Yahoo Autos The 2019 Nissan Maxima Continues to Deliver the Near-Luxury Goods
Detroit thinks large sedans are dead. Ford is phasing out the Taurus after 32 years of (nearly) uninterrupted production; General Motors has announced plans to kill the Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse, and Cadillac XTS; and Fiat Chrysler is letting the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger languish. Bucking the trend, Nissan seems committed to its large, near-luxury Maxima sedan, ushering in a host of refinements, a light styling refresh, and new features for 2019.
What's New
The Maxima is no sports sedan, but it's far from stodgy and boasts a general feeling of quality with a generous dollop of premium features. The changes for 2019 amount to a mid-cycle refresh for the Maxima, which was last fully redesigned for the 2016 model year. New LED headlamps, revised LED taillamps, a more pronounced grille, larger fog-lamp surrounds, new chrome detailing on the front bumper, and a new lower rear fascia with integrated quad exhaust finishers differentiate the 2019 model visually. The look is cohesive and nicely integrates the Maxima into the Nissan lineup among all-new models such as the Altima mid-size sedan and the Kicks subcompact crossover. The Maxima's crossover cousin, the Murano, receives similar styling upgrades this year.
Changes are even subtler inside. The cabin is still comfortable and spacious, at least up front, and it features driver-focused cockpit styling-all things that have charmed us in the past. (The rear seat still isn't as roomy as in many competitors or even as those in a few one-size-smaller mid-size sedans.) Upgraded materials are used throughout, from the instrument panel to the upholstery. The SR model now comes with a black headliner and orange detailing on the quilted leather and microsuede seats, while the top-of-the-line Platinum trim-like the one tested here-can be had with the Platinum Reserve package that brings lovely saddle-colored semi-aniline leather seats, faceted satin-bronze interior accents, unique 19-inch wheels, and heated rear seats for $1140. The Maxima receives a tech upgrade as well, with updated navigation on all but the base S model, additional USB-C ports, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. A bundle of driver-assistance features includes front and rear automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlamps, but it's only available on the top two trim levels, the SR (where it's optional) and the Platinum (where it's standard).
What's Unchanged
The Maxima's endearing dynamic traits live on, including its assertive V-6 power and predictable handling. But we can't help wondering why the Maxima didn't inherit the Altima's new variable-compression engine or its optional all-wheel drive, and the ride on our Platinum-spec test car felt rougher than we remember from previous drives and tests of the Maxima. The sportier SR trim rides firmer still.
Although the redesigned steering wheel borrows design details from the helm found in the mighty GT-R, the wheel's responses to steering inputs are just as numb and uncommunicative as before. The same goes for the mushy brake pedal, which is a blemish on the above-average braking performance we've recorded in the past. Even so, thanks to 19-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle Touring rubber, our 2019 test car outbraked the last Maxima we tested (which came shod with 18-inch Continentals) by five feet from 70 mph. The 2019 model outperformed that same 2017 Maxima on the skidpad with 0.89 g in lateral grip.
With the 3.5-liter V-6 making the same 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque as before, the Maxima's acceleration hasn't improved. That's not a complaint, however: Our 2019 Maxima Platinum delivered a brisk 5.8-second zero-to-60-mph time at our test track (a negligible 0.1 second behind the last Maxima we tested), scooted from 50 to 70 mph in a quick 3.9 seconds, and covered the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds at 101 mph.
So, lacking significant changes-no bad thing in our opinion-the 2019 Maxima's story line is dominated by the mere fact of its existence. Nissan clearly remains committed to the Maxima, a nameplate that goes back decades, even though it's in a declining segment. After all, the market can be fickle. SUVs are hot today, but it's possible sedans could come back into fashion. Should that happen, stylish, luxurious offerings like the Maxima stand to benefit.
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