2022 Nissan Maxima Review

Name: 2022 Nissan Maxima
Brand: Nissan

Price Range: $17,590 - $34,998

2022 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SR Sedan Exterior Shown Exterior

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2022 Maxima offers an appealing bridge to luxury sedans with sporty handling, above-average performance and a classy interior. Yet despite its ample mass, this midsize sedan doesn't offer a lot of space for either passengers or things. Many rivals also deliver better tech and more features for less money.

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Average price: $17,477

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Pros

Well-made, attractive cabin
Sharp handling for a midsize sedan

Cons

The back seat and trunk aren't very spacious
Overly firm ride quality in the SR trim
Compromised visibility
Dated infotainment system

What's new

Platinum trim gains heated rear seats
Part of the eighth Maxima generation introduced for 2016

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

1/3/2022

The years have not been kind to the Nissan Maxima. There was a time when its "four-door sports car" tagline was justified, but the current generation offers little in the way of excitement. To its credit, the Maxima still uses a 300-horsepower V6 engine and provides sporty handling. But you can get similar or superior performance from other top midsize sedans and benefit from more interior room and fresher styling.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

210 listings

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2022 Nissan Maxima
3.5 SV Sedan
$22,900
fair price
$602 above market
- 52,667 miles
- 20 City / 30 Hwy MPG
- 84 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Penn Laird, VA
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (20 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
1N4AA6CV6NC505449
Stock:
288964
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Price Drop
2021 Nissan Maxima
3.5 SV Sedan
$15,496
good price
$1,257 below market
- 82,184 miles
- 20 City / 30 Hwy MPG
- 29 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Woodbridge, VA
2021 NISSAN MAXIMA SV – SEDAN • FRONT WHEEL DRIVE • AUTOMATIC • 3.5L DOHC 24-VALVE V6 • GASOLINE • 20-30 est.VIN: 1N4AA6CV9MC504438 Mileage: 82184 mi...
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (20 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
1N4AA6CV9MC504438
Stock:
CU8359
Certified Pre-Owned:
No

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Check out our test team's Expert Rating for more information on where the 2022 Maxima comes up short. But hope is not entirely lost. There are rumors that a new Maxima is in the works, and that it may even be all-electric. If these rumors become reality, perhaps the Maxima's "four-door sports car" promise will once again be fulfilled.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.4

out of 10

We drove the 2022 Nissan Maxima on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Maxima drive? The Maxima isn't quite the "four-door sports car" that Nissan says it is. It's not even really a sport sedan. But it is a sporty midsize sedan, with above-average handling and strong acceleration from a V6 engine. Oddly, the Maxima feels heavy at low speeds but lighter and more agile as speed increases.

This sensation largely comes down to the steering feel. In many cars it's the opposite — lighter at parking-lot speeds and heavier at higher speeds. In turns and corners, the Maxima's dynamic limits are fairly low, but the car communicates well enough that drivers can be confident not to overstep them. Overall, this Nissan is a friendly and easy car to drive.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Maxima? The Maxima's quiet cabin — a joint effort involving acoustic glass, ample sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation — gives the sedan a premium feel out on the road. The ride is firm and controlled, and the suspension does well at absorbing bumps and road imperfections. (A firmer sport suspension is available for drivers willing to trade ride comfort for sharper handling.) Overall, the Maxima rides better than most midsize family sedans and more like an entry-level luxury car.

The Maxima's seats also straddle the line between sporty support and long-distance comfort. They'll keep you in place through fast corners but remain comfortable for long stretches.

Interior

7/10

How’s the interior? The Maxima's interior looks great, the controls are easy to use, and the infotainment system's structure is logical. But there's a price to pay for the Maxima's sleek exterior design. Passenger space is limited, and the cabin feels small. Front passengers get decent headroom, but intrusions in the footwells and high armrests make things feel cramped.

Rear passengers endure even less legroom and headroom. And getting in and out of the Maxima, particularly for those in the rear seat, is more work than it should be. Visibility also leaves something to be desired, and the front corners of the car are hard to judge. Useful side mirrors and safety aids help for awareness.

Technology

7/10

How’s the tech? Nissan's technology features are easy to use, but aside from up to two USB-C ports (in addition to two regular ones) and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, the infotainment feels dated and behind the curve. The stereo and touchscreen are adequate, especially if you like bass, but other midsize sedans cost less and offer more fully featured systems and better audio.

Most basic infotainment features can be controlled through voice command, but we found the system finicky about word choice and phrasing. Driver aids are also limited. Adaptive cruise control works well and can bring the car to a complete stop, but Nissan's innovative ProPilot package isn't offered.

Storage

7/10

How’s the storage? Considering the Maxima's size, its overall cargo capacity is disappointing. The Maxima lags behind similarly sized cars in both small-item storage and trunk space, but the trunk has a wide and low opening, which makes for easy loading. Additional useful features include hooks for hanging shopping bags and in-trunk pull tabs to release the fold-down seats.

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.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? At 24 mpg combined (20 city/30 highway), the Maxima falls short of midsize competitors with upgraded engines. In our time with the car, we had trouble matching EPA numbers, falling short even of the city mpg estimate. The fact that 91 octane is recommended adds even more cost.

Value

7/10

Is the Maxima a good value? The Maxima tries to thread a line between a near-luxury car and one that delivers better-than-average performance. It doesn't quite succeed at either. Sure, the interior looks nice with a veneer of luxury and many touch points covered in soft or premium materials. It also offers a measure of sophisticated handling and performance, but nothing you can't get from another competitor for less money.

Wildcard

8/10

The Maxima manages to capture a sense of luxury and sportiness in an accessible package, even if it doesn't quite excel at either. It's a car designed to make the driver feel good. Largely it succeeds, even if it's far from the best value.

2022 Nissan Maxima trim level differences

The 2022 Nissan Maxima is a midsize sedan that is offered in SV, SR and Platinum trims. All Maxima models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (300 horsepower, 261 lb-ft of torque) that is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives the front wheels. Standard feature highlights include: Compare the 2022 Nissan Maxima trim levels in-depth.

Which Maxima trim does Edmunds recommend?

Sporty performance is one of the Maxima's biggest selling points, so we suggest capitalizing on that by selecting the SR trim. The stiffer suspension tuning provides sharper handling, and you also get plenty of other convenience and safety features for the money.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$247/mo

$222/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Reliability

The 2022 Nissan Maxima has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and no 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

Frequency

1.05x/yr

vs. 0.97x/yr
for Average Fullsize Car

Severity

13.6%

vs. 13.4%
for Average Fullsize Car

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2022 Nissan Maxima

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 Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.3

35 reviews

5(69%)

4(17%)

3(0%)

2(3%)

1(11%)

See all 35 reviews of the Nissan Maxima

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

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2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

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 …

Underrated

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2019 Nissan Maxima 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.

Love it

Anthony, 02/27/2020

2020 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

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)

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 …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Nissan Maxima, so we've included reviews for other years of the Maxima since its last redesign.

2022 Maxima Features & Specs

Trim:

3.5 SV

Est. Market Value	$23,468
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$247/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

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.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good