Used 2021 Nissan Maxima Consumer Reviews
Used Maxima for sale
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Maxima, so we've included reviews for other years of the Maxima since its last redesign.
An Elegant, Sporty Sedan that Packs a Punch!
Paul H, 12/29/2020
updated 12/30/2021
2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
32 of 32 people found this review helpful
I could not be happier with my 2020 Nissan Maxima SL sedan. Like the title states, it's elegant, sporty, comfortable, and possesses absolutely effortless power. I looked at upper trim levels of several popular vehicles, but I kept coming back to the Maxima. To me it had the best combination of attributes, with very few cons. Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are nice, but they are more for guys looking for a family sedan... yawn. The Avalon was nice, but the styling is boring (same as the Kia Cadenza), and although it has the same engine rating of 300 HP, the Maxima just seems quite a bit more powerful, especially in sports mode. The Maxima is flat out fun to drive and it turns a lot of heads to boot, with it's aggressive styling and bold lines. I read many reviews and the critics have never been impressed with the CVT Xtronic transmission, and for good reason. But the latest generation Maxima's have been using the D-Step logic Xtronic CVT's which have proven to be very reliable. I owned a 2014 Nissan Altima and while I never had problems with the CVT (traded it in at 152,000 miles), it did shift kind of odd. Not the 2020 Maxima, you would swear you are driving a very smooth shifting conventional automatic. Plus, although it's classified as a full size sedan, it's actually better described as a midsize sedan on steroids. What I love about it too, it's not your run of the mill sedan. Be prepared to get a lot of compliments. If you are looking for purely a "Dad's" family car to tote around the kids and the dog, you probably should look elsewhere. But if are looking for a classy, entry level luxury sedan, with sporty good looks and awesome acceleration, and is a sheer delight to drive, even to work, look no further then this gem. While it's not a sports car per se, and it's not a pure luxury car, Nissan did a damn good job of giving you a big taste of both. I'm betting you will love it 100%, I sure do!
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Better MPG than expected!
Cody, 10/25/2020
updated 07/09/2025
2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
27 of 28 people found this review helpful
**update** The CVT transmission went out at 64,000. Thankfully I purchased the extended warranty and it was covered and I was out of pocket $100 Other than that instance, the maxima has been an awesome car and was never in the shop besides oil changes, etc. I sold it this last weekend with 160,000 miles on it. I would definitely purchase again, and I would be sure to get the extended warranty! Also be sure to service your cvt transmission every 30-50k miles with a drain and fill! *original post* I traded in a 2009 GMC Sierra that was rusting apart, I looked around for several months before purchasing. I was initially looking at the new camry and altimas that offered AWD, but when I test drove the maxima I knew immediately I would be purchasing it. Black on black SV trim 32,000 miles so far! I average 27.5-28 mpg in remote eastern ky, which Is amazing for a V6 with all the rolling hills/foothills of the Appalachian mountains. The maxima rides very smooth. The seats are probably some of the most comfortable seats I’ve set in. One thing I was worried about going back into a car after driving a truck was that feeling of being on the ground and getting behind trucks and suvs and having trouble seeing around them. When driving the maxima I do not have that feeling of being on the ground, and I can see around other vehicles easily! CONS Minor Drawbacks/room for improvement: 1) I wish the headlights were set an inch or two higher 2) No memory seats (at least not in the SV trim) PROS: 1) sporty sedan that you won’t see every 3 seconds 2) Get up and go!! 3) huge trunk! 4) looks, comfort, and style for days Would definitely purchase again!
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2021 Nissan Maxima for sale near you
Showing 3 of 21 listings
- 3.5 SV SedanMSRP: $16,998In-stock online
- 3.5 SV SedanMSRP: $20,499In-stock online
- 3.5 SV SedanMSRP: $25,998In-stock online
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Underrated
Vic, 09/11/2019
2019 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
41 of 44 people found this review helpful
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.
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Love it
Anthony, 02/27/2020
2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
57 of 62 people found this review helpful
All car types are just right for some individuals, and not for others. I've owned my 2020 Maxima for over 90 days, and I am very happy with it. I went for the SV trim which has most of the bells and whistles, including leather seating and navigation, but doesn't have some of the items that have little or no value for me. Safety wise, it has more than I know what to do with, Intelligent cruise control, Intelligent forward colllision warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Lane departure warning, Blind spot warning, Rear cross traffic alert (has come in handy several times), rear view monitor, Traffic sign recognition (can glance at my dashboard and see what the last traffic speed sign was, in case you missed it) and much more. As far as handling goes, I'd compare it to a sumo wrestler, it's big, but agille, the car can handle cornering like a smaller car, and the ride is very good on level surfaces, not wallowy, it's firm but not harsh, so in bad pavement some of the bumps come through. Acceleration is excellent, and I've yet to notice any bad behavior from the CVT transmission as some reviews state. In sport mode handling is like a laser, solid and more sport-sedan like, a bit too stiff for uneven pavement. Don't believe reviews that say that the steering is hard for parking, they probably left the car in sport mode. As for space, I'm six foot tall and have plenty of room, including headroom, if you're taller I wouldn't recommend getting the moonroof, because it takes away from headroom. As for looks, it is a looker. I've caught people admiring it at parking lots, and several times cars in the fast lane slow down to look at the logo in the rear. I got the pearl white paint, which is extra $, but this car shows off very well with it. Initial quality has been excellent, no problems of any type; my biggest challenge has been reading the thick booklets that explain how to use all the features. Although the car is large the interior is not cavernous, more like a mid-sized Kia Optima or so. That's why some reviews list it as a mid-size and other reviews list it as a full-size. For me, the size means safety, it is top rated in that area, and I don't have a big family or a car pool where I need to routinely carry around a lot of passengers. The trunk is pretty good size and the back seats fold down to carry long items. So far the only complaint is the size and shape of the center console, which is too deep so it makes finding items difficult, I would galdly give up one of the two cup holders to get a better shape for the console, but that is a minor issue. In review, it is not a car you will see every five minutes; so there is somewhat of an exclusive feeling. It looks, feels and performs as a premium sedan, but without the luxury brand baggage.
Expectations Exceeded
Cory, 11/23/2020
2020 Nissan Maxima Platinum 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
23 of 25 people found this review helpful
I drove a 2011 Buick LaCrosse for years and loved it but when it came time to replace it, as Buick no longer makes the LaCrosse or anything similar, I was forced to look elsewhere. I considered the Chrysler 300, Kia Cadenza and Nissan Maxima before deciding on the Maxima. Shortly afterwards, I had to drive cross country, over 2,000 miles and really got to know the car. The Maxima has exceeded my expectations completely. It gets excellent gas mileage, typically around 35-36 on the highway. It's comfortable, spacious and best of all fast, the V6 is really excellent. To my surprise, the CVT isn't a problem at all, which was one thing I had reservations about. The adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams are features I love now but didn't think I'd use. Overall, very happy I chose the Maxima and absolutely recommend it. I never thought I'd appreciate a Nissan after 9 years as a Buick owner but I am not looking back.
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