While many companies have decided to pull the plug on their sedans, Nissan doesn't want to follow the same route, at least not without a fight. Instead of going with the same car, Nissan has introduced a refreshed and updated version of the Maxima in 2020.
The Maxima continues to be the flagship sedan offering from Nissan and comes with some mild updates to the exteriors and interiors and an added set of standard features. Prices start at $34,850 for the Base S variant while the top of the line, Platinum reserve trim comes for $42,580.
Diamond Quilted Leather Seats for the Platinum Reserve Trim
Increased set of Standard Safety Features
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$34050
bodystyle
4dr Sedan
passenger capacity
5
top speed
145 mph
drivetrain
FWD
engine type
displacement
213
horsepower
300 hp @ 6400 rpm
torque
261 lbs.-ft @ 4400 rpm
transmission
continuously variable-speed automatic
chassis
frame type
Unibody
suspension front
Independent front strut suspension w/anti-roll bar
suspension rear
Independent rear multi-link suspension w/anti-roll bar
brake rotors (f/r)
62.4/62.4
dimensions
wheelbase
109.3 in.
length
192.8 in.
width
73.2 in.
height
56.5 in.
curb weight
3552 lbs.
ground clearance
5.3 in.
capacity
passenger volume
98.5 cu ft.
payload capacity
1133 lbs.
performance
zero to 60 mph
6.1 sec.
zero to 100 mph
6.5 sec.
standing ¼-mile
14.6 sec.
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
20/24/30 mpg
highway range
540 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
3 yr. / 36000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
5 yr. / 60000 mi.
powertrain warranty
60 months. / 60000
corrosion warranty
5 yr. / unlimited
roadside assistance
3 yr. / 36000 mi.
Pictures
exterior
interior
Colors and Styles
Brilliant Silver Metallic
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The engine continues to be the same 3.5L V6 seen on the 2018 model which produces 300hp and 261lbs-ft of Torque. Transmission duties are performed by the X-Tronic CVT transmission from Nissan, which for a CVT comes as one of the best in the segment.
2020 Nissan Maxima Angular Front View
2020 Nissan Maxima Angular Rear View
6.0/10 Engine and Performance
4.0/10 Fuel Economy
8.0/10 Interior
2020 Nissan Maxima Features
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
We Recommend
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.
2020 Nissan Maxima Engine and Performance
6.0/10
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.
2020 Nissan Maxima Fuel Economy
4.0/10
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.
2020 Nissan Maxima Interior
8.0/10
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.
2020 Nissan Maxima Exterior
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
2020 Nissan Maxima Safety
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
2020 Nissan Maxima Competition
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.
2020 Nissan Maxima Final Verdict
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.