The 2019 Nissan Maxima remains committed to its reputation as the powerful full-size street sedan in the Nissan model lineup. It does so at a time when some of its closest competitors are discontinuing production.
More and more major automakers are announcing plans to stop production of full-size sedans in favor of hot selling trucks and SUVs, or due to the high cost of importing vehicles to the U.S. At the same time, more Asian automakers are doubling down and introducing newly redesigned sedans, like the 2019 Nissan Maxima, which will compete in a market where there are now few competitors.
General Motors announced plans to cease production of the Cadillac ATS, Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Impala, and other sedans. Ford also said it will stop producing many of its sedans, including the Ford Taurus. The Ford Mustang will continue to be sold.
The newly redesigned Nissan Maxima still performs like a powerful sedan and comes with near-luxury features, and improved fuel economy. Although competitive pricing and fuel efficiency are driving sales of trucks and SUVs, some consumers still prefer the lower ride height and handling of sedans.
The 2019 Nissan Maxima SR, which I tested, generates 300 horsepower from a 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine that is paired with a sport-tuned transmission which can be driven in normal or sport modes. It comes with all-season tires that are fitted on 19-inch gloss black aluminum alloy wheels.
EPA rates fuel economy at 20 city and 30 highway MPG. Some of the advanced safety features in the Maxima includes driver and passenger side impact airbags and curtains, airbags to protect the knees, automatic emergency braking with detection of pedestrians, blind-spot warning and rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and intelligent lane intervention. Security features includes Nissan’s vehicle immobilizer system and vehicle security system.
Inside looks and feels more luxurious than its predecessor. The 2019 Nissan Maxima SR comes with premium leather seats, aluminum sport pedals, and suede wrapped steering wheel. Polished chrome finishes throughout the interior further accents the cabin. LED interior lighting gives it a nightclub environment to complement its 11 speaker BOSE sound system. The 8-inch multi-touch color display includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Nissan Maxima has a starting price of $33,950 and goes up to $41,440 for the top-of-line model. The Maxima SR I tested has an MSRP of $39,530 and additional premium options brought the price tag to $42,810.