Segment: Medium
Production years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Nissan made the seventh generation of the Maxima as a sport sedan, shortening the wheelbase and increasing the tracks for both axles, thus increasing the car's handling.
Introduced in 2008, the Maxima A35 confirmed its status as a sportier, shorter sedan than its bigger sibling Altima. Nissan tried and convinced its customers that the Maxima was for families with spirited drivers, while the Altima was the mid-size sedan designed for comfort. The Maxima was more on the sports side in every technical detail and a few interior features.
The exterior look featured a catamaran-style front end, with two raised areas above the fenders and a bulge on the hood. Its wrapped-around headlights resembled those installed on the Z370, with their horizontal V-shape on their outer side. From its side, the cab-rearward design was classic for a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, but the Maxima was front-wheel-drive. At the back, the design team spoiled the car's, otherwise, sporty look with a large bumper, but the LED taillights smoothed the design.
Inside, the high-bolstered bucket seats at the front featured hand-stitched leather upholstery for the upper trim levels and promised good side support during high-speed cornering maneuvers. At the back, the carmaker added an option for heated seats and a separate climate control panel hidden in the center folding armrest. For the driver, Nissan installed a beautiful layout in the instrument cluster with a speedometer in the middle flanked by the tachometer on the left and the fuel and coolant temperature gauges. Chromed surroundings adorned the three-dial display.
Under the hood, Nissan installed the VQ35 engine that provided 290 hp, 35 more than its predecessor. It paired it with a CVT gearbox. The carmaker added a pair of paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel that selected six pre-set gears.
ENGINE SPECS - 3.5L CVT (290 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 3498 cm3 |
Power: | 213 KW @ 6400 RPM 290 HP @ 6400 RPM 286 BHP @ 6400 RPM |
Torque: | 261 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM 354 Nm @ 4400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.3 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | CVT |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | P245/40R19 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 190.6 in (4841 mm) |
Width: | 73.2 in (1859 mm) |
Height: | 57.8 in (1468 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 62.4/62.4 in (1,585/1,585 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 109.3 in (2776 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.6 in (142 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.2 cuFT (402 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.33 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3551 lbs (1611 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4698 lbs (2131 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 19 mpg US (12.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 26 mpg US (9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 22 mpg US (10.7 L/100Km) |