2012 Nissan Maxima Review
Price Estimate: $2,346 - $3,304





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Precise steering
- strong acceleration
- high-quality interior with high-tech features
- excellent iPod integration
- more features than similarly priced luxury sedans.
Cons
- Lacks the brand cachet its price tag implies
- optional equipment stuffed into expensive packages.
What’s new
The 2012 Nissan Maxima gains a Limited Edition package that adds some of the SV Sport's features and flashier styling to the base model. This year's model also has freshened styling (grille and taillights) and updated interior trim.
Edmunds says
The 2012 Nissan Maxima serves as an appealing alternative to many entry-level luxury sedans thanks to its engaging driving dynamics and high-quality construction.
For sale nearby
101 listings
- 154,868 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 19 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- ARRC Auto (218 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Multi-Zone Climate C...
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Located in Minneapolis, MN
Multiple Financing Options Available No Credit Check Financing Zero Interest Financing Easy Online Payments 6**-2**-9***Apply Online At ARRCAUTO.COM 4...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1N4AA5AP5CC832324
Stock: CC832324
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-06-2025- 84,204 miles
- 1 accident, 3 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 19 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- Sarpy County Motors LLC (350 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Springfield, NE
LOW MILES, CLEAN TITLE, 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 S! This Maxima has lots of life left! Good service records available in CarFax, black exterior, charco...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1N4AA5AP8CC850929
Stock: 850929
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-10-2025
Vehicle overview
In these economic times, showing up to work in a new car with a fancy luxury badge may raise some eyebrows around the water cooler. Perception counts for a lot, so finding a new car that straddles the tricky divide between practical family cars and upscale luxury models would seem to be a good way to enjoy your success without flaunting it. The 2012 Nissan Maxima is one way to do so.
To put it simply, Nissan's flagship sedan offers much of the same performance, luxury and features as the company's upscale Infiniti brand, but with a less flashy badge and better value. Topping the Maxima's list of strong points is a very likable driving experience. The 290-horsepower V6 gives the Maxima enough acceleration to outsprint almost all competitors, while a well-tuned suspension manages to deliver a nice balance between athletic handling and a plush ride. An attractive passenger cabin featuring top-quality materials and the availability of many luxury features is another plus. In a way, the Maxima is an analog clock and some fancier gauges away from being an Infiniti.
However, the Maxima isn't the only stealthy luxury model. The Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen CC are all essentially luxury cars without a traditional luxury badge. The Chrysler and Hyundai, in particular, offer significantly more interior room than the Maxima.
Of course, if you're actually looking for the cachet that comes along with a luxury brand, the Maxima obviously can't deliver. Even though you won't be getting as much equipment for your money, the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G Sedan, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volvo S60 are all in the same pricing ballpark. They also offer a greater degree of driving and interior refinement.
That makes the 2012 Nissan Maxima an intriguing alternative for two types of luxury cars. If you're OK with that Nissan badge, or are even seeking out something less ostentatious, it's definitely worth a close look.
Performance & mpg
Under the hood of every 2012 Nissan Maxima is a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 290 hp and 261 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels though a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
In Edmunds performance testing, the Maxima SV accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which is quicker than almost every other entry-level luxury sedan (with a base engine). The EPA estimates fuel economy at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
Safety
Standard safety equipment for every 2012 Nissan Maxima includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags that cover both rows and active front-seat head restraints. A rearview camera is an option on SV models. In Edmunds brake testing, a Maxima SV with the Sport package came to a stop from 60 mph in 122 feet -- an average distance for both entry-level luxury cars and family sedans.
In terms of crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Maxima its highest score of "Good" for frontal-offset and side crash protection and a second-best rating of "Acceptable" in the roof strength test.
Driving
It doesn't take a lot of time behind the steering wheel of the 2012 Nissan Maxima to realize this is a very competent sport sedan. In its standard form, precise steering and a well-tuned suspension make it a good bit of fun to drive. With that in mind, we'd recommend skipping the Sport package, as the firmer suspension makes for a harsh ride with no appreciable improvement to the car's handling.
The Maxima's powertrain is a good one, with strong acceleration from the 3.5-liter V6. Even the CVT is a positive -- something we can't say for a lot of CVTs we've driven -- with good performance in automatic mode and an entertaining manual shift feature that allows you to run up and down through six simulated "gear ratios" for a sportier feel.
Interior
Inside, the 2012 Nissan Maxima features a decidedly upscale cabin with a sleek design and top-quality materials. Add an assortment of available luxury features and you have an interior that looks as if it was lifted out of a more expensive automobile. Really, there's very little separating the Maxima's cabin from that of an Infiniti.
Front and rear seats offer a nice blend of comfort and support, though the more supportive bucket-style backseats found in the SV Premium and Sport make the center section all but unusable. Out back the Maxima's trunk offers a healthy 14.2 cubic feet of cargo room. Base S models gain some added cargo-carrying flexibility by virtue of their 60/40-split-folding rear seatbacks, while the top-of-the-line SV makes do with a pass-through that allows longer items like skis to extend into the passenger compartment.
2012 Nissan Maxima models
The 2012 Nissan Maxima is a midsize entry-level luxury sedan available in S and SV trim levels.
The standard equipment list for the base S model includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, power front seats (eight-way driver and four-way passenger), 60/40-split-folding rear seat and a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Also included are an auto-dimming rearview mirror, trip computer, Bluetooth phone capability and an eight-speaker stereo with a six-CD changer and an auxiliary audio jack. The new Limited Edition option package for S models includes a unique grille and 18-inch dark silver alloy wheels, HID xenon headlights with smoke-tinted lenses, foglights and a rear spoiler.
Moving up to the SV adds to the base S equipment foglights, leather upholstery, a driver-seat manual thigh-support extender and power lumbar support, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system with satellite radio. The Monitor package adds a 7-inch touchscreen electronics interface, 2GB of digital music storage, an RCA auxiliary audio-video jack, a rearview camera and an iPod/USB audio interface. The Cold package adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated mirrors. Xenon headlights are also available separately.
The SV can also be equipped with either the Premium or Sport packages. Both add the xenon headlights, heated mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming, upgraded leather upholstery, the heated front seats and steering wheel, driver seat memory functions, and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with paddle shifters. Rear bucket seats with a center trunk pass-through also replace the 60/40-split rear seatbacks.
The Premium package goes on to include a dual-panel sunroof, a rearview camera, the 7-inch touchscreen, a ventilated driver seat, rear-seat audio and climate controls, automatic up/down rear windows, a power rear sunshade, wood trim, RCA auxiliary audio-video jacks (replaces standard aux jack) and an iPod interface. The Sport package adds instead a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, smoked headlights, dark chrome grille, gray metallic stitching accents, a rear spoiler and metallic-look interior trim. High-performance summer tires are an added option with the Sport package.
The Technology package can be added to either of the above option packages. It adds a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic and weather, DVD playback and a single in-dash CD player (which replaces the six-disc version), Bluetooth streaming audio and 9.3GB of digital music storage.

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Compare 2012 Nissan Maxima trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$225/mo for Maxima 3.5 S
Maxima 3.5 S
vs
$164/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Reliability
The 2012 Nissan Maxima has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 4 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #8 out of 13 among Fullsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above 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
$465/yr
vs. $474/yr
for Average Fullsize Car
for Average Fullsize Car
Frequency
1.05x/yr
vs. 0.97x/yr
for Average Fullsize Car
for Average Fullsize Car
Severity
13.6%
vs. 13.4%
for Average Fullsize Car
for Average Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
4 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 19V807000
- Manufactured from:
- 2016-05-18 to 2018-05-23
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 391479
- Defect Description:
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
- Defect Consequence:
- A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
- Recall Number:
- 18V601000
- Manufactured from:
- 2016-04-20 to 2017-01-09
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 215124
- Defect Description:
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
- Defect Consequence:
- A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
- Recall Number:
- 16V636000
- Manufactured from:
- 2015-02-10 to 2016-08-19
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 120329
- Defect Description:
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016. The affected vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board.
- Defect Consequence:
- A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available were mailed on October 3, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
- Recall Number:
- 16V244000
- Manufactured from:
- 2014-11-11 to 2016-04-09
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 3177645
- Defect Description:
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
- Defect Consequence:
- If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
- Corrective Action:
- Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 5 years / unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
Nissan Maxima Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
So far I am loving it!
5 out of 5 starsmaxmus12, 01/09/2012
2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
Purchased premium model 6 weeks ago and loving it.
Choice was between Maxima, Avalon, ES350, and BMW 3 series.
After driving all 4 I had to go with Maxima.
For the $ you get allot of options plus I decided to go for something sporty.
BMW was close but Max is a little bigger and offers more.
The Maxima drives smooth, feels comfortable, the car wants to go fast even when you dont want it … to. When driving, the car has a nice pur that gives you that sporty feeling. Throttle response is great. Handles great for sedan. Paddle shifters are fun.
Gas however..horrible. I average around 23mpg, 320mi to a tank. If you have fun with the car..you're looking at mid 200mi a tank. Worth it though.
Couldn't be happier!
5 out of 5 starskc16, 01/01/2012
2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
My husband and I looked at and test drove many high-end sedans from Lexus ES 350, Audi A4, Infinity to C Class Mercedes Benz. The designer cars didn't impress us. Seriously. It all came down to personal preference and what would work best for our family. We did narrow it down to the ES and Maxima, but the ES has really short head space. We are tall people. My hubby is over 6 ft. and I'm … 5 ft. 7. And each time we test drove an ES, I kept thinking "old man car". Plus the breaking wasn't smooth and it was downright boring to drive and we were worried about the Toyota/Lexus recalls. We purchased a black 2012 Maxima with gray interior with red stitching and couldn't be happier. We got a great deal on a SV Premium Package with rear spoiler. With its ample headspace, heated steering wheel, heated and air conditioned seats, Bose stereo, nav system, and double moon roof, we got all the perks we wanted and then some. It's a good-looking car that's a blast to drive. Looks and drives like a sports car. The manufacturer recommends premium gas, but the dealership said we could use regular with no problem. The only thing we don't like is the effortless acceleration. If were not careful, well be racking up some serious speeding tickets, y'all. This is our favorite car we've owned yet.
LOVE LOVE LOVE it!"
2012 Maxima review
5 out of 5 starsgeo2010maxima, 04/07/2013
2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
My comments only apply to the Maxima with the Premium package - totally different car than the base model - upgraded leather, double moon roof, heated/cooled drivers seat, Xenon headlights, driver seat, mirrors and steering wheel memory, power tilt/telescopic and heated steering wheel,
reverse tilting/heated side mirrors, rear window sun screen, USB and Ipod connectivity, etc. - it is a … front wheel drive Infinity and since we have winter in Oregon, we need FWD.
We had a 2010 previously and the 2012 has significantly reduced torque steer and vastly improved low speed transmission performance - they got the CVT dialed in finally.
It is a very comfortable road car for long trips also.
I love this car
4.75 out of 5 starsmseals528, 12/21/2011
2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
I have had this car for 4 weeks now, and all I can say is, this is a KILLER bargain for what you get.
Don't be scared away by the sticker price on these cars, especially if you are leasing.
These cards can be had for thousands off the sticker price which in turn makes them a fantastic deal.
The sticker on my SV premium with mats, mud guards, and trunk organizer was $39,400.
I got it for … $7000 less! The amenties are second to none, heated seats, cooled driver seat, double moonroof, large color backup camera. The car has plenty of power and I am still getting 24MPG.
2012 Maxima Highlights
3.5 S
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $32,420 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $225/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.2 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Maxima include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall3 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger2 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver3 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat4 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover10.1%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestAcceptable
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintMarginal
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