Used 2006 Nissan Maxima Sedan Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Wife's Maxima
We have driven Chevrolets for 50 yrs. and went for a test drive in the Altima and my wife liked it, just as we were leaving we spotted the Maxima and drove it away. We have 11,000 miles on it now and are averaging 27mpg. Nissan has been great with their service.
First time car buyer SORRY I DID IT!
I've read the reviews here and my car is no different. I just bought my car three days ago with 80,000 on it I test drove the car it drove beautifully but before I could get I noticed the trans slipping. I took it back to dealer just to find out that indeed it has a transmission problem....now what do I do?
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $6,950111 mi away
- 3.5 SL SedanMSRP: $5,200290 mi away
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $5,500344 mi away
Super Max
Great car much better than my 300M, fun to drive great to look at. Recommend it highly
Replacement Killa
In the past I have owned two Nissan Maxima's. I was quite dissapointed in the previous models. The power of the Maxima reminds me of the 300m which I traded in for the Maxima. Quite pleased with handling style and performance
Some Disappointments With My 2006Maxima
The car is attractive and roomy. The engine is very peppy. But there are some things that disappoint me. The Owner's Manual is not well written and is confusing in places. The controls for heating and cooling are a total mystery. Things happen that I would not want to happen such as the AC turing on ecven though it's 30 degrees outside. The big possible problem is that sometimes on braking the car swerves. I feel the steering wheel twist in my hands. The service advisor at the dealership says this is due to the 18" wheels and is uncorrectable. I cannot accept that proposition.
Very Nice Car
I bought this car brand new in April 2006 and it has been solid mechanically. The only feature I dislike is that my electric controlled passenger side mirror had to be replaced due to the adjustment not resetting correctly after placing the car in reverse, which still did not correct the problem.
Love this car!
Both my sons have had Nissan's in the past as well as currently. I have driven their cars, and liked the performance, the ride and comfort. When it came time for us to get a new car, we choose the Maxima and haven't regretted it at all. It handles wonderfully in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, along the freeways of Ca. and in particular, along the Coast Highway where we spend a great deal of our time.
no ride
After 2 months while driving, the gauges went dead along with turn signals, and the fan air etc. Took the car back to the dealer and they took 6 hrs to find the problem ( they think) the part been on order for 31 days. No car.the dealer won't returns calls and left me with a 800 # where you wait 30 min before they take your call. Then all they tell you is you're high priority and your case worker will call you back. I'm still waiting for my call back
2006 Nissan Maxima SE Happy Guy
I spent months researching a handful of vehicles. I was conflicted regarding cost vs true value between Nissan Maxima SE & Infiniti G35 and am very happy with my Black on Black Maxima; which turns heads. Driving is flat out fun with a very "torquey" yet smooth engine & transmission pairing. The black interior "matches up" better with the factory brushed steel interior trim and looks "integrated" overall compared to other interior colors. The interior lighting at night, on black, is awesome and detailed as almost every switch has an amber light for 2006. It doesn't lack for technology and features, many of which go unspoken on the nissan.com site. HID is great, has fog lamps, auto set.
Rock Solid
No unplanned maintenance. NONE. I have 30K miles on it and still on original tires and brakes. I can't over-emphasize how reliable this car has been. Engine power is excellent, but too much for the tires and suspension of the SL. So easy to spin tires and the body lean is a bit much under hard cornering. I was hoping for a cross between prior cars 350Z and Lexus GS300, and maybe should've got a MaxSE.
Fun Ride but Painful Seat
I commute over an hour each way every day and liked the performance, mileage and range of this car. It has lots of zip in traffic and motors along at 80 with no problem. The exterior styling is distictive and the interior is big enough for a family of 5 on the rare occasions when the family comes along. My only serious complaint is the width and rigidity of the front bucket seats. I find that the little wings on the side of the seat are rock hard and they are putting my leg to sleep, especially on the right side. The problem didn't show itself until I had been driving for about a month and now I'm regretting the purchase.
Loving it!
My husband and I are preparing for our first child so we needed a family car. I still have my Mitz 3000GT but you can't drive kids around it that. Anyway, my husband is 6'5 and he loves the room the car offers. He does not feel boxed in at all. I like that fact that it handles like my 3000 but gives me more room. We were debating between this car and the Chrylser 300 but for the price and features the Maxima came out on top. Great car!!!!!!
New Fan!
Bought used w/ 22K and got great deal. Had to replace a brake cylinder within couple months. Love its unassuming quickness. Fun pulling away from kids in loud 4-bangers. Way more features than what I'm used to (had 4 basic VW Jettas). Nothing broke yet. turning radius is joke - my '99 Yukon turns much sharper. Like the sporty feel but is a little rough over bumps. lacks MP3 player access port. trunk is spacious enough for two. Next car might have to be the Z.
Light bulb!!
Bought this car used, with 15k miles on it. I had a previous Maxima (96) that I drove for 8 years. This is a different car, nice, good visibility and good handling. Quiet and very powerful engine (265 Hp). I wish it had a 6 speed manual but Nissan does not make enough of. I am at 55k miles, and love it. Fuel economy unpaired, if you drive it on the hwy for this size of engine (29-30 m/gl and 20-22 in the city). Always I get the best fuel because this car loves it. At 37k the front light bulb died and service wanted to charge me over $160.00+tx. I could not believe it, but thanks to e-bay I was able to replace it for $36.00 plus my time. Consider maintenance cost when you buying this car.
great car
not only was this car more affordable than its competitors, but the quality was outstanding. this car can really get up and go. i would consider this is you want more out of a vehicle than just a daily commuter. it will instill a passion for driving
Good, not great
Put 33k on my 2006 Maxima in 14 months and it is a decent car. Good performance, nice to look at, good highway mileage, stereo and bluetooth are excellent, and it's a big car. However, I've had the brakes done twice (11k and 26k), The lumbar in the seat broke, 2nd gear a little notchy when cold, and AC stopped blowing real cold air and dealership says it's fine. Couple of annoying rattles in dash. My biggest complaint is seat comfort. No lumbar or upper back support compared to other "Sport" sedans. I drive 30k miles per year at least and my back is broke after a 300 mile drive. Back was never sore in my 2004 acura TL. So... going back to Acura or step-up to lexus/infiniti.
I really like this car
I got this car for my wife, but I got to drive it on a 600 mile trip. We averaged 27 mpg city and highway. The Maxima was very comfortable and roomy, trunk space was unbeliveable. The two kids had enough room in the back to make their own little nest without touching each other. I drive a 95 Q45 and the Maxima has nearly all the same features except for the V8, didn't miss it.
Dissapointed
I have truly been disaapointed with this vehicle. I have found that my steering wheel shakes and shimmies when I reach 60 mph. The engine is loud and revs real high. I have taken it back to the dealership and they have advised that this is normal, and there is nothing they can do. Also, just recently noticed a rattle in the front dash. I have taken the car to the service department four times without any luck. This is the first Nissan I have purchased, and at this rate I'm sure it may be the last. My previous vehicles have been Hondas, and I think I should have stucked with them,because this Maxima was truly a mistake.
Great Used Car
I bought this 2006 Maxima SL as a used car in 2009. It was a lease turn-in with only 11,000 miles on it and bought it from a dealer for only $19,800. After driving it for 2 months now, I'm really impressed with it and have nothing negative to say. I have not seen or experienced some of the problems that other reviewers are reporting, so maybe they just got lemons. I commute about 35 miles a day, both stop and go traffic and highways, and get a very satisfied 23.7 mpg. The drive is smooth and the engine is powerful, not to mention quiet. It's a fun car to drive! I love the interior, with the leather seats and sky view roof. This is my second Nissan and would buy again no problem.
from BMW to Maxima
i wanted to save money. i was looking for style, comfort, performance. i found what i was looking for without having to pay too much for it. what's standard in the maxima is an arm and a leg when compred to audi, bmw, CTS Cadillac, Saab as they charged a lot more for all the extras that came standard with the maxima
Fun - Luxury & Performance
This is the 4th Maxima I have owned. It is by far the the most sporty. I compared all the other cars (TL, Accord, Camry, Avalon, G35) and came back to the Maxima. It has the best engine and features for the money. My last Maxima, I had to replace the oxygen sensor and alternator although it had low miles. Even with a couple of repairs factored in I come out ahead of the other cars. I've had no problems with my 2006 SL and really like all the features including Bluetooth, which comes with the driver preferred pkg. This car drives excellent with great power and a nice little growl from the engine! Steve Hipshin with Tom Peacock in Houston is the best salesperson- great price and service.
hot car
This is the second time around for me owning a Maxima, I had a 2005 for about a year and traded it for the 2006. And this vehicle is great!!! from the purr of the engine to the retractable side view mirrors. Everything is on point. I have no idea why Nissan changed up the bodystyle for the 2007. It's absolutely horrible! I'll stick with my 2006!
Excellent Car; Excellent value
My wife leased her 2006 Maxima SE 5AT and really enjoys it. We got a great lease deal that was much better than anything else in this class. Overall the car seems great; will know more once we put some miles on the Maxima. The engine, style (both interior and exterior) are very nice, and the features on this car are better than many cars costing $10k more. I recently purchased a 2006 G35 sedan 6MT and it lacks several of the features this car has and costs 10% more. You will not be disappointed with this vehicle.
Sexy Stylish and Fun
I had a Toyota and wanted something little more sytlish and fun. I purchased the 2006 Nissan SL Maxima. It's not only a family car, but it's also sexy and fun without the kids.
Shakey drive
This is the worse car that I have ever owned. From the time I drove it off the lot, nothing but suspension problems and back to the dealership 10 times and still have the problem. No good in snow or rain. Tires are over $200 each..bad choice of car and brand. Dealership could not keep the problem fixed. Wheel shakes all the time when driving.
This car has my personality
I traded my 2004 Chrysler 300 touring on a new Maxima. Although the 300 drove nice. It had bad blind spots and every time I drove it I felt like an old man(not to mention 3 repair trips already). On one nice Saturday I stopped at the Nissan dealer and drove The Maxima. I didn't want to give the keys back. One week later I had a new car in my driveway and am enjoying it. I bought the 300 because it was the "in" car. That was a big expensive mistake. The Maxima is the true 4 door sports car.
comsumer
do a combination of city and highway driving, so far no problems, blue tooth feature is great. this is my 3rd maxima.
Not bad, but not my favorite
I have owned many cars, M3, G35, and a CLK430, all of which were 2 door sport cars, but this time around I decided to go with something more logical for college. This car is a love hate relationship, I love that I can tote around 5 friends comfortably with a truck full of junk. But I hate the way it drives when I am alone, it's quick for its size, but tire spin, turning radius, and handling are lacking majorly. Also is lacking with the toys, all my last cars have little nooks and crannys with something cool, this car is plain jane. Though, it is a great car for a family, or if you need something for easy city driving. But for fun, it's not so great.
Maxima
My new maxima is wonderful! The minute I test drove a Maxima I knew I had to have it. Its quiet engine and smooth ride is just the beginning. The power is incredible. I've loved the look of these cars ever since they came out in 2004. Then I test drove it and It was love! Thanks
WOW, We love our Nissan
What a great auto. Awesome power, great handling, and it looks so cool too!! Sport and luxury at a super value.
IN TEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just traded mine in with transmission problems!! Only had it 2 years. The first gear no longer worked. Highly dissapointed in the nissan name. Powertrain warranty ended at 60000. Transmission went at 65000. I am still upset
Good "Sport Sedan"
On the day of the delivery I experienced steering wheel "shimmy" or vibration at all speeds and despite 5 trips to the dealership, some improvement but not complete elimination of the problem. I love the car, the room, the VQ engine (plenty of upgrades...), reliability and this is my 3 maxima. My first is still on the road (a friend drives it now) with over 300000 miles. I really dislike the service I experienced though. And they still promise to fix the issue and I'm still waiting...
Will Miss IT!
I owned my Nissan for 4 yrs. ABSOLUTELY loved it! I purchased a LOADED SE model & can't complain too much about it. The only down side is the turning radius sucked. As far as reliability, ride, comfort, & performance it was awesome. It set standards that spoiled me that other manufactures don't include in options (heated steering wheel). Although window sticker stated 27 MPG, mine got 25-26 MPG (not too bad - and I don't putt putt around). I recently totaled it, so SAFETY was GREAT! When side air bags deployed no smell or gas filled the interior like others do. This was one of my favorite make/models to own. I will definitely miss this car!
Love my Maxima!
I wanted a car with plenty of interior space - but still a sporty look. No granny car for me! I fell in love with the Maxima when I test drove it the first time in April, before the 07s came out. Decided to shop around and I ended up coming back. Was going to get an 07, but got a great deal on the 06. CVT and keyless start only diffs. I get up to 34 mpg on hwy - bonus! I love the handling and living in a remote state with lots of highway driving, I love the get up and go when I pass. This car is the most fun to drive, it's sporty yet luxurious. It's exactly what I was looking for. Wish I would have got the navigation system, otherwise I'd say it's the perfect car for me.
I really wanted to love it.
Bought this car new since family had good luck with older Maximas in the late 90s but this one has been a disappointment. CD changer replaced 3 times for freezing up, lumbar support dead twice, center console arm support snapped, grille replaced for paint chipping, paint in general isn't great and now fighting with Nissan cause clutch and flywheel failed. Mechanics say its a defect but Nissan says its regular wear and tear. Funny how that works. BBB to the rescue!!! I do like driving this car but its put a sour taste in my mouth especially with how Nissan corporate treats its customers and just worrying about when I'll be sitting in service again. I think I just got a dud.
Great Car
I did alot of research, even tried to look at the American cars, but it everyone in America has the 300m. Thus I decided to break it down to two final cars. I Looked at the Avalon before I purchased the Maxima SL, got the Onyx exterior and black interior. The Maxima was a far better choice than the Avalon. Got the SL with the drivers pref.pkg. The car rides great, and yes I did notice the turning radius issue that was discussed on this site and yes it begs for improvement. But hey I have yet to find the perfect car that will make everyone perfectly happy. I like the car a whole lot, and was happy to trade in my 04 Camry for it. The heated steering wheel is perfect for the cold Chicago winter
Great Car
This car is great to drive, and is very comfortable. It performs great, you will not be disappointed.
One seemingly unsolvable problem
This is my third Maxima. I have been very pleased with them over the years. I love the design and performance of the car. However, I cannot get the dealer/Nissan to solve one problem: the bluetooth volume drops to suddenly and returns at random. The dealer has not been able to fis it to date. They have replaced the radio but the problem persists. Additionally, the front two right speakers stoped working all of the sudden this weekend. Also, when I discovered one week after I got the car that the lsft retractable side mirror was not working. Too many problems for a new car. They seem like assembly/production problems.
Cruise control stinks
Drove the car off the lot and hit the cruise control when I reached open highway - what a shock. When going down slight inclines, the car experienced extreme surges in power. Never had a car that did that and thought something was wrong. Took it back to the service department and was told that all Maximas do that. I spent $35k for the car and was sick. I never thought to test the cruise control; lesson learned. I haven't owned the car a year yet and am looking to trade.
Very disappointed in Nissan! NEVER AGAIN
I bought my 2006 Nissan Maxima with 29,000 miles on it, seemed perfect .....I have had problems with the rotors, it blows a headlight or tail light every 2 weeks and to top it all off, now there is something wrong with the transmisson......I'm so hurt and disappointed knowing I only have a year left to pay on my car.........Ohhh well, it's back to Honda for me! Thanks Nissan for the experience.........NEVER AGAIN!
Excellent car
Dash isn't. too complicated for att'n when driving. Doors have cheap interior material finish. Seat heaters do not turn off automatically,when ignition turned on, seat heaters go on if used previously. Dash instuments too complicated for safe operation when driving. Trunk space is the main feature missing as compared to Ford Grand Marquis.
I love my MAX.
This is my 3rd Max, I trade every year. Its the best bang for your buck if you want a fast, well appointed sports sedan. Great acceleration, and a tight, yet smooth ride in a luxury sedan. The SE with low profile tires handles a little better (my car last year), but the SL's ride is smoother without giving up too much in the handling department. You really notice this difference at speeds over 90. The interior of the SL is very well done and comparable to more expensive sports sedans. The SE interior is more mundane lacking the flash of an SL. Quality is very good. I've had no problems except of a small rattle in the SE I had last year. I'll buy another one next year.
Eh... could be better, could be worse...
The first Nissan purchased ever. Had a Jeep Gr. Cherokee V8 before so I wasn't as impressed as most were with the power. OEM tires stink - expensive and noisy. No traction up inclined snowy driveways - wheels spin easily which is probably why it's even hard to drive up ramps for oil changes. I've got a noise coming from the engine (30K miles) that sounds like a bad engine bearing, but I have yet to take it in to find out. The cover for the air filter is extremely difficult to reinstall. No major repairs up to this point, so all the little things are not a big deal.
206 Maxima love to hate it...
Bought my car in Jan.2007, very excited about finally owning a Maxima, just recently my transmission went out, struts are horrible and the car is very noisy, has knocking sounds under the car that the dealer can't figure out the problem, which is strange how they can figure out the major expensive stuff! The good things are the comfort and space...very good car to travel in and alot of trunk space. The car has very good pick up. The tires are very expensive and wear easily for some reason the dealer can't explain this either. Nice stereo system and speakers. Another complaint is this car has no change holder, 2 cup holders but no where to store change. Overall it's a nice car.
Wheel shakes also!
I've had the car for 3 years (since new) and love to drive it. The only problem is that the darn steering wheel has had a shimmy since I test drove it. I didn't think much of it and asked them to check the tire balance before I took delivery. Big mistake. 3 years and more than 15 attempts to get it fixed and it still shakes. Nissan mechanics don't have a clue why. Nissan has given up on trying to fix it and I've given up trying to get it fixed. Luckily it's a lease and it'll be their problem next month. It's too bad, my family has been loyal to Nissan since 1985, not any more...
My love "maxeen"
Like most guys I know we love our cars so much,and spend endless hours keeping them that we end up spending more time with our car than our wives/girlfriends. So we end up naming them. My car's name is Maxeen. She is my first foreign car and I absolutely love her and Nissan dealership.
Mighty Maxima
I'm new to the Maxima scene, but I now understand all the "hoopla" behind it. When I bought this car I had no idea about the power behind it (even though I test drove). This machine is sweet, decent on the petro too! A lot of features on the SL, including BT, sunroof and wood trimming.
Loved My Maxima
Bought my Max brand new and added the spoiler. It had the sporty feel I wanted and the practicality of a 4Dr sedan. In 4 years never had to do a thing expect routine maint and a new set of tires. Loved the 18" upgraded rims. And if you resit the temptation to drive it at the real speeds this sweetheart will go I got 28-30 mpg on the hwy. Not so go in city. Must use the cruise control on this car or you will find yourself in some trouble in no time.
2TheMax
GREAT acceleration. Sexy and fun. Great leg and head room for me - 6'2". Very comfortable and stylish. Reliable.
Good but not great
We purchased a loaded se and owned for almost 2 years. Purchased used in 2008 with 26k on the odometer. Cost was $20k out door with fl tax (orig. Sticker was over $34k. Whoa). Has almost every option except dvd/nav. Here is a good car that could have been great. While dependable, it has it quirks. Fast car, but terrible torque steer. Nice interior, but seats need more padding. Trips over 1.5 hours and your bottom is sore. Great styling, but bad turning radius. Weird cloth substance on dash/doors. What is up with that? Leather would have been perfect. All in all, a sharp looking, dependable car that is good on gas. No maintenance issues in 2 years. No rattles, leaks, creaks etc.