Things like the uniquely styled LED headlights, and front grille the Maxima will help you standing out while people spot these cars a mile away. Their vehicles are looking sleeker and sportier every year, especially the Maxima. The self-proclaimed ‘4DSC’ comes with a plethora of trim levels to choose from that all share the same engine.
The interior is clean and functional. It looks and feels modern, with Navigation coming standard on every trim. The infotainment center slants towards the driver in a very “Saab” like style with a modern twist, adding to the functionality. The 2018 Maxima now comes with Android Auto to add to the Apple CarPlay that is featured on a clear 8.0” screen. It may come to you as a surprise, but the Maxima doesn’t share any styling plaques with the Altima. The center console, the infotainment screen, the seats, even the steering wheel, all newly designed for the Maxima, but it’s a different story when it comes to the exterior. Nissan decided to “beef” up the Altima, add some sharper angles, fix a few sporty accents here and there and slap a Maxima badge to it. Curiously, the Maxima doesn’t offer as much cabin space and leg room in the back seats as the Altima, which baffles me. A revised grille design cleans things up in front, but you’ll probably have to park it next to last year’s Maxima to spot the differences. The automatic rear window shade throws a dash of elegance into the mix which comes in handy more often than you may think.
The Maxima comes with a name ‘4DSC’ (4 door sports car) and they say it’s because of the 3.5-litre 300hp engine that’s fastened to a CVT that comes in every trim level available, from the S to the Platinum. 0-60 happens in 5.7 seconds with the standard FWD setup. It’s nothing special, but its right in the wheelhouse of its competition. The high-effort steering helps the Maxima feel decidedly more athletic than rivals such as the Toyota Avalon. For a mid-size sedan, it’s surprising how the handling and drive are praised by others considering most 4 doors have a huge amount of body roll. All 2018 Maxima’s come standard with six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, a rear-view camera, and automatic emergency braking with forward-collision warnings. Standard on SL and higher trim levels is even more advanced gear: blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Lots of features that come for a very reasonable price when compared to its colleagues. The Maxima offers 25 mpg combined which makes it justifiable, although Nissan recommends premium unleaded fuel.
Nissan has built their brand around a few simple concepts that include: reliability, affordability, and now they’ve added a dash of luxury into the mix. The Maxima Platinum is an incredible showcase of these qualities. Sleek and modern interior, updated and eye-catching styling, fuel efficient yet sporty engine. The back seat and the cargo space in the trunk were a little disappointing but other than that, the Maxima checked all the boxes and Nissan seems to have hit the mark with this one. The Base price for Maxima is in the ballpark, starting at $36,990 CAD with some very nice standard features that others don’t offer. The model reviewed above comes in at $41,500.
