(Read more about how we rate cars.). Another $2,400 buys the Maxima SL, which adds 11 Bose-branded speakers, a panoramic moonroof, LED interior lighting, active noise cancellation, and more USB ports. A dainty chrome line runs just below the glass to break up the illusion of girth, but there’s no denying that the Maxima prioritizes voluptuousness over the lithe approach generally associated with sports cars. Additionally, the Maxima’s sweeping roofline means that ingress and egress can be a challenge for taller riders hoping to settle into the back seat.

You’d think that would result in a roomier cabin, but the Maxima prioritizes deep, thickly padded bucket-style seats for outboard passengers and the low roofline makes the rear feel even tighter. From the front, the Maxima’s roof appears to float above the rest of the car thanks to black pillars. The 2018 Nissan Maxima is a large sedan with a secret: it's more fun to drive than nearly anything in its class. The Maxima does more to redeem itself on a curvy road.
The Maxima’s trunk opens to reveal a middling 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space (versus 15.4 in the Altima), but there’s decent room for little items in the cabin. Soft-touch materials are scattered about and there’s plenty of dressy stitching. If you’re sold on Nissan’s “four-door sports car” marketing line, the Maxima SR’s firmer suspension, retuned brakes, and available summer tires turn it into a convincing corner carver. Standard on SL and higher trim levels is even more advanced gear: blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Opt for the 19-inchers paired with stiffer shocks and thicker sway bars exclusive to Maxima SRs and things are just the right side of firm.

That’s enough to earn it 7 out of 10 points on our scale. We’ve given it points above average for both its exterior and interior, bringing it to a 7 out of 10 here. That’s one each above average for its front seats and classy feel and losing one for a remarkably tight back seat. We’ve rated it at 6 out of 10 for its performance, awarding an extra point for its acceleration and another for its ride quality, but dialing one back for a transmission that leaves things feeling unsettled (Read more about how we rate cars.). With a dark-finish interior, the Maxima can feel downright tight inside—even though it’s still fairly roomy. The 2018 Nissan Maxima also comes standard with several features not found on the base model 2018 Impala such as dual-zone automatic climate control and remote start. In addition to a high level of standard safety equipment, the 2018 Nissan Maxima nearly aces federal and independent crash-testing.

Even the metallic and wood-like trim panels have a modern, stylish appearance. Read more about Maxima reliability » 2018 Nissan Maxima Recalls. A driver-oriented dashboard provides a sporty feel and interior materials range from above average to downright decadent in the range-topping Maxima Platinum. The result is limited wandering at highway speeds thanks to terrific on-center tracking and a composed, confident feel on twisty pavement. © 2020 The Car Connection. Underneath its swoopy styling, the Maxima shares much of its architecture with Nissan’s smaller Altima mid-size sedan. A Midnight Edition package available on the Maxima SR blacks out the wheels and certain exterior touches, if that’s your thing. Curiously, the Nissan Altima offers far better room for four or five passengers. That’s not exactly a recipe for thrilling performance, but the Maxima accelerates quickly, albeit with some unnecessary gruffness underhood. In addition to its own unique suspension tuning and 19-inch alloy wheels, it features LED headlights, ventilated front seats, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The entry-level Maxima S doesn’t quite deliver on the luxury mission with its cloth upholstery, but it comes standard with navigation and remote engine start. Given its underhood power and sport-tuned transmission, the Maxima’s 25 mpg combined makes it fairly frugal, although Nissan recommends premium unleaded fuel. Although the 2018 Nissan Maxima is considered a full-size sedan, it’s actually tighter inside than the automaker’s smaller, mid-size Altima.
How Reliable Is the 2018 Nissan Maxima? The Maxima doesn’t hide its nearly 193-inch overall length; if anything, it flaunts its curvy hips that give way to an ordinary tail end. The high center console intrudes more here than in most big sedans. All 2018 Maximas come standard with six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, a rearview camera, and automatic emergency braking with forward-collision warnings. The 2018 Nissan Maxima has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five from J.D. All trim levels come standard with automatic emergency braking, still a rarity among big four-doors. If sportiness is your goal, step up to the roughly $39,000 Maxima SR. All Rights Reserved.

Only the Maxima’s LED headlights found on SR and Platinum trim levels rate “Acceptable.” The halogens fitted to S, SV, and SLs are rated “Poor.”. Its dashboard cants aggressively toward the driver like an old Saab—albeit one with a modern, 8.0-inch infotainment system. The Maxima lineup starts around $34,000 for the base S trim level, which features power front seats, cloth upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The big V-6 delivers smooth acceleration, but finding power requires a deep stab at the throttle and results in the CVT keeping revs high.

The 2018 Nissan Maxima sedan is powered by a 300-hp, 261-lb-ft of torque 3.5-liter V-6 engine backed by a CVT that routes power to the front wheels and delivers 21/30 mpg city/highway. All share a 300-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 paired to a continuously variable transmission. Open the back doors and you’ll find the allusion of good space—but that’s it. The electric setup sends zero feedback to the driver, however, and there’s moderate torque steer—pulling to one side—under hard acceleration. At the time of writing, no recalls have been issued for the 2018 Nissan Maxima. You’ll find five trim levels each with lots of standard features in the 2018 Nissan Maxima, as well as newly standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2018 Nissan Maxima SR delivers the sportiest feel you’ll find in a big sedan. Next up is the Maxima SV at around $36,000, which adds leather trim, heated front seats, a thigh extension for the driver’s seat, and front/rear parking sensors. The Maxima is available in S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum trim levels—an unusually high number of configurations. The middle seat feels more like an afterthought. High-effort steering helps the Maxima feel decidedly more athletic than rivals such as the Toyota Avalon, but our staff is mixed on the steering’s lack of road feedback and its occasionally springy nature. It’s true that the 2018 Nissan Maxima delivers a sportier feel than we’ve come to expect from big sedans, but this four-door’s real virtues are its comfortable ride and strong, if unrefined, V-6 engine. That’s enough to earn 7 out of 10 points on our scale. It’s also lower than the 26 mpg combined Nissan Altima that shares the Maxima’s V-6. The 2018 Nissan Maxima’s looks are daring and dramatic, if not altogether cohesive. (Read more about how we rate cars.).