cross traffic alert (has come in handy several times), rear view monitor, Traffic sign recognition (can glance at my dashboard and see what the last traffic speed sign was, in case you missed it) and much more. As far as handling goes, I'd compare it to a sumo wrestler, it's big, but agille, the car can handle cornering like a smaller car, and the ride is very good on level surfaces, not wallowy, it's firm but not harsh, so in bad pavement some of the bumps come through. Acceleration is excellent, and I've yet to notice any bad behavior from the CVT transmission as some reviews state. In sport mode handling is like a laser, solid and more sport-sedan like, a bit too stiff for uneven pavement. Don't believe reviews that say that the steering is hard for parking, they probably left the car in sport mode. As for space, I'm six foot tall and have plenty of room, including headroom, if you're taller I wouldn't recommend getting the moonroof, because it takes away from headroom. As for looks, it is a looker. I've caught people admiring it at parking lots, and several times cars in the fast lane slow down to look at the logo in the rear. I got the pearl white paint, which is extra $, but this car shows off very well with it. Initial quality has been excellent, no problems of any type; my biggest challenge has been reading the thick booklets that explain how to use all the features. Although the car is large the interior is not cavernous, more like a mid-sized Kia Optima or so. That's why some reviews list it as a mid-size and other reviews list it as a full-size. For me, the size means safety, it is top rated in that area, and I don't have a big family or a car pool where I need to routinely carry around a lot of passengers. The trunk is pretty good size and the back seats fold down to carry long items. So far the only complaint is the size and shape of the center console, which is too deep so it makes finding items difficult, I would galdly give up one of the two cup holders to get a better shape for the console, but that is a minor issue. In review, it is not a car you will see every five minutes; so there is somewhat of an exclusive feeling. It looks, feels and performs as a premium sedan, but without the luxury brand baggage.

Underrated

Vic, 09/11/2019

2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

I rented this car and liked it enough to do some more research on it and leave a review. I drove it 1000 miles on a road trip and it was extremely comfortable. It had more than enough horses to pass. Cabin is quiet. Cruise control is easy to use. Plenty of standard tech. I'm baffled why I don't see more on the road.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Nissan Maxima, so we've included reviews for other years of the Maxima since its last redesign.

See all 31 reviews of the Nissan Maxima

Write a vehicle review

2021 Maxima Highlights

Trim:

3.5 SV

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$37,090
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$227/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Maxima models:

Intelligent Forward Collision Warning: Warns the driver if a front collision is imminent.
Automatic Emergency Braking: Works with the Intelligent Forward Collision Warning system. Automatically applies the brakes to lessen the impact of a front collision.
Intelligent Around-View Monitor: Provides a 360-degree, top-down view of the Maxima to help when parking.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Nissan Maxima Review

2021 Nissan Maxima Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Maxima does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Nissan Maxima models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

An Elegant, Sporty Sedan that Packs a Punch!

Better MPG than expected!

Love it

Underrated

2021 Maxima Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost 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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}