2012 Nissan Maxima Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the A33, J31 and J32 Nissan Maxima from 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as a used buy.

Nissan Maxima is the largest car sold in Australia by the Japanese giant. For some reason it’s frequently overlooked by those shopping in the family car scene.Maxima is about the same size as the Toyota Aurion and isn’t a lot smaller than the Commodore and Falcon. It’s well worth including on your short list.The Maxima can carry four adults and a child with ease. Five adults will fit if they don’t mind doing some squeezing up, but that applies to all cars of this size.Though it's not quite as good on really rough corrugations as cars that are specifically built for Australian roads, it copes reasonably well with Aussie dirt roads. Ride on smooth surfaces is quiet and comfortable.Handling is softer and less responsive than that of the local sixes, but the Nissan is safe and predictable and will suit all but sports sedan enthusiasts.Nissan couldn't seem to make up its corporate mind on how the Maxima should look; it was somewhat unusual in the pre-1995 models but then went mainstream for a few years.Maxima from late 2003 then went the radical route in its shape, something that increased buyer awareness and certainly helped sales. But the 2009 model went back onto the conservative track, though it is still a handsome machine and suits many shopping in this usually conservative class.Maximas prior to the 2003 model, use a 3.0-litre V6 engine. From the 1995 model, a twin-cam 3.0 was installed. It has plenty of low-down torque and immediate throttle response so appeals to drivers of cars set up in the Australian fashion. The twin-cam engine is also noticeably smoother and quieter than the old single-cam one. The 2003 Maxima received an excellent 3.5-litre V6 and it’s better still.In 2009, Nissan Australia made an interesting move introducing a small 2.5-litre V6 as an option to the 3.5-litre unit. The smaller engine has more performance than you might expect, but traditionally buyers of six-cylinder family cars in Australia want plenty of grunt and the 2.5 may disappoint those people.Nissan Maxima is unusual in having a manual transmission option in a market that’s normally auto-only. However, the manual was only offered during 1995 and 1996 and only in the lower-cost model. This five-speed unit is not common and could be difficult to resell. Then again, if you are doing a lot of country driving where few gear changes are required, a manual will save on fuel.The automatic transmission had four forward ratios until becoming one of the early adopters of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in 2006. The CVT gives a little more performance and there's some reduction in fuel consumption. But not all may like the different sound and feel it displays. It's an acquired taste so give it a good long road test if you haven’t experienced a CVT before.Maxima model names have a somewhat confusing history. The lower-priced versions, called Maxima M in the pre-1995 models, Maxima 30J until October 1996, Maxima 30S Touring, and currently Maxima S, come well-equipped, with air conditioning, alloy wheels, power windows, cruise control and a quality stereo.The topline cars, tagged Maxima Ti then Maxima 30GV, then back to Maxima Ti again, are positively luxurious, with power-operated front seats, leather trim (not used in all early Ti models) and ABS anti-lock brakes. Additionally the 30GV and later Ti variants have climate-controlled air conditioning, a power sunroof, dual airbags, a built-in alarm system and foglights.From 2003, the lower-cost model became the ST-L, with the Ti tag being retained by the upper-crust variants, a further upgrade to the Ti is called the Ti-L and is loaded with good gear. Spare parts prices are often a little higher than average for this class, reflecting the fact that the Maxima is fully imported. We hear very few complaints about prices so owners obviously consider them acceptable.The good home mechanic can do some of their own maintenance and minor repair work on older models, later ones are pretty complex in places. Underbonnet access is good but make sure you have a workshop manual before diving in too deep.The Australian Nissan dealer network is long established and works well with outlets in virtually every area, even those deep in the outback. The latter may not always keep spare parts on hand for the Maxima so you may face a wait if unlucky enough to have problems in the bush.Insurance charges, though usually higher than for Aussie family sixes, aren't excessive. There can be a bigger than average range of premium charges so it's smart to take time to shop around.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe engine should start almost the moment you turn the key and idle smoothly and quietly immediately.A smoking exhaust is probably a sign of expensive wear – and the older Maximas are often getting towards their use-buy date.If the automatic transmission is slow to go into gear or harsh in its changes it could be due for an overhaul – though you may get away with simply having it serviced.Check the brakes pull up the car in a straight line and that one wheel doesn’t lock before the others. If ABS is installed you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard braking. If it’s too harsh have an expert look it over.Make sure there are no suspension noises when the car is driven on rough roads. This could indicate the car has had a rough life in the bush.Look for body damage or repairs following a crash, an inspection of the front tyres for uneven wear and a look over the seats, door trim and carpets for signs of rough use.Always have a professional do a final inspection as these are relatively complex cars and it’s easy to miss some items.CAR BUYING TIPIf shopping for something out of the ordinary try looking for a car club featuring the model.The gals and guys there can be a superb source of information. 

The medium-large Nissan Maxima sedan suffered two decades of being underdone and overlooked, but the current model has a bit more to offer. It's better priced, better-equipped and - yes - better on the road, too.Sadly, while the Maxima has been improving its road manners and appeal, the market has been moving away from it. The large car segment was down 21 per cent in 2011, and has dropped 44 per cent over the past four years.The medium car market is similarly in the doldrums at 8 per cent down last year. But the remaining buyers - anybody out there? - should be giving the Maxima another look.TECHNOLOGY Nissan has always done well in the V6 department, and the Maxima range has two - the Murano-shared 3.5-litre V6 in two spec levels and the single-spec 2.5-litre tested here. The engine develops134kw of power and 228Nm of torque driving the front wheels via a constantly variable auto with a six-gear manual-shifting mode.The official fuel economy is 9.5L/100km, which - even if we hadn't logged a litre more per 100km - starts to look thirsty these days against smarter rivals like the Ford Mondeo Zetec.DESIGNIt's come a long way from the previous dowdy models, but the Maxima's design is still very much on the conservative side. It stands out a bit more now with touches of chrome bling, while there's an upmarket impression from the stylish alloys and light clusters.The interior echoes the premium bid with leather everywhere and a good-looking dash. But the foot-operated park brake seemed an overlooked relic from the old Maxima - and the lack of reach-adjustment on the steering column was at odds with the reach for better quality.Some of the plastics still feel cheap -- and we were disappointed to see part of the centre console had sprung out of alignment. We were barely able to slide a thick magazine into the miserly door pockets, but had to applaud the decent boot capacity - which is just as well, because with the rear seat not folding, the 500-odd litres you see is all you get.SAFETYIt gets six airbags, stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes with brake assist for emergency stops and brakeforce distribution to compensate for uneven loading. The current model has not been crash-tested by ANCAP, but the previoous one scored four stars and this one should do as well.VALUEThe 250 ST-L is ridiculously well-priced from $33,990, with a good standard feature list that includes Bluetooth with sterring wheel controls, six-CD audio with iPod compatibility, dual-zone climate control airconditioning, leather upholstery, powered front seats, powered side mirrors, foglights, xenon headlights, LED tail-lights, foglights and 17-in alloy wheels. Maxima is slotted into the large car category, but is more truly a large-medium. Commodore will give you more shoulder room and bigger wheelbase, but at $37,990 for the Equipe you're shelling out $4000 for the extra steel - and not really gaining any extra kit.Likewise, the Falcon dwarfs it, and while the mid-sized Mondeo is slightly shorter it offers about the same amount of room. The decider is under the bonnet.LX's 2.3-litre four-cylinder is staid but if you want a driver's car, shell out the $37,740 for the Zetec and get the torquey 149kW/300Nm turbo 2.0-litre (with better fuel economy at 8L/100km - and 187g/km CO2). Plus it offers extra equipment, including a driver's knee bag, nine-speaker audio and voice recognition. The Toyota Aurion offers a touch more room, and a lot more power and torque from the 3.5-litre V6. But for $2000 more than the Maxima it looks 20 years blander inside and out.DRIVINGIt's not a sports car - let's get that straight for a start. But it doesn't drive like a bowl of rice pudding either. A slightly brisk push through some winding road will betray barely any wallowing and very little understeer, but show it's controlled and agile for something this size.The penalty for that is feeling the bumps more over bad sections, although the ride quality overall is pretty good.The speed-sensitive steering (borrowed from the 350Z) is responsive and accurate as you climb up the speedo, but feels strangely vague at lower speeds.However, the CVT is one of the few we've met that you could happily live with. There's less annoying drone than we've heard in others, and it matches well to the peppy engine for most of the rev range.Its only falter is when you try to quickly extract a bit more for higher speed overtaking - in this case for a couple of semis that decided to close their gap - and at that stage you \start thinking you need either a proper set of decisive gears or a bit more engine capacity.VERDICTThe Maxima is a comfortable, generously-equipped and roomy sedan that drives capably and offers fantastic value for money. It's got nearly everything right - except the market timing.NISSAN MAXIMA 250 ST-LPrice: $33,990Warranty: Three-years/100,000kmResale: 65 per centService intervals: 10,000km/six monthsThirst: 9.5 litres/100km 91 RON, 226g/km CO2Safety equipment: Six airbags, ABS with EBD and BAEngine: 2.5-litre V6 petrol, 134kW/228NmTransmission: 6-speed continuously variable automatic, FWDBody: four-door sedan, seats fiveDimensions: 4850mm (L), 1795mm (W), 1485mm (H), 2775mm (WB), 1550mm/1555mm tracks front/rearWeight: 1522kgTyre size: 17 x 7.0Spare tyre: full-size steel