I have one of these for a rental due to the Takata airbag recall on my 4G. It is a REALLY nice car, even the base model has a ton of tech in it including Navi, back up camera and a bunch of other stuff. Very comfy and stylish and pretty fast. (supposedly 0-60 in 5.7 seconds). I've had a couple TLX's as loaner cars and I would say this Maxima, even the base model has a better interior. Something to consider for you cross shoppers.

 

Except the side profile is something hideous. Not keen on the front and rear, but they would grow on me, I'm sure. But again... that side profile...

 

I really do like the interior of the new Maxima and it offers a great value proposition but it was beaten to shit with the ugly stick.

No matter how good they claim the CVT is it is still a CVT

It does have exposed exhaust though

 

The exterior is bad....

 

I hear you. It is subjective though, I think it looks really cool in person. I didn't
think so in pictures but it looks nice sitting in my driveway.
Not sure what the downside is of the CVT, its very smooth and fast, at least the one I'm driving is. Not as fast as my Manual 4G but faster than any TLX I have had(which is a grand total of 2, one 4 cyl, one six). But you know, we are talking about 2 to 3 tenths of a second either way.

 

one of the ugliest vehicles since the pontiac aztek!!!

 

Car and Driver tested the SR trim and got 0-60mph in 5.9s. It's definitely decent. It's pretty much as fast as the TLX SH-AWD.

The CVT though can be an issue for some as mentioned above. My friend had a work trip last month and he rented a Maxima. He hated the CVT.

 

CVTs are awful. Immediate disqualification.

 

Having owned a 3G Maxima, I really haven't liked any of the other models except for the 5th gen. The last couple of model generations have been disappointments regarding exterior looks. I had ample time to check out the Maxima while I was held hostage this weekend at the dealer trying to buy out my Leaf lease- not impressed.

 

.....in March outselling the TLX almost 2 to 1......not bad for such an "ugly" car....

 

Maxima is not faster than TLX despite having better tires. the problem with nissan car is they are not as good built as Honda . there is lifespan is way shorter.

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...ented-test.pdf

 

How does that buy out work?

 

Have the sheet for the TLX?

 

Those great sales numbers for the Maxima that you love touting also take into account fleet sales. Heck, the OP was driving a rental.

 

Nissan has been hit with the ugly stick across its line up to include Infiniti. The Altima looks better than the Maxima. I don't understand why Japanese makers do this by lurching from radically different design language from generation to generation. The new Maxima does not look good. That is what plagued the 4G TL. No matter how much of a value proposition it was it just did not look good. The RLX is in the same boat now, not necessarily that it's ugly but it's too bland for a mid sized luxury car.

 

....Maximas are as common for rentals as 3 Series, ATS, Regal or Mercedes C Class...yes there are some but not that common as Fusion, Malibu, Altima, Camry, Impalas, Charger, ets....I rent very often for work and pleasure related trips....as a matter of fact I'm driving a rental right now (a Chrysler 300) and yesterday at the desk, for example, there were no Maximas available...but there were 300, ATS, XTS, 3 Series and Impala as premium/luxury vehicles

 

Agree. The top tier cars even though they change generation to generation hold to the same design language.

You can look at a Euro premium a few generations old & still clearly see enough of the linage to know they are the same brand.

 

Not in my experience (had 2 Nissans and 2 Hondas) quality and assembly was pretty much the same....

 

That is kind of a two edged sword. Forgetting looks, is this really me posting, the rental company is looking at initial price, expected maintenance cost over a few years & resale value of a higher mileage car when they move the car out to auction or retail.

Cars that do well on all the factors do well as potential rental fleet buys.

 

Notwithstanding your personal experience, my previous statement is still true.

 

....so all the other potential TLX competitors are doing better because of fleet sales???

 

Looks or not the new Maxima is doing very well indeed.....and I like the look of the car...but what do I know?? I was a 4G owner after all......

 

Moving the goal posts eh? That is NOT what I said.

 

I'm not moving anything.....you implied that the Maxima is doing better because of fleet sales..at least that is what I sensed...if not I apologize.....I replied that the Maxima is not that common on rental lots...and Kevin is right about fleet sales.....and they are a good way to advertise your product and getting it in the hands of potential customers...

 

The only thing I implied or outright stated is the Maxima's numbers include fleet sales.

I'm glad it's selling well. It's a mainstream car for Nissan in a special segment, like it has been in for years. Unfortunately, perception wise, it is not a entry level luxury vehicle because of its nameplate.

From what I've read online and on maxima.org, buyers cross shop the Maxima with a wide array of vehicles. Most maxima owners on maxima.org cross shopped it with the Accord and we all know the Accord sales numbers crush the Maxima.

Ugh, now I'm moving the goal posts.

 

Like everyone else has said, I don't care how great of a value the Maxima is. With that CVT and exterior styling, I will never own one. The Maxima is selling well, that's great. But I don't see the point of touting its sales numbers as we obviously didn't buy it for a very good reason(s). My '10 TL is my favorite car so I know a thing or two about liking radical designs, but that c-pillar on the Maxima is just so horrible looking. Don't care how much bang for your buck you can get with that thing, no way.

 

Personally I cross shopped the TL when I bought my 2002 Maxima new many many years ago....I think the two are frequently cross shopped (I also remember few threads in the 4G section years ago)
In the Nissan model range the Accord competitor is the Altima....and price wise the Maxima and the TLX overlap almost perfectly, same for size and mechanical layout. An AWD Maxima is expected next year.
The Maxima is basically a premium sedan within the Nissan model range.

 

Or, more accurately, what Nissan thinks is premium.

Or not premium.

 

...or what Maxima customers think since Nissan is not having much trouble finding people willing to fork quite few thousands more over the price of an Altima......the Maxima is a refined tarted up Altima exactly as a TLX (or the TL and TSX before) is a glorified Accord or the Lexus ES is a glorified Camry, a Buick Regal is a glorified Malibu....actually Nissan followed the same strategy up to the 5.5 generation of the Maxima, it was selling a tarted up more luxurious version badged as Infiniti I30/I35 alongside the G before Nissan decided to try to push Infiniti harder into Tier 1 territory

 

And a great value, no so sure, at least here.

36mo 20000km/yr lease rate
Maxima FWD SL $702C (same as a Q50 AWD!)
TLX V6 SH-AWD $632C

Since early 2000s, my beef with Nissan has been with their ugly exterior styling that ages quickly and the general cheapness of the cockpit. At least they fixed the second. But it is certainly not with the Maxima that they fixed the first. Totally personal tastes, but coming from Euro cars (Bimmers and Audis), I want something at the same time bold and conservative, not kitsch à la Nissan. They are not bad cars, though.

 

sorry but I won't cross shop Maxima. If I was in the market for an Accord, then ya....

 

Definitely don't sleep on the Maxima, though. It will hurt your back.

 

....people that are in the market for an Accord usually cross shop fhe Altima not the Maxima...

 

Altima is compared to Civic or Corolla buddy

 

...that is truly hilarious....complete delusion ahahahah thanks for the laugh!!!!

 

Almost as funny as saying a car with the fit, finish, and build of the Dodge Charger competes with 3 series, and TLX just because you can get it with an upgraded leather interior....

 

The Altima is definitely a step up from the Corolla, this was very obvious when I was shopping for a car for my mother-in-law. It seemed like a step up from the Corolla but a step down from the Accord. As for the Civic, I'm not sure I never looked at one. And yes if you were to look at options included when it comes to Maxima and the TLX, the similarly equipped Maxima is a few thousand less. That CVT and styling just ruins the whole thing for me. TLX seemed quieter, also. For the most part, I actually like the materials used in the Maxima interior more than the TLX. I think it would help the Maxima to take off the Nissan badge and get its own, like what Hyundai did with the Genesis. Although, the Genesis is nicer than the Maxima.

 

You might want to go over to maxima.org and tell those folks they are doing it all wrong then since there were plenty of current Maxima owners that cross shopped the Accord.

 

Newsflash: there are people on this board that crossshopped the Accord (and on the 4G forum too years ago)...still the Maxima main aim is not the Accord.....the Altima is.

 

...never said is quite there but fairly impressive for the price.....it would not sound that funny to you if you actually would take your time and take one for a drive...you may be surprised....