2011 Nissan Maxima

Nissan offers the 2011 Maxima in only two basic trims with no engine, transmission or drivetrain options. Along with that, Nissan also offers two optional packages. Sport package costs $37,310 while the Premium package costs $38,510. The base S trim in itself is pretty loaded with features to the trim and gets all the creature comforts that one might expect from a car at this price point. The SV trim adds more premium features and technology while the optional packages are what brings it on par with the premium sedans of the segment.

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As almost of the creature comforts and amenities are already on offer with the base S trim, the optional packages and higher trims do not make much sense and is best avoided to save the additional expenses. 

The 2011 Nissan Maxima is powered by a very potent 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine that is rated to produce a healthy 290 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a CVT automatic transmission which powers only the front wheels. There is all-wheel drive drivetrain available even as an option, which can be opted in the premium offerings. The performance from the engine is pretty strong though as it manages to do the 0-60 mph test in a brisk 6.4 seconds while covering the quarter mile in under 15 seconds. 

Nissan likes to call the Maxima a 4-door sports car and although it is no competition to the Nissan 370Z, the Maxima is an agile handler and has the traits to bring a smile on your face when behind the wheel of one. The steering is light, precise and offers plenty of feedback and the CVT automatic which is known for its laggy nature does a great job here. The ride is compliant yet comfortable and the Sports package which stiffens the ride is best missed.

Although there is no direct competitor to the Maxima from Honda, the popular Accord does offer a V6 which is equally quick and yet costs considerably less, although it isn’t half as enjoyable to drive. The Toyota Avalon is the quickest off the lot in spite of the lower engine output and is priced very competitively. The Acura TL is the most premium one here and is also the slowest in the acceleration tests, although the difference is miniscule.

The high performance nature of the Maxima does take a bit of a hit on the fuel efficiency of the car. The 22 mpg of combined fuel economy is not the greatest in the segment but also isn’t the worst out there. The large 20 gallon fuel tank does complement the slightly lower fuel efficiency of the car which translates to a pretty respectable driving range of over 400 miles before having to hit the gas station. 

The premium Acura TL sedan also lacks in this regard, returning the lowest fuel economy figures in this comparison. The Honda Accord is the most frugal of the lot and even with a marginally smaller gas tank on offer, the driving range is on par with the Maxima. The Toyota too has pretty solid fuel efficiency ratings and also employs a gas tank capacity identical to that of the Acura and Honda.

Being the flagship sedan from Nissan, the cabin is as premium as it can get from a Nissan car. The cabin employs solid construction with superior material quality that makes you feel like you are in a much more pricier and premium sedan. The optional Premium package brings the interior on line with its more premium sibling, the Infiniti G37 sedan. There is abundant cushioning all around the car and covers all touch points very well. 

The front seats are spacious and offer a perfect balance between comfort and support. There is no shortage of headroom or legroom and even taller occupants can find a perfect seating position rather easily. The rear standard 60/40 split seats can be folded down to increase cargo volume, but the optional executive-style bucket seats offer a luxurious experience similar to premium German sedans. 

That being said, the small center space between the two seats is unusable and also does not offer any additional creature comforts apart from cup holders and audio controls embedded into the armrests. The bucket seats also do not fold down and only offer a center pass-through trunk access to carry longer objects in the trunk. The trunk is also one of the best in the business at 14.2 cu-ft. 

The front seat of the Maxima sees almost no competition in this comparison but that does affect the space at the rear. Toyota Avalon offers acres of foot space for the rear seat passengers but then compromises on the front seat space in exchange for that. The Honda Accord feels the most balanced here offering abundant space for both the front and rear seat occupants and yet also has a large trunk space to offer. 

• 8-way power driver seat and 4-way power passenger seat w/ driver power lumbar support & manual thigh support
• Heated front bucket seats w/climate controlled driver seat & driver seat memory
• Rear bucket seats w/trunk pass through & large fold-down armrest with audio controls
• Premium leather seat trim and Premium leather wrapped heated steering wheel
• Power tilt/telescopic steering column w/memory
• Power rear sunshade
• Dual zone automatic temperature control w/rear air conditioning vents
• Eucalyptus wood-tone interior trim w/chrome interior door handles
• Premium mood lighting

How intuitive is the 2011 Nissan Maxima Sedan’s infotainment unit?

The 7-inch screen on offer inside the Maxima adds to the premium appeal of the car and we are particularly a fan of the optional iPod interface which is one of the most intuitive systems that one can get in this segment. The Bose audio system is also a treat to blast those tracks while speeding effortlessly on the motorway on long intercity drives. Satellite radio is standard as well and so is Bluetooth connectivity. 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system
• Bose AM/FM/MP3/WMA audio system w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer
• 9-speaker Bose audio system w/2 subwoofers
• iPod interface system w/net in center console
• Bluetooth hands-free phone system
• XM satellite radio
• 2GB Music Box
• USB and aux input

After a redesign a couple of years ago, the aggressive front-end design and the hunkered down stance has provided the Maxima with an attractive styling that people would take notice of. The overall design is curvy and flamboyant with the low and sleek upright front grille that is flanked by sweptback headlights that look quite distinctive as well. The flared wheel arches with large and stylish alloy wheels and low-profile tires showcase the sporty appeal of the car.

In terms of dimensions, the Nissan Maxima may not be the largest in the segment, but the wheelbase being on par with its rivals, the cabin space isn’t compromised. Toyota Avalon is the longest car here while the Acura TL is the widest and heaviest. There is not much difference between the ground clearances of these cars as well as all of them have a pretty similar stance. 

• Automatic Xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights
• Front fog lights
• Heated power mirrors w/integrated turn signals, reverse tilt-down, memory & driver side auto-dimming
• Chrome door handles
• Dual panel moonroof w/pwr retractable sunshades
• 18-inch fine silver alloy wheels

The NHTSA is yet to crash test the Nissan Maxima yet, probably due to its premium nature, but it performed fairly well in the tests conducted by the IIHS for the 2011 model year. That being said, the previous models of the Maxima earned a perfect 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The great outward visibility, the plenty of safety functions baked right into the car and the all around dual stage airbags available as standard, does cocoon the occupants in case things were to go sideways. 

• Vehicle Dynamic Control and Traction Control System
• Brake assist & electronic brake force distribution (EBD)
• Zone body construction w/front & rear crumple zones
• Driver & front passenger dual-stage airbags w/seat belt sensors
• Driver & front passenger side-impact airbags
• Front & rear roof mounted curtain side-impact airbags
• RearView monitor
• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

The 2011 Nissan Maxima stands proudly against both the more affordable and pricier sedans of the segment and in fact fairs well in most aspects to make it feel worth its premium price tag, despite the not-so-premium moniker on its nose. So, if the premium brand tag is not what you seek and a comfortable yet sporty large sedan is what you are looking for, the 2011 Maxima ticks just enough boxes for it to be on top of your priority list.