In the words of Andre 3000 at the 1995 Source Awards, “the South got something to say.” The mass market large car segment is nearing extinction, according to most of the headlines and statistics you’ll read. Nissan, whose North American HQ is located squarely in the Southern U.S., has found itself in a strong position to pick up the slack left behind by General Motors.
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is relatively the same as the 2019 model, with a few differences. Nissan Safety Shield 360 is now standard on the car, adding automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking to every Maxima model.
The Nissan Maxima still features the updated exterior that was given to the car for the 2019 model year.
Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
Nissan has also added the Integrated Dynamics Control Module to every grade of the car (previously in SR only), which includes intelligent trace control, active ride control, and intelligent engine brake, to the car.
The enhancements make the Maxima, which is powered by a capable but not exhilarating 300-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine, a formidable choice for buyers who want a competent daily driver with a little more rear seat and trunk space than what is in the midsize Nissan Altima.
Nissan has done interiors quite well for years now and the Maxima is not an exception to that rule. For its $40,000-ish price tag when fully equipped, buyers get smooth surfaces with sleek accents. Despite cries from reviewers for Nissan to up its game here, a quick look at the market reveals that these materials are at least as nice as what you’ll find in the Toyota Avalon, if not nicer.
The car has a large center stack that doesn’t give the feeling of roominess that makes cars like the Genesis G90 and Audi A8 so desirable. Still, it feels roomier than the Lexus LS.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
Large car buyers want comfort and the Maxima delivers. Its seats are spacious and feature Nissan’s Zero Gravity technology, which keeps tiredness at bay for hours at a time. The back seats are equally comfortable carrying adult occupants and in top trims, the leather on the seats, steering wheel, and shifter are supple.
The car’s sore spots are predictable and common in aging Nissan vehicles like the Maxima and Murano. The car’s 8-inch infotainment touch screen features outdated graphics that get crowded when using the audio function and don’t know enough clear detail when using the navigation system. The A-pillar isn’t the easiest to see around. It could stand to be more athletic and isn’t terribly fuel efficient.
The Nissan Maxima has comfortable seats, good forward visibility, and an available panoramic sunroof – all for around $40,000 fully loaded. That’s a good price for a good car.Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
Still, the Maxima delivers a lot of what buyers are looking for. Sure, it’s not as well-equipped or engaging as large cars by BMW, Audi, Genesis, and Mercedes-Benz, but it’s literally half the price.
