2020 Nissan Maxima

As with Nissan's other cars, the maxima comes in a lot of trims that suits the tastes of all kinds of customers.

Trims	S	SV	SL	SR	Platinum	Platinum Reserve
MSRP	$33,950	$35,960	$38,440	$39,530	$41,440	$42,580
Features	LED Headlights	Adds to S	Adds to SV	Adds to SL	Adds to SR	Adds to Platinum
	LED DRL	Nissan Door to Door navigation	Dual Panel panoramic moon Roof	Sports Tuned Suspension	Nissan Connect Services with SiriusXM	Semi-Aniline Leather-Appointed Seats
	Auto Emergency Braking	Intelligent Cruise Control	Front and Rear Sonar System	Stiffer Springs	Memory Settings for Driver Seat	Charcoal Headline
	Apple Car Play	Leather Seats	Heated Steering	Paddle Shifters	Rear Automatic Braking	Heated Rear Seats
	Android Auto	Heated Front Seats Blind Spot Warning	Front Passenger Powered Seats	Ascot Leather and Alcantra Inserts	Memory Setting for Steering	Satin bronze interiors
			BOSE Premium Audio	Pedestrian Detection	Memory Setting for ORVM's
				19' Alloys

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The SL trim comes packed with a lot of features for the price it's being sold at and which is why it is the trim to go for.

The Maxima's endearing dynamic traits live on, including its assertive V-6 power and predictable handling-Caranddriver.com

Engine and transmission

The Nissan Maxima is powered by a 3.5L V6 engine with a CVT automatic transmission which drives it through the front-wheels. The powertrain produces 300 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. The performance is pretty good and smooth for a sedan and with the CVT transmission, the car runs with no complaints. Nissan has tweaked the CVT transmission so it doesn't stay at higher revs most of the time, hence saving precious fuel and money in the process. It can drive from 0-60 mph within 5.8s which is quite good for a sedan with a V6, while the same can be said for quarter-mile which it gets done in 14.3.

Models	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
MSRP	$34,845	$37,595	$38,890	$38,305	$39,040
Engine	3.5L V6	3.5L V6	3.3L V6 DOHC	3.5L V6 Regular Unleaded	3.6L V6 Regular Unleaded
Transmission	CVT Automatic	6 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic	6 Speed automatic	8 Speed automatic
Horsepower	300hp@6400rpm	305 hp @ 6800 rpm	290 hp @ 6400 rpm	288 hp @ 6500 rpm	292 hp @ 6350 rpm
Torque	261 ft.-lbs.@4400rpm	264 ft-lbs. @ 5200 rpm	253 ft-lbs. @ 5200 rpm	254 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm	260 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm

The other cars in the field get close to the Nissan Maxima yet remain further. They all offer pretty much similar performance while the Maxima remains quickest.

Acceleration

The Nissan Maxima, powered by a 3.5L V6 and CVT transmission, takes 5.8s to reach 0-60 mph while the quarter-mile is done in 14.3s. This is quite good for a sedan with a V6 while the other cars in the field are slower in comparison but take around the same time when pitted against each other. In quarter-mile, only the Kia is under 15s while the Chrysler 300 Limited and the Ford Taurus SE take a shy more than 15s.

Models	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
0-60 MPH	5.7 sec	6.2 sec	6.8	5.2 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter mile	14.3	14.8 sec	N/A	13.7 sec	14.2 sec
Engine	3.5L V6	3.6L V6	3.3 LV6 DOHC	3.5L V6 Regular Unleaded	3.6L V6 Regular Unleaded
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.1	8.0	7.7	8.4	8.4

The Nissan Maxima also takes the crown for being the least emitting CO2 vehicle, at 7.1, while the Ford emits the most at 8.4. Nissan is the clear winner in this field whereas the Kia comes second to it. Chrysler is the slowest in the field.

Ride and Handling

The Maxima handles quite well when on the road while the steering is a tad too stiff and slow when slow-rolling the car. But the suspension and chassis are a testament to Nissan; they are well-grounded while offering good amounts of grip. Weirdly, when quick accelerated, the torque steer, i.e., car weaves a bit from left to right, is noticeable although this doesn't seem to be that dramatic a problem yet worth noting.

Yet, the Maxima responds to the input of the driver, steers with precision and drives very balanced. It hugs the corners when cornering and comfortable and agile while on the highway.

Braking

The Maxima has good braking while it does take a tad too long to come to a standstill, compared to the other cars in this field. The front brakes measure 12.6in while the rear measure 12.1 and the car weighs 3478, not too light yet not too heavy. Under 60-0 mph brake test, the Maxima takes 125ft to come to a standstill, which is less than average of cars of this segment.

Model	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	12.6	12.6	13.9	13.6
Brake Rear (in.)	12.1	12.4	11.8	13.6	12.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3552	N/A	3633	4140	4013
60-0 MPH (ft.)	125	130	120	N/A	121

The Chrysler and the Kia take around 120ft, a bit better than the Maxima yet below average. Ford has the biggest brake measurements of all the cars in the field. Comparing curb weight, the heaviest is the Chrysler while the Maxima takes the crown for being the lightest.

The Nissan Maxima's powertrain is pretty fuel-efficient in its field; in the city, it gives 20 mpg while 30 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg combined. These numbers are better than the rest of the field, where the cars are quite similar in their efficiency but the Nissan performs just a tad better than the rest. What is more satisfying to know is the Nissan uses a CVT transmission, which is not known to be fuel-friendly, yet has tweaked it to have to drink fewer amounts of gas.

Model	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
MPG (city)	20	18	20	18	19
MPG (highway)	30	28	27	26	30
MPG (combined)	24	22	23	21	23
Tank Capacity (gal)	18	18.5	18.5	19.0	18.5

On the other hand, the Maxima uses premium fuel only, which rather contradicts to providing a rather 'pocket-friendly' when being fuel-efficient.

The Maxima is no sports sedan, but it's far from stodgy and boasts a general feeling of quality with a generous dollop of premium features- Caranddriver.com

Seating and Comfort

The 2020 Maxima gets subtle tweaks to the Interiors as well like the Exteriors. Just like the Exteriors, the Interiors get contrast stitching made out of orange and a dark charcoal headline on SR Trim. Platinum Trims also get upgraded upholstery as well. The Seats themselves are very supportive and offer multiple levels of adjustments.

Model	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.4/56.7/45	39.9/57.9/45.8	38.5/58.3/45.5	39.0/57.9/44.2	38.6/59.5/41.8
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.7/55.7/34.2	37.4/56.9/39.8	37.6/56.5/37.2	37.8/56.9/38.1	37.9/57.7/40.1

What stands out in the Interiors are the Front Seats, which for the segment is leagues ahead in terms of comfort and grip levels that it offers to the customers. The adjustable seats allow for a splendid view of the outside for the driver and the front passenger, which aids in the drivability of this big sedan.

Interior and Infotainment Features

The Interiors and the Infotainment system of the 2020 Nissan Maxima, comes loaded with plenty of features on all its trims. Features that are common across all the trims include 8' Touchscreen Infotainment System with Nissan Connect and Navigation, Voice Command Control, Google Search, Bluetooth, Type A and Type C USB Ports and more. The other features available in the Nissan includes

• 8 Way powered Driver's Seat
• Push-button Start
• Rearview Camera
• 7' MID in the dashboard
• Heated Front Seats with Leather Upholstery
• Bose Audio with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support
• Heated Rear Seats
• 360 Degree Surround view camera
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Dual Panel Panoramic Sunroof

Cargo Volume

The Nissan Maxima continues with the 14.3 cubic feet of space that is offered in the cars of the previous generation as well. The space isn't the biggest in the segment but is enough for carrying small suitcases or carry bags for a short weekend trip.

Model	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	14.3	18.8	16.0	20.1	16.3

In terms of the competition, the Ford Taurus packs in the most space while the Chevy Impala comes a close second. Following these are the Kia Cadenza and the Chrysler 300 respectively.

The look is cohesive and nicely integrates the Maxima into the Nissan lineup among all-new models-Caranddriver.com

Design and Dimensions

Nissan has worked hard on improving the exterior design of the 2020 Maxima. While the dimensions remain mostly unchanged, the redesigned exterior is what will grab most eyeballs. The Headlights get the Jewel treatment that we have seen in many premium Acura Cars while the grill gets a more aggressive Nissan Family 'V' design grill. The rear end of the Maxima, also gets design changes in the rear as well. There are newly designed LED Taillights while the bumpers now have an integrated quad-tip exhaust finisher.

Model	Nissan Maxima	Chevrolet Impala Premier sedan	Kia Cadenza Technology sedan	Ford Taurus Limited sedan	Chrysler 300 Limited sedan
Curb weight (lbs.)	3552	N/A	3770	4140	4013
Length(in)	192.8	201.3	195.7	202.9	198.6
Width(in)	73.2	73.0	73.6	76.2	75
Height(in)	56.5	58.9	57.9	60.7	58.7
Ground clearance (in)	5.3	N/A	N/A	5.1	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	109.3	111.7	112.4	112.9	120.2

In terms of the other updates, there are new 18' and 19' wheels that have been added to the Maxima. On other aspects, the Maxima remains the same, be it for the bold character lines and sculpting on the various panels of the sedan.

Exterior Features

• 19' alloy wheels
• LED Headlights with LED Signature and LED Fog Lights
• Taillights with LED signature
• Auto Headlights
• Powered ORVM with Heating, Auto-Dimming, Reverse Tilt-Down Features
• Turn Indicators on the ORVM
• Dual panel panoramic moon roof with one-touch open/close

Nissan doesn't compromise on the safety features on any of its cars in its entire lineup. The same goes for its flagship sedan, the Maxima. You get all the bells and whistles in terms of the safety equipment on offer and following are some of the features on offer

• Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with supplemental front airbags with seat belt and occupant-classification sensors
• Driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags
• Roof-mounted curtain supplemental airbags with rollover sensor for side-impact and roll - overhead protection for front and rear-seat outboard occupants
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
• LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
• RearView Monitor Back-Up Camera
• Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) Forward Collision
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Easy-Fill Tire Alert

• Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant-classification sensors
• Driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
• Roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for side-impact and roll - overhead protection for front and rear-seat outboard occupants
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
• LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
• RearView Monitor Back-Up Camera
• Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) Forward Collision
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Easy-Fill Tire Alert

Nissan Maxima vs Chevrolet Impala

The Chevrolet Impala has slightly more power and torque than the Maxima yet that does not have much certifiable effect. What the Maxima shows improvement over the Impala is in its ride quality and premium feel that the lodge gives. The Impala is likewise not the most energetic handler but rather nor is the Maxima. The Impala anyway just can't coordinate the exceptionalness of the Maxima. Truly, the Impala has somewhat more execution than the Maxima however the Maxima has vastly improved an incentive for cash for what it offers.

Nissan Maxima vs Ford Taurus

Exceptionally close on paper, the Ford Taurus is the better of the two. It accompanies all-wheel drive and handles superior to the Maxima. All things considered, the Taurus' Interiors doesn't have any feeling of the event and the all dark interior does not tempt either. The Maxima offers a superior feeling of style. Furthermore, discussing style, the Taurus does not coordinate on the dimension of the premium-ness of the Maxima. At a similar value point, picking between these vehicles relies upon what you need. On the off chance that you need execution, the Ford is a decent decision, yet to everything else, it's the Maxima.

Nissan Maxima vs Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 is a luxurious sedan, still not quite as modern as the Nissan. It looks elegant but seems like it belongs to the last generation. The interiors are well-appointed but lack the aesthetics of the Maxima. Yes, it has good ride quality and a quiet cabin but so does the Maxima. Also, it's not so great in terms of handling or performance either. Being more expensive than the Maxima, it does not make much sense to buy the 300. The Maxima would be a much better car to live with options and comes with a good variety of advanced safety features.

The Nissan Maxima is an all-rounder; it offers good performance, superb driving, precise handling, and a stylish exterior. In the current market where the sales of the full-size sedans are slowing down, the 2020 Nissan Maxima offers stupendous value for the kind of money that you are paying for it. Also, with a lot of competition bowing out this year, Nissan has a good chance to garner those sales and make a strong impact on the market.