• Tight rear seats
• Small trunk
• Numb steering

Rankings & Research

The 2022 Nissan Maxima’s #4 ranking is based on its score within the Large Cars category. Currently the Nissan Maxima has a score of 8.1 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 42 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.

Is the Nissan Maxima a Good Car?

Yes, the Nissan Maxima is a good car. It has a powerful V6 engine, a gentle ride, a classy cabin, and straightforward infotainment controls. Its main shortcoming is that it’s not as well-rounded as most large car rivals , as it lags many of them in passenger and trunk space. This Nissan also has high fuel costs and an above-average retail price.

2021 vs. 2022 Nissan Maxima: What’s the Difference?

Outside of making heated rear seats standard in the Platinum trim, Nissan leaves this sedan largely unchanged for the 2022 model year.

Here are the key changes for the Nissan Maxima over the last few years:

• 2022: slight feature reshuffling
• 2021: trim levels simplified; SV debuts as base trim
• 2020: Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite became standard; retuned suspension and chassis
• 2019: refreshed exterior styling
• 2018: more standard tech and safety features

How Much Does the Nissan Maxima Cost?

The base Maxima has a starting MSRP of $37,240. That’s above average for a full-size car. The SR and Platinum trims start at just over $42,000.

Nissan Maxima Versus the Competition

Nissan Maxima vs. Toyota Avalon

Like the Nissan, the Toyota Avalon is a large car with a powerful V6 engine and an intuitive infotainment system. However, the Toyota comes out ahead thanks to its larger trunk and more spacious rear seats. It also has sharper steering and better mpg ratings than the Nissan.

Nissan Maxima vs. Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger has fewer standard safety features than the Maxima, and it has a lower-rent cabin, but other than that, it’s the better sedan. The Charger has an accommodating second row, a larger trunk, zestier handling, available all-wheel drive, and a range of engines that blow away the Nissan.

Maxima Interior: Luxe Cabin, but Lacking in Space

Maxima Interior Quality

This Nissan has an upscale cabin. There are plenty of soft-touch materials, the leather is supple, and fit and finish is top-notch.

Maxima Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

Using the NissanConnect infotainment system is straightforward. There are handy physical controls placed within easy reach of the driver, and the touch screen responds well to inputs.

• Standard infotainment features: an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, two USB ports, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, an eight-speaker stereo, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay
• Available infotainment features: an 11-speaker Bose sound system and two more USB ports
• Additional standard features: push-button start, remote start, proximity keyless entry, and dual-zone automatic climate control
• Other available features: a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and a Virtual Key

Maxima Cargo Space

With 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, this sedan is underwhelming compared to other large cars . In fact, some midsize sedans have more room. However, the split-folding rear seats can create more space, and the trunk has a wide, low opening, which makes it easy to load items.

How Many People Does the Maxima Seat?

Up to five people can sit in the Maxima. However, the rear seats are cramped, and you won’t want to keep two adults back there for long. Kids should be fine. Upfront, the seats are spacious and well-bolstered.

Maxima and Child Car Seats

There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats, along with a tether anchor for the rear middle seat, which can borrow a lower anchor from either side. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good+, which indicates that it’s among the easiest and most versatile to use.

Maxima Performance: Powerful and Comfortable

Maxima Engine

The sole engine in this vehicle is a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine has sufficient power for most driving scenarios, and it helps the sedan go from zero to 60 mph in around six seconds.

CVTs are known for droning or hesitant shifting, but the Maxima’s operates quietly.

Maxima Gas Mileage

This Nissan earns an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Those are typical estimates for the class. However, the Maxima will cost more at the pump than other large cars because it uses premium fuel.

Maxima Ride and Handling

The Maxima has a comfortable ride and composed handling. It glides over rough patches of pavement, and its suspension is firm enough to help the sedan carve corners with confidence. The steering feel can be vague though. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is unavailable.

Maxima Reliability

Is the Nissan Maxima Reliable ?

The 2022 Nissan Maxima has a predicted reliability score of 93 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Nissan Maxima Warranty

Nissan covers the Maxima with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

2022 Nissan Maxima Safety

Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2022 Nissan Maxima a Top Safety Pick+, giving the car the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable for how well its headlights illuminate the road ahead.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. This sedan received the highest rating of Superior for its standard front crash prevention systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave this Nissan an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the frontal crash, side crash, and rollover tests.

Safety Features

Standard driver assistance features:

• Forward collision warning
• Forward and reverse automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Lane departure warning
• Driver attention monitor
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Rearview camera

Available driver assistance features:

• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Front parking sensors
• Lane keep assist
• Surround-view parking camera system

Maxima Dimensions and Weight

The Maxima is 16.1 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,609 to 3,716 pounds.