Nissan’s Maxima is one of its better models. The Nissan Maxima earns praise for its power, comfort, and focus on luxury. And if you’re looking to save money on this upscale sedan, the 2017 model is one of the best versions to buy.

What is it like to drive the 2017 Nissan Maxima?

Nissan often describes the Maxima as a four-door sports car. While the Maxima does offer a quick driving experience, it is still not a true sports sedan. That said, this Nissan’s smooth ride quality helps to make up for the lack of sportiness.

The Maxima features a 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine linked to a continuously variable automatic transmission. As a new model, critics like U.S. News celebrated the Maxima for its effortless acceleration. This Nissan can go from 0-60 mph in about six seconds. To make the most of the sedan’s performance, reviewers at U.S. News recommend shopping for the SR trim, which adds a sports-tuned suspension.

There’s a lot to like about the Maxima’s overall performance, but there are some potential drawbacks. Nissan recommends premium fuel, so that contributes to an additional expense. Also, there is some body roll as you turn tight corners. But for the most part, reviewers felt like the Maxima maintained its composure.

Cabin comforts 

As a luxury-focused sedan, the Maxima shines for its high-quality materials. Its seats are plush, and there are ritzy finishings throughout the cabin. This sedan can technically seat up to five, but its interior space isn’t the most generous. The available leg space is adequate, but headspace is more limited. For this reason, U.S. News recommends the Nissan Altima for more interior space.

The 2017 Maxima came standard with cloth upholstery; some models will have genuine leather. Other amenities to look out for include a driver’s seat memory function and heated and cooled front seats. This Maxima is pretty good on in-car tech too.

Nissan’s infotainment system, NissanConnect, is standard on the 2017 Maxima. This system includes Bluetooth, navigation, and voice and gesture recognition. Nissan also made Apple CarPlay standard on this model, but Android Auto didn’t join the standard list until 2018. Some models will have advanced safety features, including forward-collision warning with automatic braking. 

Overall ratings 

What makes the 2017 Maxima more appealing is its excellent ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick+, its highest honor. The Maxima’s top safety scores contributed to its above-average reliability rating from Consumer Reports. CR also gave the Maxima a high owner satisfaction rating based on member feedback. The average price for a used model falls between $19,775 – $24,050.

Recalls 

There are four recalls actions on this model. One relates to its airbags and the others for its service brakes. These don’t have to be deal-breakers, though. If you are seriously considering buying a 2017 Maxima, make sure you address these actions with your auto dealer.