2023 Nissan Maxima review
The Nissan Maxima was the Japanese brand’s flagship sedan for decades, and it still held that halo spot at the end of its run in 2023. The eighth-generation Maxima featured sporty styling and performance to match, with dynamic handling and a powerful V6 engine. A full suite of advanced driver-assist systems came standard, including adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree view monitor. Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® came on every Maxima, as did an eight-inch color touchscreen display. A range of trims was available, with top-level Platinum boasting semi-aniline diamond-quilted leather seats and Birdseye Maple trim.
Explore the evolution of the Nissan Maxima
Get our expert take on used Nissan Maxima models, or view year-by-year changes.
Eighth generation Nissan Maxima
Following a one-year hiatus, the eighth-generation Nissan Maxima arrived with sleek styling that helped it stand out from other sedans. The styling moved further upscale when the Maxima was refreshed in 2019. Rear seat room and trunk space were a bit smaller than the competition, but overall, the Maxima was comfortable with a supple ride and a premium cabin. An eight-inch color touchscreen was the standard infotainment display for the final generation, with standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.
Nissan hoped to bring back the Maxima’s reputation as a sport sedan, carrying on the moniker 4DSC (four-door sports cars) first introduced in the late 1980s. It was a tough sell with its front-wheel drive and continuously variable transmission—not exactly hallmarks of a performance car—but with a 300-horsepower V6 engine and available sport-tuned suspension, the Maxima stood out from the competition. The powerful V6 remained the only powertrain option for the Maxima’s final chapter.
Model highlights
300-horsepower V6
Automatic emergency braking standard (added in 2017)
Apple CarPlay® standard (2017)
Android Auto™ standard (2018)
Special 40th anniversary edition (offered in 2021)
Available quilted leather trim
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2016 - 2023
2023 Nissan Maxima
2022 Nissan Maxima
2021 Nissan Maxima
2020 Nissan Maxima
Highlights
Suite of driver-assist systems standard
Suspension tuning improved ride quality and handling
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2019 Nissan Maxima
Highlights
Refreshed styling and standard LED headlights
Improved driver-assist features
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2018 Nissan Maxima
2017 Nissan Maxima
2016 Nissan Maxima
Reliability
RepairPal gave the Nissan Maxima an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Nissan Maxima 8th out of 13 among Fullsize Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Nissan Maxima is $465, compared to an average of $495 for Fullsize Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Nissan Maxima owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.1 times per year, compared to an average of 0.9 times for Fullsize Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 14% for the Nissan Maxima, compared to an average of 14% for Fullsize Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Perry Stern has been writing about cars for almost 30 years and has been an enthusiast for much longer than that. Contributing to multiple automotive publications, Perry drives almost every new car on the market, ranging from base-level Kias to exotic high-performance Lamborghinis. But his favorite is still the 2006 Mazda Miata parked in his garage.
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