HOW’S THE RIDE?
This class is known for its power, so Nissan has to come strong to compete. The good news for Nissan is that it comes through.
The powerplant is an impressive 3.5-liter V6 boasting 300 horsepower and 261 lb.-ft. of torque. This power plant gets you moving (0 to 60 in under 6 seconds) and the Maxima was truly a joy to drive, with excellent power and overall ride quality, and the continuously variable transmission performed quite well.
The Maxima is only offered in front-wheel drive, though, and I was surprised to see no all-wheel drive offering on this model. It would be wise to add this option in the future.
The ride is quiet, and handling is impressive. Nissan calls the Maxima a ‘four-door sports car’, and I’m not one to argue with them based on my experience in the vehicle.
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The 2019 Maxima features some impressive tech and safety features for its class.
Among the most helpful safety features offered that some competitors lack are the Intelligent Around View Monitor, and Rear Automatic Braking.
On the infotainment side, the user-friendly and well-designed NissanConnect system is in play. It features a very helpful Navigation system, and is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Maxima also features a Bluetooth connection, a USB port and a USB-C port.
MPG
Official fuel mileage on the 2019 Maxima are 20 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 combined.
Compared to other full-size sedans available (Chevy Impala, Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon), the Maxima performs near the top of the class, so this is another strong area for the Maxima.
PRICE
The Platinum trim Maxima I tested was priced at $43,835; and base price for the Maxima starts about $34K. The Platinum trim level I tested starts about $41K. As nice as the Maxima is, this pricing may work against it in some instances, as you can get quite a few SUVs in this price range.
BOTTOM LINE
Full-size sedans may not be a dominant vehicle type anymore in this age of SUVs, but they aren’t dead yet. Classy vehicles like the 2019 Nissan Maxima are doing their best to keep them alive, and it just might work with the level of quality being offered.
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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.
