2004 Nissan Maxima Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the A33, J31 and J32 Nissan Maxima from 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as a used buy.

Nissan Maxima is the largest car sold in Australia by the Japanese giant. For some reason it’s frequently overlooked by those shopping in the family car scene.Maxima is about the same size as the Toyota Aurion and isn’t a lot smaller than the Commodore and Falcon. It’s well worth including on your short list.The Maxima can carry four adults and a child with ease. Five adults will fit if they don’t mind doing some squeezing up, but that applies to all cars of this size.Though it's not quite as good on really rough corrugations as cars that are specifically built for Australian roads, it copes reasonably well with Aussie dirt roads. Ride on smooth surfaces is quiet and comfortable.Handling is softer and less responsive than that of the local sixes, but the Nissan is safe and predictable and will suit all but sports sedan enthusiasts.Nissan couldn't seem to make up its corporate mind on how the Maxima should look; it was somewhat unusual in the pre-1995 models but then went mainstream for a few years.Maxima from late 2003 then went the radical route in its shape, something that increased buyer awareness and certainly helped sales. But the 2009 model went back onto the conservative track, though it is still a handsome machine and suits many shopping in this usually conservative class.Maximas prior to the 2003 model, use a 3.0-litre V6 engine. From the 1995 model, a twin-cam 3.0 was installed. It has plenty of low-down torque and immediate throttle response so appeals to drivers of cars set up in the Australian fashion. The twin-cam engine is also noticeably smoother and quieter than the old single-cam one. The 2003 Maxima received an excellent 3.5-litre V6 and it’s better still.In 2009, Nissan Australia made an interesting move introducing a small 2.5-litre V6 as an option to the 3.5-litre unit. The smaller engine has more performance than you might expect, but traditionally buyers of six-cylinder family cars in Australia want plenty of grunt and the 2.5 may disappoint those people.Nissan Maxima is unusual in having a manual transmission option in a market that’s normally auto-only. However, the manual was only offered during 1995 and 1996 and only in the lower-cost model. This five-speed unit is not common and could be difficult to resell. Then again, if you are doing a lot of country driving where few gear changes are required, a manual will save on fuel.The automatic transmission had four forward ratios until becoming one of the early adopters of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in 2006. The CVT gives a little more performance and there's some reduction in fuel consumption. But not all may like the different sound and feel it displays. It's an acquired taste so give it a good long road test if you haven’t experienced a CVT before.Maxima model names have a somewhat confusing history. The lower-priced versions, called Maxima M in the pre-1995 models, Maxima 30J until October 1996, Maxima 30S Touring, and currently Maxima S, come well-equipped, with air conditioning, alloy wheels, power windows, cruise control and a quality stereo.The topline cars, tagged Maxima Ti then Maxima 30GV, then back to Maxima Ti again, are positively luxurious, with power-operated front seats, leather trim (not used in all early Ti models) and ABS anti-lock brakes. Additionally the 30GV and later Ti variants have climate-controlled air conditioning, a power sunroof, dual airbags, a built-in alarm system and foglights.From 2003, the lower-cost model became the ST-L, with the Ti tag being retained by the upper-crust variants, a further upgrade to the Ti is called the Ti-L and is loaded with good gear. Spare parts prices are often a little higher than average for this class, reflecting the fact that the Maxima is fully imported. We hear very few complaints about prices so owners obviously consider them acceptable.The good home mechanic can do some of their own maintenance and minor repair work on older models, later ones are pretty complex in places. Underbonnet access is good but make sure you have a workshop manual before diving in too deep.The Australian Nissan dealer network is long established and works well with outlets in virtually every area, even those deep in the outback. The latter may not always keep spare parts on hand for the Maxima so you may face a wait if unlucky enough to have problems in the bush.Insurance charges, though usually higher than for Aussie family sixes, aren't excessive. There can be a bigger than average range of premium charges so it's smart to take time to shop around.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe engine should start almost the moment you turn the key and idle smoothly and quietly immediately.A smoking exhaust is probably a sign of expensive wear – and the older Maximas are often getting towards their use-buy date.If the automatic transmission is slow to go into gear or harsh in its changes it could be due for an overhaul – though you may get away with simply having it serviced.Check the brakes pull up the car in a straight line and that one wheel doesn’t lock before the others. If ABS is installed you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard braking. If it’s too harsh have an expert look it over.Make sure there are no suspension noises when the car is driven on rough roads. This could indicate the car has had a rough life in the bush.Look for body damage or repairs following a crash, an inspection of the front tyres for uneven wear and a look over the seats, door trim and carpets for signs of rough use.Always have a professional do a final inspection as these are relatively complex cars and it’s easy to miss some items.CAR BUYING TIPIf shopping for something out of the ordinary try looking for a car club featuring the model.The gals and guys there can be a superb source of information. 

Nissan Maxima has enjoyed sales success in Australia over many years.

It's a genuine head-turner that breaks the mould for the Japanese mid-sized prestige contender. And it surely stands out in traffic.In the past, the Maxima has been the Nissan equivalent of the Toyota Avalon. You know, nice car, but . . .That's probably unfair on the Maxima, which has always had one of the world's greatest V6 engines and has also driven surprisingly well for a big, front-drive sedan. But it's been let down by the box-box-box school of styling which puts people and golf clubs first.In 2004, with Nissan badly in need of extra heroes to back the Pulsar and Patrol, which do the hard work in Australian showrooms, we have the new-age Maxima.Nissan says the theme for the car is 'luxury living', and that's obvious in a cabin that could have been furnished from an Ikea catalogue. It is crisp and clean, well integrated and with top-class finishing.The new Maxima could sit comfortably alongside the 350Z sports car in a two-slot garage, but it should also convince people that Nissan is doing everything it can to get away from its vanilla reputation.A single look at the bold new nose – some say there is a hint of BMW in the sharp creases – does the job.It comes with a roomy cabin for five adults, a large boot, all the luxury gear and a full set of airbags, including headbags on the upper models.The design is backed by a classy mechanical package – including the V6 it now shares with the Zed – and a sub-$40,000 starting price which makes it great value against rivals such as the Avalon, Ford Fairmont, Holden Calais and imports.Nissan put a lot of work into the styling as design takes on a bigger role in the company headed by former Renault boss Carlos Ghosn.On the roadOur friend Wayne, who drives his bright red EK Holden ute every day because he loves it, got the Maxima in one."I reckon that's a lounge chair car," he says, as he walks around the new Nissan. "It looks nice, a bit too modern for me, but I bet it drives like a lounge chair."He is right about the relaxed driving, but has underestimated the impact of the styling.For the rest of the morning, spent sitting outside our favourite coffee bar, the Maxima turns heads and gets people talking. Plenty of people want a car that keeps them comfortable and happy, but they also want something that's more than vanilla in a world of neapolitan and cassata.It moves briskly, it's light on the pumps, very well equipped, quiet and easy.What's not to like?We found the Maxima tough to park. It is high in the tail, and both ends drop away sharply, which is the worst combination for tight parallel parking.We also didn't like the slightly soft suspension, which gives the car a floaty feel, or the way the front end runs wide in corners. The Maxima responds well to the steering, and turns into corners well, but when you crack the throttle it has a tendency to run wide which makes it frustrating on twisty roads and roundabouts.Still, there is a lot to like.The Cars Guide test team is taken by the styling, and the elegant dashboard – our Maxima Ti came with plenty of gear, but the basic shape and wood trim makes the statement – is one of the nicest we've seen in any Japanese car.The car is light and easy to drive, very quiet at freeway pace, has big, comfy seats, and returned 9.3 litres/100km during out trials, although it takes premium unleaded. It also stops well, with a nice light feel through the brake pedal, and it's good to know that the Maxima Ti has front, side and head airbags.The specification sheet for the Ti also runs to electric leather seats, all the usual electric assistance bits, automatic airconditioning with separate driver and passenger settings, a six-stack CD sound system, (a rear DVD player is fitted to the Ti-L), cruise control and more.But, there are some quibbles. The Maxima doesn't have sound-system controls on the wheel or column, which is basically compulsory these days.It makes us think that there is more to the component sharing with the sporty Zed car – which also only has cruise control buttons on the wheel – than you can see.The 3.5-litre quad-cam V6 punches out 170kW of power and 333Nm of torque and that means it's always up for some action.Pick a place to overtake, and the Maxima will do it.There is some tugging on the wheel when you're using full throttle, but that's to be expected in a front-drive car with so much gristle. We would have preferred a five-speed automatic, and the Maxima's four-speeder doesn't even have a touch-change manual model, but the engine wipes over most of the cracks.The V6 also gives it an edge over its direct Australian rivals, at least until Holden gets its Global V6 into the VZ Commodore later this year.Some people will prefer the size-style-punch package of the Maxima, while others will like the badge-quality-comfort combination in the Accord V6, but we'd be happier putting our friends into either one than a Ford, Holden or the old-fashioned Avalon.There is a lot to like about the new Maxima, for driving and lounging, but it has the one thing that's always been missing in the past. When you pull into the driveway for the first time, you can guarantee the neighbours will be over to ask about your new car.