Introduced in the early 1980s when Nissan was still known as Datsun, the Maxima debuted as the 810 Maxima in Nissan’s North American lineup. While the Altima was marketed for its practicality, the Maxima became its more lavish sibling with premium interior detailing and a beefier powertrain. Those characteristics have defined the Maxima over the years and are prominent in the 2023 Nissan Maxima you’ll find on dealer lots around the country.
With 2023 marking the Maxima’s final year in the Nissan lineup, all eyes are on the sedan. How will Nissan send off one of its longest-running nameplates? The 2023 Maxima tells the full story, starting with its affordable price tag of $38,140 and its high-value packaging that ensures you spend less without compromising on luxury, performance, or design.[a]
The Maxima’s value-oriented packaging extends across its lineup, from the entry-level SV with its heated front seats followed by the SR and its sport-tuned suspension. The Maxima Platinum sits at the top of the lineup and enhances the Maxima’s expertly engineered cabin. For example, the exclusive interior trim adds luxury with its Satin Birdseye Maple Wood finish, features like the rain-sensing windshield wipers add convenience, and the 19-inch machine-finished aluminum wheels distinguish the sedan from the exterior.
While these design details differentiate the Maxima trims, they share many similarities. Among those similarities is a 300-horsepower V6 engine under the hood, a powerplant renowned for making the Maxima one of the fastest sedans in the full-size segment. Likewise, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, as is the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced safety and driver-assist tools. These features and the Maxima’s sophisticated design give it an edge in the segment and add to its appeal and value. Fortunately, there are plenty of other details and features that do the same.
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Nissan calls the Maxima “a four-door powerhouse,” and it’s hard to disagree when you finally get behind the wheel. The Maxima’s legendary performance is courtesy of the beating heart under its hood–Nissan’s proven VQ V6 engine. Uniquely designed with a high-flow tuned induction system, sodium-filled exhaust valves, and anodized pistons, the 3.5L V6 engine is engineered to perform and churns out 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque for exceptional off-the-line acceleration and responsiveness.
In most vehicles, this level of power would dramatically impact fuel economy, forever leaving drivers in an epic battle between performance and efficiency. Fortunately, the Maxima chooses an alternative route and delivers sport-like performance and exceptional efficiency. Thanks to the Maxima’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission, you no longer have to compromise. The advanced transmission features a wider gear ratio and an adaptive shift controller that optimizes efficiency and delivers an engaging and dynamic driving experience. The result is impressive, with the Maxima averaging 20 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway.
With its Drive Mode Selector, Nissan gives you more control over the Maxima’s performance. The two-mode technology lets you switch between Normal and Sport mode according to the situation or your preference. How the Maxima responds varies by trim. For example, the Maxima SR enhances Sport mode with its sport-tuned suspension, sport pedals, larger rear stabilizer bar, and the Active Sound Enhancement system that sweetens the sound of the engine inside the cabin for a genuine sports car dynamic.
Beyond the engine, transmission, and drive modes, the Maxima also has several features working behind the scenes to optimize power delivery and handling. The Intelligent Engine Brake system uses the Xtronic transmission to finetune how the Maxima corners, decelerates, or comes to a stop. Intelligent Trace Control gives the Maxima its corner-hugging characteristics, monitoring the route of the sedan and applying the brakes at each wheel to help you confidently and smoothly navigate corners. Likewise, Active Ride Control continuously monitors the Maximas’s performance, adjusting the torque and applying the brakes to improve ride quality regardless of how bumpy the terrain is.
Nissan is renowned for outfitting its models with the latest technology to improve your experience behind the wheel. The 2023 Maxima is an excellent example of this because it comes standard with smartphone integration and a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assist tools. So, what can you expect from the tech-savvy sedan in 2023?
The Maxima makes it easy to stay connected and comes standard with an eight-inch NissanConnect display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system gives you seamless access to your smartphone, which you can conveniently charge using one of two USB ports. Beyond accessing your favorite apps and making calls, the display features a WiFi hotspot, NissanConnect Services, and Nissan Door-to-Door Navigation. You'll also find top-tier trims like the SR and Platinum add a seven-inch Advanced Drive-Assist Display that gives you vital insights into the Maxima’s performance.
With two displays to keep you connected and help you navigate the road, the rest of the Maxima’s technology focuses on keeping you safe, focused, and aware in the driver’s seat. Every Maxima comes standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360. The suite of six advanced tools includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Automatic Braking, and High Beam assist. Many of these features are industry standards, but Nissan refuses to stop there and adds an intelligent suite of class-exclusive technologies.
Every Maxima also comes standard with Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Driver Alertness, and Traffic Sign Recognition. Intelligent Cruise Control and Traffic Sign Recognition work together to improve your experience cruising at highway speeds. Unlike traditional cruise control, Nissan’s intelligent system requires minimal input and constantly monitors traffic ahead to keep the Maxima moving at a safe speed and distance. Top-tier trims like the SR and Platinum add to these features with the class-exclusive Intelligent Around View Monitor, which gives you a bird’s-eye view around the sedan and helps you park the full-size Maxima like a pro.
While many automakers err on the side of excess with their lineups, Nissan takes a different route by streamlining the Maxima to three trims that offer outstanding value and appeal to a broad demographic of drivers. Budget-savvy shoppers can rest easy knowing they’re getting an exceptional sedan with the entry-level Maxima SV. Likewise, those looking for sport-like performance will find it in the Maxima SR, and drivers with a penchant for luxury will be genuinely impressed by the Maxima Platinum.
The entry-level Maxima SV sets the stage for the rest of its lineup with its value-oriented packaging that proves the sedan only gets better with each trim. The base model comes standard with Nissan’s proven 3.5L V6 engine and next-generation Xtronic transmission that maximizes power output without compromising efficiency. It’s also laden with conveniences and standard technology, from the heated front seats and expansive NissanConnect display with a WiFi hotspot to the Nissan Safety Shield 360 and tools like Traffic Sign Recognition.
The Maxima SR builds on the SV, transforming it into a sporty sedan. Although it’s powered by the same 3.5L engine, the Maxima SR uniquely harnesses that power with its sport-tuned suspension that boasts stiffer springs, retuned dampers, and a larger front stabilizer bar. The result is remarkable and delivers an engaging and dynamic driving experience. As expected, this improved performance pairs exceptionally well with design details like the 19-inch gloss black aluminum-alloy wheels and the Premium Ascot leather-appointed seating with quilted Alcantara inserts. You’ll even find a memory system that remembers the driver’s preferred seat and outside mirror positions.
At the top of the Maxima’s family tree is the Platinum, a sedan that takes a no-compromise approach to luxury, innovation, and comfort. The Platinum immediately distinguishes itself with its 19-inch machine-finished aluminum alloy wheels. Inside, premium leather-appointed seats and wood accents add luxury throughout the cabin. There are also many other conveniences, like the rear-window power sunshade that optimizes comfort in the second row and rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers that optimize your visibility in wet conditions.
The 2023 Nissan Maxima is an exceptional sedan for drivers who need an efficient commuter vehicle but don’t want to compromise on performance. It’s also ideal for budget-savvy shoppers drawn to high-value trims that don’t require compromising luxury for affordability. As expected from the Maxima’s long history in the Nissan lineup, the 2023 Maxima manages this incredible balance that so many others in the segment have yet to achieve.
Just as the Maxima balances value with luxury and performance, we achieve a unique balance at Illini Nissan. As the leading Nissan dealer in the region, we offer our customers the best selection, prices, and experience. While many other dealerships promise this trifecta, customers rarely enjoy these perks without making some compromise. For example, they may enjoy competitive pricing, but it requires endless hours of negotiation and enduring hours of high-pressure sales tactics to reach that fair price. That’s not how Illini Nissan operates.
You deserve the best, and we’re here to deliver. Our extensive inventory of new and used vehicles guarantees the perfect model is on our lot, and our transparent pricing ensures you have confidence in your purchase. To make your experience even sweeter, we promise to make the entire car-buying and owning process exciting and rewarding, from shopping for the best model to protecting your investment every mile down the road.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
