2019 Nissan Maxima Review

Name: 2019 Nissan Maxima
Brand: Nissan
Price: 24900 USD

(15)

2019 Nissan Maxima Platinum Sedan Exterior Shown

7.4/10 Expert Rating

2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SR Sedan in Gun Metallic

2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SR Sedan in Pearl White TriCoat

2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SR Sedan in Sunset Drift ChromaFlair

2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SR Sedan in Super Black

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List Price Range:	$24,900 - $37,998

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCalvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Well-made and attractive cabin
Tech controls are easy to use
Sharp handling for a midsize sedan
Cushy ride, as long as you don't get the SR trim

Cons

The cabin feels small, with limited backseat legroom and headroom
Limited number of available driving aids
It has a less roomy trunk than rivals
Subpar fuel economy

What's new

Updated front and rear styling with standard LED headlights
More standard and optional safety features
New Reserve package for Platinum models includes diamond-quilted leather seats
Part of the eighth Maxima generation introduced for 2016

The 2019 Nissan Maxima is a midsize sedan with a bit of twist. Nissan differentiates the Maxima by calling it the "four-door sports car" of the category. Now, sports car aficionados will beg to differ, but the statement does have some merit. The Maxima is typically more responsive to steering inputs than its rivals, and its standard V6 engine produces a healthy 300 horsepower.

On the inside, you'll notice an easy-to-use and comfortable cabin. Most functions can be accessed and controlled via touchscreen, direct button access, a rotary knob, or even voice control, making the learning curve very shallow. The Platinum trim gets stylish trim pieces and luxurious quilted leather seats, while the SR gets a combination of leather upholstery, simulated-suede seat inserts and contrasting orange stitching.

This dual sport-and-luxury aspect is the Maxima's primary draw. But it's not the only sedan with these qualities. The 2019 Toyota Camry XSE V6 produces 301 horsepower from its V6 engine, and its smoother ride and larger interior and cargo space will appeal to more buyers. And from a price perspective, the 2019 Mazda 6 Signature has similar levels of luxury and handling capability for less money. But if both performance and luxury are what you want, the Maxima might be worth a look.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Nissan Maxima Platinum (3.5L V6 | CVT automatic | FWD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.0

Driving

7.5

The Maxima isn't a "four-door sports car" as Nissan claims. It's not even a sport sedan, but it is impressive for a midsize sedan, with above-average handling and strong acceleration from the 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Torque steer is evident, though.

Acceleration

8.0

The V6 doesn't feel particularly assertive in typical driving. But its power delivery is smooth and our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds is good but slower than some competitors with upgraded engines. There's noticeable torque steer under hard acceleration.

Braking

7.0

Firm brake pedal is reassuring and easy to modulate. In our tests, the Maxima came to a stop from 60 mph in 128 feet, which is acceptable, if a bit behind top competitors. But the results were consistent, and we experienced minimal brake fade.

Steering

7.0

The steering is heavy enough at parking speeds that it may be a deal-breaker for some drivers. At speed, it lightens up, becoming fluid and responsive with a good amount of feedback from the road.

Handling

8.0

The Maxima offers above-average handling, remaining stable and predictable through corners. Its limits are relatively low, but the car is communicative enough to make the driver confident in not unexpectedly overstepping them.

Drivability

8.0

The CVT automatic responds quickly and smoothly, and the faked gear shifts under acceleration make it feel a bit more familiar. It's a little sleepy in Normal mode, but Sport mode makes it feel much snappier. Heavy low-speed steering aside, the Maxima is friendly and easy to drive.

Comfort

8.0

The Maxima is a quiet car with a ride that nicely toes the line between comfort and feel for the road, and it isn't tripped up by bigger bumps. It is certainly akin to entry-level luxury cars and a step up from most midsize family sedans.

Seat comfort

7.5

The Maxima's front seats are comfortable but sporty. They're firmer, with pronounced bolstering to keep you in place, with adjustable thigh support for the driver. There is a slight concavity in the seatback and forward headrests that make some seating positions less comfortable.

Ride comfort

9.0

The ride is well-controlled, absorbing speed humps and bumps easily and maintaining the car's composure. The Maxima keeps you feeling connected to the road, but it has a pleasantly less busier ride than most sedans. A firmer sport suspension is available, but we can't see the appeal.

Noise & vibration

8.0

Acoustic glass, ample sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation result in a notably quiet cabin. The CVT automatic thankfully doesn't create intrusive droning noises.

Climate control

7.5

The climate control system is straightforward to use, and it easily maintains temperature. The heated and ventilated seat controls use knob-based controls that we like, and the system effectively blows cold and hot air. The dual-zone system has trouble with temperature splits of more than a few degrees.

Interior

7.0

Overall, the Maxima's interior looks great and the controls are easy to use. But passenger space is limited, and entering and exiting can be difficult, especially in the rather tight back seat. Visibility also leaves something to be desired, though useful side mirrors and safety aids help.

Ease of use

7.5

The controls are generally well-labeled and easy to find. Nissan's infotainment system is logically structured and offers physical button shortcuts to important functions. The redundant rotary controller is a mixed bag. It's primarily meant for use with nav functions, so it doesn't offer the smoothest integration elsewhere.

Getting in/getting out

6.0

The long front doors help some with entering and exiting if you have room to open them fully, especially considering the very wide doorsills. The rear doors are shorter, and getting into the rear requires ducking forward quite a bit, making for some awkward maneuvers.

Driving position

7.5

The Maxima encourages a low, slung-back seating position. The high armrests can be a problem for shorter drivers, where they will impinge on elbow room rather than provide support. The sporty setup doesn't mesh well with a more upright driving position.

Roominess

5.5

The front seats have decent headroom, although the cabin feels small. Front passengers have intrusions into their footwells. Rear-seat legroom is tight behind taller front passengers, and headroom is severely limited. Even adults of average height will notice the cramped conditions.

Visibility

7.0

The windscreen is pushed far enough forward that the roof pillars are consistently in your forward view, and the front corners of the car are hard to judge. The convex side mirrors provide a wide view, and the blind-spot monitor helps, but the massive rear pillars severely hamper the driver's over-the-shoulder view.

Quality

8.0

Nissan has generally made the Maxima's interior look nice, giving it a veneer of luxury. Quite a few touchpoints are covered with soft-touch or more premium materials. Plastics have been treated to make them seem less cheap. Still elements of the interior can feel flimsy.

Utility

7.0

The Maxima's overall cargo capacity is disappointing considering the vehicle's exterior size. In terms of both trunk space and small-item storage, it ranks behind similarly sized vehicles. That said, the Maxima has a few tricks to add some convenience back.

Small-item storage

7.0

Front passengers get a cellphone cubby, a medium-size center console box, and door pockets capable of holding water bottles. The front cupholders lack anti-tip features. Rear passengers also get cupholders and door pockets with space for water bottles. Storage is useful but par for the course in modern midsize sedans.

Cargo space

7.0

The Maxima's trunk has a wide opening, and liftover isn't too high for a sedan. Built-in folding hooks for hanging shopping bags and in-trunk pull tabs to release the fold-down seats are useful extras. Significant wheelwell intrusions mean the total space is 14.3 cubic feet, which is just shy of average and a few cubic feet behind class leaders.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

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.

Technology

7.0

Nissan's technology features are easy to use. Smartphone integration is standard, and the Maxima offers quite a few features standard or on low to midtrim levels. However, the overall functionality and appearance are a bit behind the curve of the newest systems from competitors.

Audio & navigation

7.0

The Maxima's stereo and touchscreen are acceptable, especially if you're looking for a lot of bass delivery, but behind the curve. You can get more fully featured systems and more balanced stereos in midsize cars that cost significantly less.

Smartphone integration

8.0

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features, and both the front and back seats get a USB and USB-C port, for four total. Both front ports connect to the head unit via USB. Integration is largely smooth, although we experienced occasional connectivity issues with multiple devices.

Driver aids

6.5

Because of its old-fashioned steering, the Maxima can't get lane keeping assist, only lane departure warning. Adaptive cruise works well and can bring the car to a stop, although it automatically deactivates and releases the brakes after a few seconds at a standstill. In fact, there's no brake hold feature at all.

Voice control

7.0

Nissan's voice controls have relatively limited functionality, but you can use commands for most basic features. The system can be finicky about phrasing and word choice. A list of prompts is displayed on-screen, but you can skip intermediary commands if you get the phrasing right.

2019 Nissan Maxima models

The 2019 Nissan Maxima sedan comes in five trim levels: S, SV, SL, SR and Platinum. The S comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (300 horsepower, 261 pound-feet of torque) that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Standard features include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, foglights, remote engine start, keyless entry and ignition, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, adjustable driving modes, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split rear seat, a navigation system, an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and an eight-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

Standard safety systems include a rearview camera and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

The Maxima SV adds navigation, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, heated mirrors, heated front seats, leather upholstery, and an upgraded driver seat. The SL doesn't cost much more, and its impressive list of extra features includes a dual-panel sunroof, active noise reduction, front and rear parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, and a Bose premium audio system.

The SR upgrades with 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters, active engine sound enhancement, and a few braking-based features that subtly enhance the car's ride and handling. The panoramic sunroof is no longer standard, but the SR does add a few luxury features such as ventilated front seats, simulated-suede seat inserts, special interior trim, and rear collision mitigation.

The top-trim Platinum does away with some of the SR's performance add-ons, though it retains the ventilated front seats. It then adds automatic wipers, a surround-view parking camera, a power-adjustable steering column, driver-seat memory functions, a power-adjustable passenger seat, upgraded leather upholstery and interior trim, a rear power sunshade, and NissanConnect services. Finally, this year's new Platinum Reserve option package adds premium leather upholstery, heated rear seats and bronze-look interior trim.

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Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Nissan Maxima.

5 (66%)

4 (6%)

3 (0%)

2 (8%)

1 (20%)

3.9

15 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Underrated

Vic,09/11/2019

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.

2019 SR SUPER BLACK.

RICHARD,08/16/2019

3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

My 2016 MAXIMA SV lease was up, loved the car so much decided to upgrade to a 2019 SR SUPER BLACK and optioned it out. 2ND TO NONE! for the $$ this car is BAD A**!

For the price it comes with headaches

John,09/13/2019

3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

We bought a 2016 Maxima sr, new. We loved this car until the problems just kept mounting. It has been in the shop numerous times (oil leak) took 3 days to find and fix. At least four factory recalls, which were fixed. The latest a bracket holding the muffler up broke, $200 fix. Drove it home the emission light came on. Went back to the dealer $875.00 to replace an oxygen sensor but that …

2019 Maxima Reserve is incredible!

Mike Laboy,03/21/2019

Platinum 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

We tried many other comparable makers and they weren't close in Quality, options, accessories or looks.

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Features & Specs

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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.

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More about the 2019 Nissan Maxima

Used 2019 Nissan Maxima Overview

The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima is offered in the following submodels: Maxima Sedan. Available styles include Platinum 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT), 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT), 3.5 S 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT), 3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT), and 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT). Pre-owned Nissan Maxima models are available with a 3.5 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 300 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: continuously variable-speed automatic. The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima comes with a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. basic warranty, a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. powertrain warranty.

What's a good price on a Used 2019 Nissan Maxima?

Price comparisons for Used 2019 Nissan Maxima trim styles:

The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV is priced between $25,797 and$33,998 with odometer readings between 3097 and61576 miles.
The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 S is priced between $24,900 and$29,499 with odometer readings between 6521 and51879 miles.
The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima Platinum is priced between $36,998 and$37,998 with odometer readings between 4102 and28919 miles.
The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SL is priced between $27,990 and$34,998 with odometer readings between 12712 and52183 miles.
The Used 2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SR is priced between $32,544 and$32,544 with odometer readings between 46490 and46490 miles.

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Which used 2019 Nissan Maximas are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2019 Nissan Maxima for sale near. There are currently 24 used and CPO 2019 Maximas listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $24,900 and mileage as low as 3097 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2019 Nissan Maxima.

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Should I lease or buy a 2019 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.

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