2019 Nissan Maxima Review

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.

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.