Nissan · 1980–2023

Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima is a five-passenger, front-engine, full-size car that was manufactured and marketed by Nissan as Nissan's flagship sedan primarily in North America, the Middle East, South Korea, and China — across eight generations. The Maxima debuted for model year 1982 as the Datsun Maxima, replacing the Datsun 810. The Maxima was marketed as an upscale alternative to the Altima and prior to 1993, the Stanza, distinguished by features such as a premium interior and V6 engine. Most Maximas were built in Oppama, Japan, until North American assembly began in Smyrna, Tennessee, for the 2004 model year. For the US and Canada, Nissan ended production of the Maxima in July 2023. Outside North America, the Maxima nameplate has also been applied to variants or trim levels of several other models.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Datsun 810

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First generation (1981)

The first car to wear the Maxima badge was the second generation Datsun 810, introduced only in the North American market in 1980 as a 1981 model. It was essentially a Japanese market Datsun Bluebird (910) with the wheelbase extended 3.9 in (100 mm) to accommodate the inline six-cylinder engine. It was sold in two trim levels, either the lower trimmed "810 Deluxe" or the upper trimmed "810 Maxima". The body options available included either a 4-door sedan or a 5-door station wagon with both trim levels available on both bodies. In 1981 for the 1982 model year, all 810s were rebranded as Datsun Maxima. In 1983 for the 1984 model year, the last year of the first generation Maxima, North American Datsuns began carrying both a "Datsun" badge plus a separate "Nissan" badge, additionally some 1984 model year Maximas carried only a "Datsun" badge which featured "by Nissan" in sub script. For the first model year, the 810 Deluxe came with a five-speed manual transmission, while the upper trim 810 Maxima only came with a three-speed automatic. The Maxima's introduction to North America followed the successful introduction of the Datsun 240Z, and used the same engine and transmission while offering luxury content four doors. The sedans have independent rear suspension while the wagon has a leaf sprung live rear axle. The wagon also received rear drums rather than disc brakes. The second generation retained the same 2.4-liter base engine as the previous Datsun 810, although up by 2 to 120 hp (89 kW) and with more torque available at a lower engine speed. It was also available with the 2.8-liter LD28 OHC inline-six diesel engine (available in the US from mid-1981 through 1983) with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Some of the power s

Second generation (1985)

On October 17, 1984, the first front-wheel drive Maxima (based on the Bluebird U11) was introduced for the 1985 model year. This Maxima was available with a 157 hp (117 kW), 3.0-liter VG30E V6 engine and a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. In Japan, a smaller 2.0-liter version of this engine was fitted. These engines were the first V6 engine to be mass-produced in Japan, and the first Nissan to utilize a V6 engine with front wheel drive. The second generation was assigned compact status in the US market. This was the last generation to be available as a station wagon, a version which had been offered since the Datsun 810 days. In late 1986, the 1987 Maxima was introduced with a freshened exterior and interior. Automatic shoulder belts became featured on both the 1987 sedan and wagons built after February 1987. Luxury amenities were offered on both the "base" GL, later renamed GXE and SE trim levels. Such features for the GL/GXE included digital touch entry system on the driver and passenger side door panel, power windows, locks, antenna, power seats, remote trunk release, voice warning system, optional leather seating, optional heated front seats, an optional Electronics Pkg (a sedan exclusive, it included a digital instruments and a trip computer) and an optional power sunroof (sunroof was standard on Maxima wagons). 15-inch alloy wheels were standard for the Maxima. An exclusive option for 1988 was the DUET-SS Super Sonic Suspension -which was part of the Electronics Pkg- replacing the trip computer that was previously offered. This feature used sonar waves to monitor the road conditions ahead and adjusted the shocks accordingly for the most controlled ride. The electronically controlled shock absorbers were installed on a trailing arm suspens

Third generation (1989)

The redesigned Maxima debuted on October 24, 1988 for the 1989 model year, internally designated J30. Larger dimensions made it the second Japanese sedan sold in North America to qualify as a "mid-size" (after the Mazda 929). Nissan used a "4DSC" window decal on the third-generation Maxima in North America, marketing it as a "four-door sports car." This generation was briefly marketed in Japan, replacing the Nissan Leopard sedan at Nissan Store locations. A refresh occurred in August 1991 for the 1992 model year (from July 1991 production), adding a driver's side SRS airbag. It became available with the 160 hp (119 kW), 3.0-liter VG30E V6, with the 190 hp (142 kW), VE30DE unit standard on the SE model beginning with the 1992 model year. In the United States, the VG30E engine, which featured a variable intake manifold on automatic and manual transmission models, was used on all 1989 to 1994 GXE models and 1989 to 1991 SE models. This generation Maxima was fitted with an independent trailing arm rear suspension, and continued to offer the road scanning, electronic Super Sonic Suspension (sonar). The digital touch entry system on the GXE (in conjunction with the new Luxury Package) allowed the windows to be lowered and the moon roof opened from outside the vehicle on a keypad integrated on the front door handle, without the key in the ignition. One of the industry's first heads-up displays was also included in the package for model years 1989–92. The system projected a holographic image of the vehicle's speed on a small screen in the windshield. The VE30DE engine was exclusively offered on the 1992–1994 Maxima SE. It was a 3.0-liter, 24 valve, DOHC motor. Its iron block was topped with aluminum cylinder heads and featured a dual length intake manifold (5-speed model only)

Fourth generation (1995)

Designed from early 1990 to March 1991, the fourth-generation Maxima arrived in May 1994 for the 1995 model year as the A32. A new VQ30DE 190 hp (141 kW), 205 lb⋅ft (278 N⋅m) 3.0 liter V6 was the only engine option for the North American market. The VQ30DE earned a first spot on the Ward's 10 Best Engines List, and the VQ became recognized consecutively for every year since its introduction (as of 2012, 18 years running). The independent rear suspension of the previous generation was replaced with a lighter multi-link beam system, part of a general trend of cost-cutting by Japanese manufacturers in the wake of the bursting of Japan's economic bubble of the early 1990s. The Maxima's primary competitor, the Toyota Cressida, was discontinued after the 1992 model year, with Toyota touting the front-wheel-drive Toyota Avalon, a stretched version of the Toyota Camry introduced in 1994, as its replacement. The North American 1995 Maxima included a Bose Sound System on the GLE (optional on the SE), which had a 6-speaker sound system, a Clarion system was also an option (non-Bose). The fourth-generation Maxima was highly praised for its quiet, roomy interior. This Maxima was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1995. The Maxima SE again made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1995 and 1996. The 1995's VQ30DE (3.0 liter) engine produced 190 hp (142 kW) and 205 lb⋅ft (278 N⋅m) of torque. With the manual transmission 0–60 mph took 6.6 seconds with a quarter-mile time of 15.2-seconds at 92.4-mph, making it both the quickest and fastest (142 mph top speed) Japanese sedan on the North American market at that time. A top-of-the-line 1995 Maxima GLE equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission turned in a 7.6 second 0-60-mph run with a 15.8-second/88.6-mph quarter-mil

Fifth generation (2000)

Introduced in May 1999, the 2000 Maxima was designed at Nissan's La Jolla, California design studio 1996–1997 under the direction of Jerry Hirshberg, and was internally designated A33B. The fifth-generation Maxima was a badge engineered variant of the JDM A33 Nissan Cefiro, which was itself marketed globally, including by Nissan North America's luxury Infiniti brand as the I30 and subsequently as the I35. The A33 Cefiro was marketed in Europe as the Maxima QX. The engine was a 222 hp (166 kW) 3.0 L VQ30DE V6 for all versions except the SE, which produced 227 hp (169 kW). The vehicle has a 0–60 mph time of 7.0 seconds. This variant of the VQ30DE was referred to as the VQ30DE-K. The A33b was offered in GXE (base), GLE (luxury, with 16 inch alloy wheels) and SE trim levels, the latter offering a rear trunklid spoiler. For the 2001 model year, Nissan offered an SE model trim package commemorating the model's 20th anniversary. In addition to SE content, the commemorative edition used the Infiniti I30 engine, ground effect rocker panels, drilled metal "brushed metallic" pedals, brushed metallic shifter, and stainless steel door embossed sill plates. The optional leather interior was perforated, unlike that in the regular SE. Finally, the "SE Comfort and Convenience Package" included a sunroof and 17" dark chrome alloy wheels. For the 2002 model year, the Maxima received a mild facelift. The A33B received the 3.5 L VQ35DE producing 255 hp (190 kW) and 246 lb⋅ft (334 N⋅m) of torque, the engine used in the Infiniti I35. The facelifted version received a larger, revised grille and front bumper openings, revised foglamps with vertical lines in the glass lens, larger Nissan emblem on the grille, a revised headlamp design with high-intensity discharge (HID) low beams, a six-speed ma

Sixth generation (2004)

The sixth-generation Maxima, code-named A34, was marketed solely in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was developed from 1998 to 2002, with a March 2001 design freeze. It was introduced in production form as a 2004 model at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. In the US, it came with the VQ35DE, a DOHC V6 engine that produced 265 hp (198 kW) at 5,800 rpm, and 255 lb⋅ft (346 N⋅m) of torque at 4,400 rpm and a standard SkyView fixed glass paneled roof that ran down the center of the roof (from front to back) or an optional traditional style moonroof. Sixth-generation Maximas were available in two trim levels, SE and SL. The sporty SE model came standard with 18 inch alloy wheels, P245/45R18 V-rated tires, stiffer suspension, rear spoiler, and an optional 6-speed manual transmission. The luxurious SL model came standard with 17 inch alloy wheels, P225/55R17 H-rated tires, wood interior trim, 6-disc CD changer, Bose stereo, leather seats, and HID headlights and optional heated front seats. The manual transmission was never offered in the SL model and the suspension was tuned for a softer ride. For all models, the rear independent suspension returned, this time using a multilink setup similar to the Altima. For 2007, the U.S. Maxima became available with a standard Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) (similar to the CVT found in the Nissan Murano) as the only transmission choice; a manual transmission was no longer offered, however the CVT featured a manual mode. It featured a freshened front fascia (lacking the center block, the new grille closely resembled that of the 2007 Altima). Headlights were also more squared around the edges. New interior changes included an Intelligent Key system with integrated ignition tab, new center console, and

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

Manufacturer

Nissan

aka

Datsun Maxima (1981–1984)

Production

1980–2023

Model years

1981–2023

Class

Mid-size (1981–2003), Full-size (2004–2023)

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (1981–1984), Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1985–2023)

Predecessor

Datsun 810

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q377287CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_MaximaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1375281972 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009_Nissan_Maxima_SV.jpgPublic domain · Photo: IFCAR · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — http://www.nissanusa.com/maxima/Link only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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