The base SV trim is going to quench your thirst with plenty of standard features. Some of these features include leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, etc. There aren't any optional packages available to add more convenient features. 

The Maxima SR offers the most sporting features- The Car Connection

Only three trims are offered for the Nissan Maxima. These include SV, SR, and Platinum. The official pricing details are yet to be announced by Nissan whereas the release date of the 2022 Maxima will be sometime in fall 2021. It is expected that the top-end Platinum trim may touch the $44,000 mark as heated rear seats are now standard equipment. 

The rest of the specs and features remain identical to the 2021 model. The Maxima is appreciated for offering a long list of niceties. There are no optional packages available but a few options are on offer for certain trims. The SV trim can be equipped with dual rear sharing ports for $140. A sporty rear diffuser is available for the SR trim for $370. 

*2021MY data used for reference

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The Maxima’s V6 has plenty of punch for accelerating from a standstill- Autotrader

Powering the Nissan Maxima is the same 3.5L V6 engine that is seen for quite some time now. The V6 engine is a delight on its own, with 300 hp and 261 lb-ft. of torque pumping in the crank. The engine is mated to a CVT that seems a little sluggish. The gear ratios are longer which makes it take its sweet time to shift. Therefore, the Maxima is more of an everyday car than a track-focused performance sedan. 

The Maxima handles really well for its size. It hugs into corners confidently with an immense grip from its wheels. The steering is precise but it feels numb at times. The ride quality is quite good too. The SR trim comes with a sport-tuned suspension setup which makes the ride quite stiff. It does not perform well on rough patches but the driving dynamics with good steering control and handling make it shine. 

Although the transmission's shifts are slow, the Maxima's acceleration is impressive. It takes 5.8 seconds to sprint from 0-60 MPH while the quarter-mile drag is covered in 14.3 seconds. These figures are pretty competitive in their class. Keep in mind that the Maxima is not a sporty sedan and yet, its performance is alluring. The brakes also show strong stopping power and bring this sedan to a smooth stop from 60 MPH in 113 feet. 

*2021MY data used for reference

The Maxima is a star performer in this field. The Toyota Avalon is not too behind the Maxima in terms of acceleration. The Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger house the same engine and also take a similar time to complete both performance tests. Price-wise, they are on a budget side compared to the Avalon and the Maxima. 

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The Maxima's powertrain proves itself adept at blending performance and efficiency- CarAndDriver

The fuel economy on the Maxima is pretty impressive and it shows that Nissan has kept the promise. In the city, the Maxima will return an average of 20 MPG, 30 MPG on the highways, and 24 MPG combined, which is a decent number for a V6 engine. However, if you take efficiency into account, the Maxima may disappoint you. 

The fuel tank capacity stands at 18 gallons which promise 540 miles on a highway while the city range is calculated to be 360 miles only. A combined range of 432 miles is delivered by the Maxima, which is one of the best in its segment. Therefore, the Maxima is a good choice for fuel-saving people. 

*2021MY data used for reference

The Toyota Avalon breaks the stereotypes of a V6 engine and offers the best fuel economy in this competition. However, its small tank results in the least range among the lot. The fuel economy of the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger are equal as they house the same engine. They are the least efficient cars here. 

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The interior looks nice with a veneer of luxury and many touchpoints covered in soft or premium materials- Edmunds

The interior of the Nissan Maxima is beautifully laid out with the use of high-quality materials. The dashboard is made of high-quality plastics and is adorned with leather accents, which adds on the luxury and has a softer and smoother feel to it. Leather upholstery is standard but the SR and Platinum trim also adds Alcantara accents to give a premium feel. The cockpit looks fantastic and modern with a sporty steering wheel and chrome elements at the center.

The front seats provide extreme comfort and good under-thigh support. Further elevating the front-seat comfort is a standard 8-way power driver's seat but a 6-way power passenger's seat is standard from the SR trim onwards. The front row is suitable for six-footers as there is plenty of passenger space on offer. However, the head and legroom at the back are pretty tight. Getting into the back row is also tricky for taller occupants as the headliner is quite low. 

The infotainment system is highly functional with a lot of standard features onboard. The 8-inch touchscreen features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the system can also be controlled via voice commands. The interface is pretty straightforward and the menu structure is well laid. Several physical controls are arranged neatly around the screen for climate and audio settings. The SR trim and up gets an 11-speaker Bose premium audio system while an 8-speaker setup is standard. 

*2021MY data used for reference

Pop the truck and you will see 14.3 cubes of cargo space. The cargo capacity on offer is less and it is quite disappointing to see Nissan forgetting about the overall practicality. The rear seats do fold to increase the cargo space to some extent but you do get sizable interior storage in the glove box and center console bin. Some main interior features are:

• Power tilt & telescopic multi-function leather, heated steering wheel
• Power front leather seats
• Heated & ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Dual-panel panoramic moonroof
• Aluminum foot pedals
• 8-inch touchscreen w/ smartphone integration
• 11-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Voice commands

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Nissan packs a lot of details into the Maxima’s exterior design- Kelly Blue Book

The exterior of the Nissan Maxima is sharp, aggressive, and looks better than the competition. At a first glance, you would mistake it for a high-tier sports sedan. Although the design has become dated somehow but still looks stunning. All LED headlights and DRLs coupled with the fairly chunky V-motion grille make up the front end. The lower fascia adds LED fog lights on the top two trims. 

From the side view, the angles are sharp and well designed by Nissan. The roofline gently sweeps into the tail section with attractive-looking taillights and dual exhaust cutouts. The sedan comes with 18-inch alloy wheels. The ground clearance measures 5.3 inches, adequate for a sedan. However, its short wheelbase translates for a cramped rear-seat room than its rivals. 

*2021MY data used for reference

Dimension-wise, the Chrysler 300 sits 0.3 inches lower than the Maxima. Also, its wheelbase along with the Dodge Charger is wider than the Maxima and therefore, has better rear passenger space. The Toyota Avalon weighs the lightest in this competition which contributes to better handling characteristics. Some key exterior highlights are:

• LED auto high-beam headlights
• LED taillights
• LED DRLs
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Black grille with chrome accents
• Chrome door handles
• Chrome window trim
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Quad exhaust chrome tips

Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance technologies is of real interest here- Carbuzz

The safety ratings of the 2022 Nissan Maxima are yet to be announced. Since it is the same as the 2021 model, we are considering the latter's ratings. It scored an overall five out of five stars by NHTSA. It also received the Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS, which is the top-most honor by the organization. 

The overall safety quotient of the Maxima has already impressed us. The Maxima gets all the possible safety goodies bundled in the car as Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard. Almost all of the safety techs are standard while a very few of them are optional. It also gets a suite of ten airbags. The list of standard features are:

• Forward Collision Warning.
• Blind Spot Warning.
• Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Warning.
• Adaptive Cruise Control.
• Surround-View Monitor
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
• Rearview Camera
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Driver Attention Monitor
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rear Door Alert
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers

2022 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Chrysler 300

Both the Maxima and the Chrysler 300 have their distinctive pros and cons. The Maxima is ahead of the 300 in terms of performance but not luxury where the latter shines. The 300 also offers more rear-seat room and trunk volume but loses on the mileage where the Maxima is so much better. The Maxima offers a long list of standard safety equipment but it retails higher in cost compared to the 300.

2022 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon is the closest rival to the Maxima but it beats the latter in many areas. Despite using an automatic gearbox, its fuel efficiency is much better than the Maxima. The materials used in the Avalon's cabin feel premium and it is also spacious. It also offers better cargo space. On the safety front, both the sedans offer ample driver aids but the Maxima earns the Top Safety Pick+ award. 

2022 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger is a creature on its own. The car has a very aggressive stance and offers a lineup of engines more powerful. The Maxima has better fuel efficiency for the performance it is providing but the Charger has better cargo capacity and rear-seat legroom. Speaking of price, the Charger comes a bit cheaper than the Maxima but compromises on some luxury and safety elements.

The 2022 Nissan Maxima is for individuals who are not willing to compromise on the specs which include adequate luxury, power-packed performance with no fuel compromise, elegant looks, and the list goes on. The only compromises would be the lower cargo capacity on offer and the rear-seat legroom, where its rivals succeed. If those two parameters are important for you, go with the Toyota Avalon otherwise the Maxima won't disappoint on other aspects.