Our year with the 2016 Nissan Maxima literally flew by. After nearly 16,000 miles of trouble-free service, Nissan’s 4-door flagship has been replaced by a Titan half-ton pickup, perhaps an unintentional commentary on the market shift away from sedans to trucks. Still, the Maxima proved to be quiet and competent in its operation while at the same time displaying a stylish elegance that had you looking over your shoulder at it after you’d parked. You can’t say that about many family sedans these days.
But in the overall scheme of things, the Maxima is more of an anomaly than a mainstream player. Pitched as a 4-door sports car (a tagline going way back in Maxima history), the 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 beneath the hoods certainly has the chops to make that claim. But, at the same time, the front-driver’s continuously variable transmission, as good as it is, undercuts that stated mission by muting somewhat the power delivery while turning in some fairly decent fuel economy—we averaged around 22 to 24 mpg overall, close enough to the 25 mpg EPA combined rating.
A manual is the default enthusiast’s choice, but their numbers are dwindling. That said, we would have preferred the option of either a traditional torque converter automatic of eight gears or a twin-clutch gearbox that would have infused the car with a bit more edge in putting the power down.
Uniquely sized
The other part of the anomaly conundrum is the Maxima’s size. It’s not quite as roomy as the top-line sedans like Toyota Avalon or Chevrolet Impala, but it’s a step up from the Altima’s rivals in the Camry and Malibu. So it’s sort of a tweener—it will carry five in a pinch, but four will be more comfortable and the rear seat passengers won’t enjoy as much legroom as they would in the larger sedans. But where the Maxima shines isn’t so much in what it does, but rather in how it makes you feel. The upscale trappings — including diamond-pattern stitched leather seats — the sleek styling and the fact that its closely coupled cabin places all key controls right at hand, combine to make the Maxima feel special.
The trim level on our test car also ensured there were plenty of features to make one feel special. The Platinum model’s sticker of $39,860 delivered a completely loaded vehicle with upscale items like 18-inch alloy wheels, premium Ascot leather seating, heated steering wheel, heated/cooled front seats and navigation with an 8-inch color display. The Maxima Platinum also boasts blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic climate control, a panoramic moonroof and mahogany wood trim. Nissan’s all-around view camera is also a nice touch that made parking the Maxima a breeze. The only options on the car were floor and trunk mats and a trunk net, which added $220. Adding in the $825, the Maxima listed at $40,905. After a year’s service, our car, which we judge to be in excellent shape still, has a Kelley Blue Book value of $29,263 on the private market and a trade-in value of $27,123. At retail, dealers are asking about $31,200, while private parties are looking for $28,672. That’s pretty much in line with the Maxima’s 5-Year Cost-To-Own which we peg at .72 cents per mile.
In all, the 2016 Nissan Maxima, thanks to its design and features, should be on the shopping list for those looking to stand out from the crowd in a very crowded segment.
See past reports on our Long-Term 2016 Nissan Maxima Platinum…
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