What is the Nissan Maxima?
The Maxima is a large four-door Nissan sedan, best known in North America as a flagship with a sportier character. Nissan called its final version a “4-Door Sports Car,” a phrase that reflected the car’s V6 power and driver-focused image.
The Maxima’s North American history spans eight generations: first generation (1981–1984), second generation (1985–1988), third generation (1989–1994), fourth generation (1995–1999), fifth generation (2000–2003), sixth generation (2004–2008), seventh generation (2009–2014) and eighth generation (2016–2023). The last generation paired its bold, low-slung design with a 3.5 L V6 rated at 300 horsepower.
Engines and power
The listed petrol engines range from 2.4 L to 3.5 L in the United States, 3.0 L to 3.5 L in Canada, and 2.0 L to 3.0 L in the United Kingdom. The final US generation used a 3.5 L V6 rated at 300 horsepower.
How economical is the Nissan Maxima?
The lowest listed consumption is 9.4 L/100 km in US EPA figures, equivalent to a best combined rating of 25 MPG. Canada’s lowest is 9.5 L/100 km on the NRCan 5-cycle test. In the United Kingdom, the lowest listed figure is 9.2 L/100 km on NEDC. WLTP and NEDC in Europe, EPA in the United States and the 5-cycle test in Canada use different procedures, so these figures are most useful within their own markets.
Where was the Maxima sold?
The Maxima was sold in the United States and Canada across most of its generations. Nissan also offered it in the United Kingdom for a shorter period. Its flagship-sedan role was especially associated with North America.
Questions and answers
What kind of car is the Nissan Maxima?
It is a large four-door sedan, positioned as Nissan’s North American flagship and known for a sportier character.
How many Maxima generations are there?
The Maxima’s North American history spans eight generations, from 1981–1984 through 2016–2023.
What is the Maxima’s lowest official fuel consumption?
The lowest listed market figure is 9.2 L/100 km in the United Kingdom on NEDC. US EPA and Canadian NRCan 5-cycle figures use different procedures.
