For over 40 years, Nissan has been providing drivers with the popular Maxima, a sedan that combines luxury and performance in a design that matches the needs of the time. If you are looking for a place that will help you find this incredible model, Illini Nissan is your local Nissan Maxima dealer. We provide drivers in Illinois with an excellent inventory of Nissan cars, trucks, and SUVs, including the acclaimed Maxima. As an authorized Nissan dealership, we can get you the latest model of the Maxima with the trim level you desire, as well as any optional equipment or features you feel you need.
What’s more, we can also provide you with the opportunity to celebrate 40 years of the Maxima with the 40th Anniversary Edition available on the 2021 Maxima. This model has many special interior and exterior styling features that are unlike anything we have ever seen on the Maxima. You could say that the 40th Anniversary Edition takes the Maxima to the max!
Our dealership also offers great deals on used vehciles and Certified Pre-Owned models of the Maxima. This is especially helpful if you prefer the styling of one of the prior eight generations of the Maxima or understand the great value derived from buying a used or Certified Pre-Owned vehicle.
In 1980, Nissan found itself at an important crossroads in the development of its American market. The company had branded itself Datsun when it first began selling to American customers in 1958. These cars were primarily sporty roadsters and economical compact cars. In an effort to build on its reputation and expand its horizons, Nissan decided to change its brand name in America, first to Nissan Datsun and then simply to Nissan. Further, Nissan wanted to show American drivers that it could build a luxury sedan that retained the reputation for solid performance and exceptional fuel economy. Thus was born the Nissan Maxima, introduced in time for the 1982 model year.
The first Maxima had a boxy look that was in keeping with the times. Also, something that was common in the early '80s was the availability of a station wagon Maxima model that complemented the more common 4-door sedan. The first generation Maxima featured a choice of a 2.4-liter I6 gas engine or a 2.8-liter I6 diesel, each paired with either a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission. However, as popular tastes changed, Nissan discontinued the diesel engine option with the second generation model in 1985 and the station wagon at the end of the second generation in 1988.
The second generation Maxima was the first to feature front-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter V6 gas engine. The transmission choices were carried over from the first generation, with the larger V6 engine giving driver’s better performance. While the styling of the second generation Maxima was fairly similar to that of the first-generation model, the third generation introduced in 1989 signaled a radical departure, with a longer, sleeker, and more aerodynamic profile, and improved luxury features of the interior, including available leather seats and a sunroof. However, the powertrain for the third generation was pretty much continued from the second generation.
The fourth-generation Maxima was introduced for the 1995 model year, and it quickly improved upon the prior model, winning Motor Trend’s coveted Import Car of the Year. In addition, Nissan continued the trend toward making the Maxima more aerodynamic and also boosting the performance of its 3.0-liter V6 gas engine. This model’s looks proved so popular that Nissan did little to alter the exterior appearance when it introduced the fifth-generation model in 1999. The main cosmetic change was the replacement of the rectangular headlights with ones that are curved. However, the biggest alteration was found under the hood with Nissan replacing the 3.0-liter V6 with a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, which boosted the horsepower on the Maxima from 190 hp to 255 hp.
With the sixth generation of the Maxima introduced in 2004, the sedan began to get the sloping design that we see now, with the rear roofline cascading down into the trunk in a near continuous descent. This sixth model of the Maxima was also the first time that Nissan offered drivers a continuously variable transmission (CVT), something that would become the only transmission available on the seventh and eighth generation of the Maxima. Rather than have set gear speeds like a manual or automatic transmission, a CVT constantly adjusts engine timing to better fit the driving conditions, making overall engine performance more efficient. This was one of the many ways in which Nissan showed that it was committed to constantly using technological innovation to improve its flagship sedan.
Throughout all eight generations and 40 years, Nissan has constantly made sure to make the Maxima a safe, affordable luxury sedan with exceptional performance. This is shown by the sporty, aerodynamic looks of the Maxima coupled with its very roomy interior, providing a wonderful environment for up to 5 passengers, even on a long road trip.
The 2021 Maxima represents the current legacy that eight generations of a great sedan will produce. It features a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a CVT that is capable of 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, some of the best numbers achieved by this sedan in its storied 40-year career. That is powerful enough to get you from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 133 mph. This is the type of performance to satisfy anyone with a need for speed. Even with that much acceleration, the Maxima still gets an estimated 20 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway (24 MPG combined) with the 2021 Maxima. Meanwhile, the roomy interior with over 96 cubic feet of passenger space will make the folks riding with you very comfortable.
This eighth generation of Nissan’s luxury sedan shows the company’s commitment to safety and technology. Each 2021 Maxima features the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of active driver assistance technologies, including such features as intelligent cruise control with traffic sign recognition, blind spot warning, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Each of these will help keep you and your passengers safe while reducing the risk of accidents with other vehicles and pedestrians.
This is all part of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility effort to make its vehicles safer and more luxurious through technological improvement. This is also why each 2021 Maxima features the NissanConnect infotainment system with a Wi-Fi hotspot, so you can stay connected while out on the road.
When it comes time for you to get your next car, you should strongly consider coming to Illini Nissan. We are a full-service Nissan dealership conveniently located in Champaign, Illinois. Our staff of friendly sales people looks forward to meeting you and showing you why the Nissan Maxima is the perfect car for someone who is looking for a luxury sedan that won’t break the bank. They will take the time to get to know you, answer all your questions, and help you decide on what trim and features you will need on your new or used Nissan Maxima.
If you need a loan or a lease, our finance team will patiently work with you to show you the various options open to you. They will also help to craft a financing plan that will work perfectly within your budget. When it comes time to service your Maxima, stop into our service center where our trained technicians will provide your car with the exceptional care it needs and that you deserve.
Illini Nissan has an excellent inventory of new Nissan, used, and Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Nissan vehicles. We will show you all the great benefits provided by the Nissan CPO program, including getting the highest quality used Nissan cars, trucks, and SUVs available at a very affordable price.
Nissan has been producing its Maxima luxury sedan for over 40 years now. That is over 40 years of exceptional performance, dependability, luxury, affordability, and fun. Whether you are buying a new or used Nissan Maxima, you will know that you are getting a vehicle engineered for exceptional performance and that will always have solid fuel economy ratings. Nissan remains one of the most popular brands of vehicles, all part of a legacy going back to 1982 for the Nissan Maxima and 1958 for Nissan vehicles here in America. You will see the benefits of a great legacy for yourself when you make the Nissan Maxima your next vehicle.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit us at Illini Nissan in Champaign, Illinois, today. We'll help you fight the right Maxima for you.
