Nissan Maxima Reviews

Nissan has had a knack of building good cars and disguising them so well few people get to see just how good they are. The A32 Maxima is a perfect example. It was a very good family four-door that went unnoticed by the majority of car buyers.It was a similar case with the Skyline the company previously built in the 1980s. The Skyline had a refined mechanical package that was reassuringly reliable, it was well built, but its hard-edged styling was hard to accept. Those who cared to take a closer look, however, were pleasantly surprised and became ardent fans.The Maxima is a similar case. It had a wonderfully refined mechanical package, was well built, and very reliable. Even better, its lines were much more attractive that its predecessor.Despite the positives it was a car that failed to grab much attention, but like the Skyline those who looked closer found a great car, and also like the Skyline the Maxima is a car worth taking a close look at when considering your next used car.MODEL WATCHThe Maxima first arrived here in 1991 as an imported replacement for the locally built Skyline, which had attracted a loyal following in the years it was on sale despite some early problems with diff noise.While the Skyline was a competitor for the Falcon and Commodore, the Maxima was aimed at those who wanted more and were prepared to pay for it. Unlike the two locally built cars, and the Skyline, the Maxima was front-wheel drive, but it boasted good build quality, was smooth and refined, and very reliable.Like many Nissans the Maxima’s styling was thought to be ultra conservative, and it was quickly given the tag of your “granddad’s” car. Sure it was conservative, as many Japanese cars of the time were, but it’s really being a little unfair to the Maxima, and yourself, if you disregard it on the basis of its looks.The A32 Maxima is now almost 10 years old, but it has held its looks over that time, and still looks good on the road. That’s the upside of conservative styling, it simply doesn’t date as fast as some more edgy styling does.Initially the model choices consisted of the 30J entry level, plus the better equipped 30G and luxury 30GV.The 30J came quite well equipped with air-conditioning, driver’s airbag, central locking, power windows and mirrors, cloth trim, height adjustable steering wheel, power steering and ABS.The 30G came with standard air-con, auto trans, alloys, cruise, driver’s airbag, wood trim, leather steering wheel and gearshift knob, central locking and CD player. The range topping 30GV had all of that plus leather, dual airbags, active suspension, power sunroof and fog lamps.Power for all models was provided by a jewel-like 3.0-litre V6. The silky smooth double overhead cam motor had multipoint fuel-injection and pumped out a competitive 142 kW at 5600 revs, which was more than a match for the local six cylinder family cars.Nissan initially offered a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed auto, both had floor shift, and drove through the front wheels. Auto became standard after 1996.The 30S Touring sedan replaced the 30J in 1996. Features list included standard auto trans, ally wheels, rear spoiler, leather steering wheel and gearshift knob.IN THE SHOPThe news is good for anyone who’s thinking of buying an A32 Maxima, as there is little that seems to go wrong with them in a regular or serious way.Like any car things do break, and they’re always frustrating, but there’s nothing that says there’s a serious problem lurking under that very conservative skin.The engine gives good service, and with a chain driving the camshafts, there’s nothing that needs replacing at regular intervals.The transmission can give trouble, with the various electric solenoids in the ’box the main culprits. You can expect 200,000 km out of a trannie with little trouble, but try to find a car with a service record as these will be more reliable in the long run than a car that has been neglected.The heater core can also be a source of trouble over the long term, if it fails it will dump its load into the passenger compartment and may drown the car’s computer, which is handily located below the core.It’s a nuisance if it happens, and costly if the ECU is damaged, but it’s not enough to dismiss the Maxima as this is one great car.LOOK FOR• conservative styling won’t stand out in a crowd• plenty of zip• silky smooth quad-cam V6• impeccable reliability• check for service record• high level of equipmentTHE BOTTOM LINEConservative styling can be boring, but well balanced chassis, smooth V6, and great reliability make the Maxima a very attractive used car.RATING85/100

Nissan's Maxima is a family-six with more than its fair share of style.

Yet, to me, it has lots of appeal. Very much, in fact, like the Nissan Maxima.This sedan also has all the right ingredients, follows a proven recipe and is served up in a pretty package.So why doesn't it get eaten up by a hungry audience?Nissan's 3.5-litre V6, the successor to the award-winning three-litre version, is a delightful power plant in the Maxima. It's so good, in fact, that in various states of tune it also does duty in the 350Z and the Murano.In the latest Maxima, it's mated to a continuously variable transmission that is so simple it has no gears.Basically, it consists of a steel belt sliding up and down two cones, one driven by the engine and the other connected to the wheels.For the driver, upchanges are seamless and quiet. If needed, there's a locking mechanism to retain six specific ratios to make the engine less stressed when towing or climbing steep slopes.The suspension package of this big front-wheel-drive sedan is also simple, though in handling and ride comfort it's highly effective.The Maxima, the biggest sedan Nissan sells in Australia, offers comfortable seating for five adults and a very accommodating boot.Styling is distinctive and functional, although to some the sweeping roof and hard-edged grille are a bit aggressive.Few would criticise the cabin. In the top-line Ti model tested, the interior is leather-trimmed and neatly styled. The dashboard is simple yet effective. There's that word again.In fact, go over the Maxima and everything appears to be well thought out. It all works simply, reliably and,yes, effectively.But it's not perfect. The foot-operated parking brake doesn't match the user-friendly characteristics of the rest of the car.Nor is there a fold-down rear seat, which limits the Maxima's versatility. I recognise that such seats are becoming like the dodo, but there's no denying they're a bonus.To cart long, skinny items, however, there's a flip-down access port under the rear seat's armrest.The Ti variant comes with a vast feature list including rear park sensors, dual-zone climate air-conditioning with extra vents in the rear, cruise control, six airbags and a six-disc CD stacker.Safety features include ABS brakes, electronic stability control, seat-belt pretensioners and five lap-sash belts. In fact, even the base ST-L model has this safety list.On the road, the Maxima is quiet, refined and smooth.Pushed hard, it reveals understeer that is typical of most front-wheel-drive sedans. Thanks to a rigid body and stability control, however, it's a composed and predictable car.The CVT is responsible for its excellent fuel economy and for the secondary benefit of keeping the engine at relatively low revs.Potentially, this indicates the engine will have a long and stress-free life.The price is right, the features are tops and the comfort is excellent. All better than a Chiko roll, in fact.

Now Nissan has introduced a mid-life Maxima facelift and jiggled the line-up.The exterior upgrades are hard to pick. The cars have new bumpers, a revised grille, fog lights, new LED tail-lights and slightly different alloy wheels.On the inside, the changes are a bit more visible. Nissan has added new leather trim and replaced faux woodgrain bits with dark plastic.The engine, a cracker 3.5-litre V6 with four valves a cylinder is unchanged. It doesn't quite match the 350Z's output, being tuned for refinement over performance, but still puts out 170kW and 333Nm.The new gearbox is the most important addition. It is a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which uses a chain and two pulleys to constantly change gear ratios. The idea is that the engine delivers optimum power and improves fuel economy. For the driver, it feels as if the car has one gear, with no step changes.Two problems prevented CVT technology from sweeping across the car world: the unpleasant sound and reliability concerns.The Maxima range now includes the upgraded base ST-L and Ti. The range-topping Ti-L is gone. Prices start at $39,990 for the ST-L and hit $44,990 for the Ti.It is a good car, but it could have been great. A marshmallow-soft suspension set-up might put bums on Maxima seats in the US, but in Australia it just spoils a nice car.The mid-corner body roll of the big Nissan is extreme to the extent that it lurches through turns. Its floating suspension movement was so bad on a pot-holed, undulating, twisty country road I almost became sea-sick.Some work on the steering would also be welcome. The present system offers little feedback through the wheel.All this means you are not tempted to push the Maxima hard, despite the engine's terrific punch. The car, however, does deliver excellent ride comfort on smooth highways. The sumptous leather seats feel like soft lounges. The best feature of the revised Maxima is the CVT automatic. It works a treat with the 3.5-litre V6. Thanks to the steady flow of torque on tap, it doesn't sound like the clutch is slipping because you can hardly hear the engine working away.There is no juddering as it pops up into the next gear. Nissan has added a self-shift mode, so you can shift between six pre-set ratios.Nissan says the CVT delivers fuel economy benefits. Official fuel-use figures are reduced from 11.2 litres/100km to 10.8/100km. We found the Maxima ran at 10.4 litres/100km doing a fair chunk of highway driving, which is reasonable but not great considering it drinks only pricier premium fuel.It is a nice big car with a luggage-swallowing boot and good legroom.The interior looks good; several people who saw the Ti test car thought it cost a lot more than it does. It is not perfect though. The steering wheel, for instance, doesn't have buttons to control the sound system; a feature expected these days.As for the sound system, the speakers are powerful enough but the in-glass antenna struggles out of town.The keyless entry key-fob might impress some, but feels like an afterthought.Most cars with similar systems have an engine start-stop button. The Maxima doesn't. You can get into the car without having to take the key out of your pocket, but you still have to turn a plastic dial covering the ignition barrel on the steering column.Overall, the car is excellent value when you consider all the metal and equipment you get.

The first Nissan to deliver on this promise was the soft road Murano and the prestige Maxima sedan has just followed suit.Compared with the previous model's four- speed automatic transmission, fuel consump- tion has dropped from 11.2 litres to 10.8 litres per 100km – a reduction of 3.5 per cent.More impressive, however, is that in a week of testing we bettered this figure without even trying, with the 70-litre tank delivering an average 10.2 litres per 100km.Maxima is powered by Nissan's acclaimed 3.5litre V6, the same engine that can be found under the bonnet of the 350Z sports car but in a different state of tune.The V6 generates 170kW of power at 5600rpm and 333Nm of torque at 2800rpm.It prefers premium unleaded petrol.CVT is standard on both models – ST-L and Ti.Instead of set change points, CVT as its name suggests continuously varies the gear ratio to achieve the ideal balance between power and economy.Although a sequential "M-Mode" is offered where drivers can change gears manually (with six gears from which to choose) there is little need or reason to do so most of the time.Previous CVT autos that we have tested have had a "zoomy" feel, but not so with this one.It's smooth and punchy, providing just the right mix of power and economy for the executive in a hurry.As well as the addition of the new transmission, Maxima has been upgraded with new look front and rear bumpers, dual rear exhaust outlets, LED tail lights, redesigned headlights, front fog lights and alloy wheels.Inside, the application of leather and new metallic finishes creates a stylish modern ambiance.Our test vehicle was the top of the range Ti with all the bells and whistles.It comes with a full complement of luxury features including leather and climate con- trolled airconditioning, but still has a somewhat spartan feel.It's not so much what is included but what is missing that grates – reach adjust for the steering wheel and heated front seats spring to mind.At the gimmicky end of the spectrum Ti comes with an "intelligent" key system with no need to take the ignition key out of your pocket to start the car.A hard key is built into the remote which is a good thing because it played up a couple of times, refusing to start without the key.Still, we like the car and at a starting price of $39,990, it represents excellent value for money.The Ti goes for $44,990.You get leather and electronic stability control with both, but the ST-L misses out on curtain airbags.

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.