2023 Nissan Maxima

Sedan · 3.5L V6 · FWD

73/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a sedan is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	3.5L V6
Horsepower	300 hp
Torque	261 lb-ft
0–60 mph	5.8 sec
Top speed	130 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	24 mpg (20 city / 30 hwy)
Range	427 miles
MSRP	$38,990
Body style	Sedan

The verdict

What's good

V6 delivers a smooth, linear pull that feels effortless on the freeway
Cabin noise isolation is unusually quiet for a front-wheel-drive sedan
Sport-tuned suspension gives it sharper turn-in than the class average
Interior quality punches above its price with available semi-aniline leather

What's not

Front-wheel-drive only limits real-world utility in snow or rain
Rear headroom is tight for passengers over six feet
Infotainment interface is dated compared to Honda and Toyota rivals
Trunk is smaller than competitors at this price point

The engine

VQ

Naturally Aspirated V6

A smooth, free-revving 60-degree V6 with a characteristic raspy intake snarl up top and a wide, usable spread of power that made it equally at home in sedans and sports cars.

The VQ35DE arrived in 2000 as flagship of Nissan's VQ family, succeeding the VQ30DE; the VQ line traces to the 1995 Maxima, and the Maxima carried versions of the VQ35DE for an extraordinarily long production run.

The VQ engine family won Ward's '10 Best Engines' a record 14 consecutive years, and the VQ35DE itself earned the honor six times.
It uses a maintenance-friendly timing chain rather than a belt, plus Nissan's continuously variable valve timing.
Its flexible design let it be mounted transversely or longitudinally and drive the front, rear, or all wheels — from the Maxima and 350Z to the Pathfinder.
The 1995 Maxima and its VQ30DE effectively launched the family's legendary reputation by winning Ward's award in that list's inaugural year.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 73 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
All 5 trims with pricing
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault