2019 Nissan Maxima Review

The 2019 Nissan Maxima is an impressive sedan that delivers in all the right areas and caters to buyers looking for a great car in a world full of SUVs. With stunning looks inside and out, enough power for a fun driving experience and plenty of technology, it's an excellent option if you're looking for a big car.

Sporty looks and aggressive lines characterize the Maxima, and thanks to the 3.5-litre V6 under the hood and an optional sport-tuned suspension, the Maxima can back up the style with a fun driving experience. The luxurious interior on higher trim levels makes for a nice overall package.

Even the entry-level models get a nice touchscreen with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as navigation and automatic emergency braking. Nissan delivers an impressive mix of fun, technology and luxury in the 2019 Maxima.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima is fun to drive with a comfortable and luxurious interior.

What's new for 2019

With an updated exterior, standard USB-C ports and a tailgate alarm on all models, Nissan keeps the Maxima feeling fresh. There are new interior options on SR and Platinum trim levels, as well as Safety Shield 360 standard on Platinum and optional on SR trim.

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Which Maxima Trim should I buy?

If you're looking for the most immersive driving experience, opt for the Nissan Maxima SR, which starts at $40,425. It's well equipped and has a sport-tuned chassis while offering plenty of comfort and luxury. The Platinum trim level I tested offers plenty of performance and fun to drive while focusing more on the luxurious look and feel. If I traded my Fusion for a Maxima it would be for one of these trim levels.

2019 Nissan Maxima Platinum Interior & Design

The interior of the 2019 Nissan Maxima Platinum is luxurious and super comfortable. With the reserve package, this Maxima featured semi-aniline leather throughout the interior and on the seats. Soft touch materials are featured throughout the cabin front and rear.

The cabin is large and very driver oriented with a slight angle to the screen and controls that offer great looks and easy access to controls.

I love the Maxima's drive-oriented interior.

Up front there's plenty of legroom and it's easy to find the perfect position with power seats that come standard across the board. Rear legroom isn't that generous, but it can easily accommodate two adults. Headroom is a little more limited in the back seat than the competition, but it's not a deal breaker.

My in-laws, who are notoriously picky about car comfort, found the Maxima's back seat comfortable and impressive.

The trunk is smaller than the competition.

The trunk is smaller than the competition, but folding rear seats mean you can stow larger items, and there's plenty of storage space to conveniently store your everyday essentials.

Bold lines and a sharp design on the exterior are eye-catching and give the sedan a sporty look. The updated grille and lighting significantly upgrade the exterior.

2019 Nissan Maxima Engineering & Safety

Nissan has tech with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay across the range on one great looking display. There are USB-C ports in the car too, so you don't need adapters to use your cables.

Nissan's stock infotainment software is good and works well, but most users will switch to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

A large touchscreen is standard on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Navigation is available as an upgrade and can even send definitive walking directions to your phone once you've parked the car. This is a cool feature, but if you rely on Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze, most buyers won't need to rely on it.

With Remote Access, you can control your Maxima from your phone, from Alexa, or with the Google Assistant. With it you can lock or unlock the doors, sound the horn or lights and start the car remotely.

USB-C ports are standard with one in the front and one in the back.

Additional tech features include a speed alert if someone in your family is speeding and a valet alert to get an update when your car leaves a designated area. You can also set a limit and curfew and receive alerts when your teenage driver crosses any of these limits.

The Maxima 2019 has a ton of safety features. If you choose the SR trim level, you can add Safety Shield 360, and it's standard on the Platinum trim. This contains;

• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Automatic rear braking
• Blind spot warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Lane Departure Warning
• high-beam assistant

These are handy features and it would be nice to see an option for these on more trim levels.

Nissan offers an optional surround view camera that makes parking and exiting a breeze.

All trim levels come with intelligent cruise control, which uses sensors to keep you in the flow of traffic. You cannot get ProPilot Assist on the 2019 Maxima.

Driving the 2019 Nissan Maxima

The Maxima is fun to drive but still comfortable enough for everyday use.

The 2019 Maxima is a fast sedan thanks to a V-6 engine with up to 300 hp and a ride that's firm enough to offer fun on winding roads but not too stiff to get in the way of a comfortable ride to stand is fun around the city.

Yes, there's a continuously variable transmission mated to the V-6, so you don't get traditional shifting, but this is one of the better CVTs out there, and ultimately still a fun sport sedan. The gearbox mimics shifts when you push it, and the engine sounds good when you step on the accelerator. This is a front-wheel drive vehicle. If you're looking for AWD then you need to look at the Altima or the competition.

The steering is very good in sport mode, where it becomes noticeably firmer. Handling is good, and even when you're pushing the Maxima down a twisty country road, there's very little body roll. Body roll is when the car feels like it's leaning away when you're cornering, in which case you want less of it. This results in a firmer ride, but it wasn't too firm on the Platinum. The Maxima SR trim level has sport-tuned suspension that's firmer, so take that into account when testing the sportier trim.

The 2019 Maxima is rated for 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. It delivered similar results, beating EPA estimates on a freeway trip.

By: 2019 Nissan Maxima Review