Nissan designers underwent a complete switch in design philosophy during the late eighties, and began producing cars whose styling was as fresh five years after introduction day as it was on introduction day. These cars were a far cry from the carved-from-a-cinderblock styling of previous Nissans. The 1989 Maxima was one of the new generation of cars to roll out of Nissan plants, and it continued to look better year after year, aging more gracefully than Dick Clark. For 1995, Nissan replaced it with an all-new car, one with a stellar drivetrain and first-class cabin, but with a somewhat dowdy exterior and funky-ugly taillights.

First, the good stuff. Under the hood is a twin-cam, aluminum 3.0-liter V6. It puts 190 horsepower to the ground through the front axle. A five-speed is standard on GXE and SE trim levels, but an automatic is optional. This engine is a jewel, providing swift acceleration without penalizing fuel economy.

Inside, the Maxima sports an interior befitting an Infiniti. No coincidence here; the Maxima serves as the basis for the luxo-oriented Infiniti I30. Roomier than the old Maxima, the new one finds nobody complaining about the accommodations.

For 1997, the Maxima receives some minor exterior changes that clean up the front and rear end a bit. New tail lights improve the car's derriere, but we still wish that the trunk weren't so angular. We do, however, really like the new wheels/wheel covers that were introduced for this model year. They make the Maxima more distinctive than last year's model.

Overall, the Maxima lost some of its sex appeal in 1995's redesign, but the new engine, interior, and price structure of the car more than make up for the slight styling shortcomings.

1997 Highlights

The Nissan Maxima gets a new grille, headlights, bumpers and taillights. New alloy wheels and foglights on the SE, new wheel covers on the GXE and new aluminum wheels on the GLE round out the changes.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 1997 Nissan Maxima.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.7124 reviews

Write a review See all 124 reviews

5(77%)

4(18%)

3(3%)

2(0%)

1(2%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

1997 Maxima SE - Great Car!

corona1373,08/13/2013

An amazingly reliable car after 210,000 miles and 17 years of service. It is dependable and has never let me down or left me stranded. I bought my 1997 Maxima SE about 17 years ago and it has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. It is super easy to service, replacement parts are inexpensive and the engine/transmission still run flawless. With 209,000 miles it still cruises quietly

AWESOME '97 MAXIMA GLE

tan5,01/14/2012

...bought my 97 Maxima GLE in Sep of '97, 14.3 years ago, and it has been the best car ever! There have been no major expenses/repairs outside of basic maintenance and minor wear & tear part replacement. The engine light didn't even go on until my 13th year of owning it and, even then, the repair cost was minimal. ...am about to hit 232,000 miles and had the goal to see if it could make

UPDATE TO BEST MAX EVER

jerrymax,02/26/2011

Just wanted to update the review I wrote back in March 2008 about my 1997 Maxima GLE. At that time I had 154k on the odometer. Last week the car turned 200k for another 46,000 miles worth of trouble-free driving. This car amazes me. I've driven it up and down the East Coast from Maine to North Carolina in all kinds of weather, it is NEVER garaged, yet it still looks like new. It has not

beyond excellent

lockout3,06/29/2013

I had all kind of cars this car is the best car I ever had. The only things I have done is put gas and change the oil. If you want a great car get a Nissan maximum must be your choice.

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Features & Specs

MPG

19 city / 24 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

190 hp @ 5600 rpm

MPG

19 city / 24 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

190 hp @ 5600 rpm

MPG

18 city / 26 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

190 hp @ 5600 rpm

See all Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

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

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Acceptable

More about the 1997 Nissan Maxima

Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan Overview

The Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan is offered in the following styles: GXE 4dr Sedan, SE 4dr Sedan, and GLE 4dr Sedan.

What's a good price on a Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan?

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Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan Listings and Inventory

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Should I lease or buy a 1997 Nissan Maxima?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan

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