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Nissan Maxima

Nissan

Nissan Maxima: The four-door sports car. VQ V6 power and a sporty edge among family sedans.
Photo: Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

The four-door sports car. VQ V6 power and a sporty edge among family sedans.

The Nissan Maxima is a full-size sport sedan that long marketed itself as a four-door sports car. Powered for decades by the smooth and strong VQ V6, it offered more performance and a more upscale feel than the Altima below it, with front-wheel drive and available manual transmissions on earlier cars. The Maxima blended family-sedan practicality with genuine pace and a premium interior. Later generations leaned more toward style and comfort, but the VQ V6 remained the signature. Production ended in 2023 after decades as Nissan flagship sedan. On WhipJury, Maxima submissions favor the VQ-powered sport sedans, especially clean manual examples.

Maxima highlights

VQ V6 era. The smooth, strong V6 that defined the Maxima for decades.

Four-door sports car. Sportier than the Altima, with available manuals on earlier cars.

Maxima on WhipJury

The VQ-powered sport sedans, especially manual cars, draw the most interest.

Frequently asked questions about Nissan Maxima

Why is the Maxima called a four-door sports car?
Nissan marketed it that way because it offered more performance, a sportier chassis, and the strong VQ V6 compared to typical family sedans of its era.
Did the Maxima come with a manual?
Yes, earlier Maximas offered a manual transmission, which are the enthusiast picks. Later generations moved to automatics and CVTs.
Is the Maxima reliable?
Generally yes, especially the durable VQ V6. Later CVT-equipped cars warrant the usual CVT maintenance care.
Is the Maxima front-wheel drive?
Yes, the Maxima has been front-wheel drive throughout its modern run.
When did the Maxima end?
Production ended in 2023, closing out decades as Nissan flagship sedan as the market shifted toward SUVs.

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