LIKES
- Muscly V-6
- Handsome looks
- Driver-centric cabin
- Fun in SR form
- Standard active safety tech
DISLIKES
- Aging interior design and quality
- Short on head and leg room
- Small trunk for its size
- Sluggish CVT
BUYING TIP
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is a handsome, relatively sporty sedan in an era when fewer people than ever are interested in one.
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is a sharp-looking, relatively fun sedan but a far cry from the “four-door sports car” of yore. In an era where sedans are less popular than ever, it doesn’t do enough to stand out.
The 2020 Maxima, sold in S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum trims, earns a TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10 overall.
For 2020, the Maxima gets a tiny price bump but gains new standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, and adaptive cruise control.
The Maxima puts styling first, especially with its recent refresh, and the result is a distinctive but undeniably handsome sedan. Dramatic character lines, a floating roof design, and big bright LED headlights make for a distinctive look, and the interior makes use of quilted faux suede, textured accents and a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel to stand out from other sedans.
A 3.5-liter V-6 comes standard and makes 300 horsepower but is unfortunately tied to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that sends power to the front wheels only. The smooth, powerful V-6 is a tried-and-true powerplant from the company’s stable, but it’s let down by an economy-car gearbox and no all-wheel-drive option. SR models add a bit of sporty handling to the mix, coming with beefier suspension, 19-inch wheels, and paddle shifters on the steering wheel that simulate actual gear shifts. This is a relatively fun sedan to drive, but not as fun as it could be.
Inside, the 2020 Maxima is comfortable for the two adults up front, but the rear seat is small, and the trunk isn’t as big as many large sedan competitors. This is more of a sportier mid-size option than a true full-size sedan like the Toyota Avalon or Kia Cadenza.
Base models come with 18-inch wheels, a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and standard safety tech for just over $35,000. The sporty SR model rings in at over $42,000, with a panoramic roof, premium sound, and leather upholstery.
Styling
The 2020 Nissan Maxima checks all the right sporty styling boxes for a sedan.
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is less subtle than many of its contemporaries, but the design works well overall. The interior follows suit, warranting 7 out of 10 here.
Nissan’s V-shaped grille has adorned the brand’s vehicles for nearly a decade now, and it seems bigger and bolder than ever. We like the results on the recently restyled Maxima though, especially when paired with bright LED headlights, distinctive character lines, and neat touches like a floating roof effect. In sporty SR guise with black wheels and accents, it looks properly sporty.
The interior shows its age somewhat but draped in fine materials on top trims and featuring just enough sporty accents like a flat-bottomed steering wheel, it works overall. We especially like the abundance of real knobs and buttons, and the way the center stack is angled towards the driver, similar to Nissan’s GT-R supercar.
Performance
The 2020 Nissan Maxima can be fun, but its transmission makes it a far cry from the “four-door sports car” of yore.
Compared to other mid-size sedans, the 2020 Nissan Maxima is sportier thanks to its standard V-6 engine. But does that make it actually sporty? We’re not so sure, so we awarded a 6 here, with an extra point for the Maxima’s supple ride.
Think of the Maxima as an Altima V-6 rather than a large sedan like the Toyota Avalon or Kia Cadenza. Its size and shape are better compared to the mid-size class, but its performance is a small step above.
A 3.5-liter V-6 is standard and makes 300 hp and 261 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, this tried-and-true powertrain is mated with a CVT that’s better suited to an economy car than a sports sedan. Front-wheel drive is standard as well, and all-wheel drive isn't available.
Ride and handling is good, but not quite sharp enough to warrant being called truly sporty like the Maxima would have you believe. Again, the SR trim improves the driving experience with better suspension components and brakes, but we think there are more fun sedans out there.
Comfort & Quality
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is comfortable up front and features nice materials, but its back seat and trunk are too small.
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is almost the size of a large sedan but is mid-size on the inside. Comfortable front seats and good material quality make up for a tight rear seat. We give it a 6 for comfort and utility.
Nissan and Infiniti have figured out the art of making supportive front seats no matter the vehicle, and the Maxima is a chief example of this. Even in base cloth form, they’re power-adjustable, well bolstered, and all-day comfortable. Higher trim models add finer materials like real leather and grippy synthetic suede.
Unfortunately, that level of comfort and space doesn’t translate to the rear, where the Maxima feels closer to a mid-size sedan than its full-size dimensions would suggest. With only 34.2 inches of leg room, it lags behind some mid-size competitors, and is comfortable only for two adults. Head room is in short supply too thanks to the Maxima’s sloping roofline. If it’s rear seat comfort you’re looking for, opt for the Altima.
Safety
The 2020 Nissan Maxima has great crash-test scores and active safety tech is now standard across the range.
Due to its low sales volume, the 2020 Nissan Maxima lacks comprehensive crash test scores. What’s published so far is enough to give it a 9 out of 10.
The federal government gave the Maxima a five-star overall rating and the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ award thanks to “Good” ratings in every category, headlights that rate as "Acceptable," and front crash prevention.
While last year saw expanded active safety feature availability, Nissan has made nearly every system it offers standard on the 2020 Maxima, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitors, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control.
Features
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is well-equipped across the range, but choose the SR model for the sportiest experience.
At more than $35,000 in its base edition, the 2020 Maxima is not as affordable as it’s been in the past, but it does offer impressive standard features. We give it 8 out of 10, with points for standard and optional equipment and its infotainment, but it leaves value and warranty points on the table.
For 2020 the Maxima is still offered in S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum trims. The $35,145 Maxima S comes with standard active safety features, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 18-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, and two USB ports, it’s the Maxima we’d have if value were our priority.
Maxima SV and SL models add more luxury touches like leather seats and satellite navigation, but the $42,435 Platinum has the most, including Bose audio, a dual-pane panoramic moonroof, a surround-view camera system, 19-inch wheels, heated and cooled leather seats up front, real wood trim, and more. We’d spend slightly less and choose the SR trim though ($42,345), which includes stiffer sport suspension with better sway bars, more responsive brakes, and blacked-out trim and 19-inch wheels. It’s the closest to the “four-door sports car” ideal that made the original Maxima a hit and includes nearly all the same equipment as the Platinum model.
Fuel Economy
The 2020 Nissan Maxima is reasonably efficient at 24 mpg combined, and requires premium fuel.
The 2020 Nissan Maxima isn’t particularly thrifty, but we’ve seen worse mileage from V-6 sedans. We give it 4 out of 10 here.
Thanks to front-wheel drive and a CVT, the Maxima gets EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 30 highway, 24 combined with a total range estimate of 432 miles. Premium fuel is required, so expect to spend a bit more at the pump than you would with other mid-size sedans.
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