Nissan Maxima

Generations compared by what actually changed

The catalogue lists 14 entries: eight numbered generations plus restylings of the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 generations. Body type is Sedan throughout.

The catalogue lists 14 entries: eight numbered generations plus restylings of the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 generations. Body type is Sedan throughout.

1 generation (1981–1984) is the outlier: RWD, Inline 4 Diesel at 65 hp in 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT, and Inline 6 Gasoline at 122 hp in 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT. Ground clearance is 160 mm. Kerb weight, tank, 0–100 and top speed are not measured. Engine location is not measured. If you want rear-wheel drive, this is the only generation that offers it.

2 generation (1984–1988) switches the 3.0 Gasoline 6 V-shaped to FWD with Front, longitudinal placement — unique later among the 3.0 cars. 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT both make 157 hp and 248 Nm. Clearance drops 5 mm versus the first generation, to 155 mm. 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, kerb and gross weight are not measured. Rear brakes and rear suspension are not measured.

3 generation (1988–1991) and 3 generation, restyling (1991–1995) keep FWD but move the same 2960 cm³ V-shaped 6 to Front, transverse. Output splits into four named 3.0 flavours that must not be mixed: 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT at 160 hp (2 valves per cylinder), 3.0 MT / 3.0 AT at 170 hp, 3.0 AT at 190 hp with Turbo, and (pre-restyle only) 3.0 AT at 194 hp with 4 valves and No boost. Restyling does not change those power figures; it does cut clearance on the 170 hp pair from 160 mm to 140 mm and raises restyle 3.0 MT 170 hp gross weight from 1915 kg to 1935 kg.

4 generation (1995–1996) and 4 generation, restyling (1996–2000) add a 1995 cm³ V-shaped 6 (2.0 MT and 2.0 AT, 140 hp) and, pre-restyle only, a 1974 cm³ Inline 4 2.0 MT at 90 hp with Carburetor, plus a 2496 cm³ 2.5 MT at 190 hp on 98 fuel. The 2988 cm³ 3.0 MT / 3.0 AT rise from 193 hp / 255 Nm. Restyling drops the 90 hp 2.0 MT and the 2.5 MT; remaining 2.0 and 3.0 numbers stay 140 hp and 193 hp.

5 generation (2000–2002) and 5 generation, restyling (2002–2006) keep seven named versions: 2.0 MT, 2.5 AT, 3.0 MT, 3.0 AT, 3.5 MT, 3.5 AT, 2.0 AT. The new 3.5 pair is 255 hp / 333 Nm. 3.0 is 200 hp / 271 Nm. 2.5 AT is 209 hp / 265 Nm — more power than the larger 3.0 on 492 cm³ less. Restyling fills mixed consumption on the 3.5 pair (11.2 and 11.8 L/100 km), raises restyle 3.5 AT kerb from not measured to 1472 kg, lifts several clearances from 140 mm to 175 mm, and on restyle 3.0 AT changes gears from 4 to 5. Rear suspension label is Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem.

6 generation (2003–2008) and 6 generation, restyling (2007–2008) drop every engine except the 3498 cm³ 3.5: 3.5 AT (268 hp, Automatic, 5 gears) and 3.5 MT (268 hp, Manual, 6 gears). Independent spring suspension returns at both ends. Tank grows to 76 L — the largest in the set. Clearance is 175 mm. Restyling copies both versions’ numbers.

7 generation (2008–2015) and 7 generation, restyling (2012–2015) keep a single 3.5 CVT: 290 hp, 348 Nm, Variable, FWD, 98 fuel, 1617 kg, 140 mm clearance. 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, CO2 and gross weight are not measured. Restyling does not change the spec sheet.

8 generation (2015–2018) 3.5 CVT is 300 hp, 360 Nm, 95 fuel, mixed 9.8 L/100 km, 68 L tank, 330 g/km CO2, 1656 kg / 2125 kg, 155 mm. 0–100 and top speed are not measured. 8 generation, restyling (from 2018, stop not measured) keeps 300 hp, raises torque by 1 Nm to 361 Nm, publishes 6.6 s and 217 km/h, mixed 9.0 L/100 km, Euro 6, rear Disc ventilated, bore string 95.8 x 81.4, clearance not measured.

Engines and specs

Use exact names. Where two rows share a name, power is the discriminator.

Injection is Distributed injection (multi-point) on every petrol version that records it; the 4 generation 90 hp 2.0 MT is Carburetor. Diesel injection is not measured.

Specific output (hp per litre, displacement ÷ 1000): 8 generation 3.5 CVT 85.8 hp/L; 7 generation 3.5 CVT 82.9; 5 generation 2.5 AT 83.7 — almost matching the seventh-generation 3.5 on 1002 cm³ less; 6 generation 3.5 76.6; 5 generation 3.5 72.9; 4 generation 2.5 MT 76.1; 5 generation 2.0 70.2; 5 generation 3.0 67.0; 3 generation 3.0 AT 194 hp 65.5; 3 generation 3.0 AT 190 hp Turbo 64.2; 1 generation 2.4 50.8; 4 generation 90 hp 2.0 MT 45.6; 1 generation 2.0 Diesel 32.5. The 2.5 AT is the efficiency argument against buying a 3.0 in the fifth generation: 9 hp more than the 3.0, 6 Nm less than the 3.0’s 271 Nm, 209/2496 versus 200/2988.

Performance and economy

Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest among published figures:

• 8 generation, restyling 3.5 CVT: 6.6 s, 217 km/h. Mixed 9.0 L/100 km. City and highway not measured. CO2 330 g/km.
• 6 generation / restyling 3.5 MT: 6.9 s, 225 km/h. Consumption not measured.
• 6 generation / restyling 3.5 AT: 7.3 s, 220 km/h. Consumption not measured. The Manual is 0.4 s and 5 km/h quicker than the Automatic on the same 268 hp / 345 Nm.
• 5 generation / restyling 3.0 MT: 8.2 s, 230 km/h. City 13.1, highway 7.4, mixed 9.5 L/100 km.
• 4 generation / restyling 3.0 MT: 8.3 s, 230 km/h. Consumption not measured.
• 3 generation 3.0 MT 160 hp and 170 hp, and restyle 3.0 MT 160/170 hp: 8.7 s, 220 km/h. Restyle 3.0 MT 170 hp: city 13.3, highway 7.2, mixed 9.8.
• 3 generation / restyling 3.0 AT 190 hp Turbo: 9.0 s, 218 km/h. Consumption not measured. Boost does not beat the naturally aspirated Manual 170 hp on sprint (9.0 versus 8.7) and is 2 km/h slower on top speed (218 versus 220).
• 3 generation / restyling 3.0 AT 170 hp: 9.5 s, 201 km/h. City 15.5, highway 7.4, mixed 10.7 — 0.8 s, 19 km/h and 0.9 L/100 km mixed worse than the matching 3.0 MT 170 hp.
• 5 generation / restyling 3.0 AT and 4 generation / restyling 3.0 AT: 9.6 s. Top speed 212 km/h (fifth) or 210 km/h (fourth). Versus 3.0 MT that is +1.4 s and −18 km/h (fifth) or +1.3 s and −20 km/h (fourth).
• 3 generation / restyling 3.0 AT 160 hp: 9.6 s, 209 km/h.
• 5 generation / restyling 2.0 MT: 11.4 s, 203 km/h.
• 4 generation / restyling 2.0 MT 140 hp and 4 generation 2.0 MT 90 hp: both 11.3 s, 201 km/h — the 50 hp gap does not appear in the measured sprint; kerb is 1431 kg versus 1310 kg (+121 kg on the 140 hp car).
• 5 generation / restyling 2.0 AT: 12.3 s, 195 km/h — 0.9 s and 8 km/h slower than 2.0 MT.
• 4 generation / restyling 2.0 AT: 14.1 s, 184 km/h — slowest measured pair.

Not measured 0–100: every 7 generation 3.5 CVT, 8 generation (pre-restyle) 3.5 CVT, both 5 generation 3.5 versions, 5 generation 2.5 AT, 4 generation 2.5 MT, 3 generation 3.0 AT 194 hp, both 2 generation 3.0 cars, all 1 generation versions.

8 generation (pre-restyle) 3.5 CVT city/highway/mixed 11.8 / 7.8 / 9.8 L/100 km; restyle mixed 9.0 is 0.8 L/100 km lower on the same 300 hp. 5 generation restyle 3.5 MT mixed 11.2 versus 3.5 AT 11.8 (+0.6 L/100 km on the Automatic). 7 generation consumption is not measured. Eco class is Euro 6 only on 8 generation, restyling; elsewhere not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Kerb, where measured, rises almost monotonically: 4 generation 2.5 MT 1340 kg; 4 generation 3.0 MT 1360 kg; 3 generation 3.0 MT 170 hp 1359 kg; 3 generation 3.0 AT 160 hp 1374 kg; 5 generation 2.0 1415 kg; 5 generation 3.5 MT 1460 kg; 6 generation 3.5 MT 1600 kg; 7 generation 3.5 CVT 1617 kg; 8 generation 3.5 CVT 1656 kg. From fifth-generation 3.5 MT to eighth-generation 3.5 CVT that is +196 kg for +45 hp.

Kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp): 8 generation 3.5 CVT 5.52; 7 generation 3.5 CVT 5.58; 6 generation 3.5 MT 5.97; 5 generation 3.5 MT 5.73; 5 generation 2.5 AT 6.84; 4 generation 3.0 MT 7.05; 4 generation 2.5 MT 7.05; 5 generation 3.0 MT 7.08; 3 generation 3.0 AT 190 hp Turbo 7.23; 3 generation 3.0 MT 170 hp 8.00; 5 generation 2.0 MT 10.11; 4 generation 90 hp 2.0 MT 14.56. The eighth-generation car is the lightest per horsepower; the 90 hp 2.0 MT is the heaviest per horsepower among cars with a kerb figure.

Gross weight: 8 generation 2125 kg (payload 2125 − 1656 = 469 kg); 6 generation 2062 kg (payload 462 kg on 3.5 MT, 452 kg on 3.5 AT); 5 generation 3.0 2035 kg; 5 generation 2.0 2015 kg; 4 generation 2005 kg; 3 generation 1915–1960 kg. 7 generation gross is not measured. 5 generation 2.5 AT and 3.5 pair: gross not measured (except restyle still not measured on those two).

Tank: 76 L on 6 generation 3.5 AT / 3.5 MT; 70 L from 3 through 5 generations where recorded; 68 L on both 8 generation 3.5 CVT cars (−8 L versus the sixth generation). 7 generation and 1–2 generation tanks are not measured. Combined range cannot be computed where mixed consumption is not measured; 8 generation mixed 9.8 L/100 km and 68 L implies 68 / 9.8 × 100 ≈ 694 km; restyle mixed 9.0 implies ≈ 756 km; 5 generation 3.0 MT 70 / 9.5 × 100 ≈ 737 km.

Ground clearance: 175 mm on 6 generation and on most 5 generation / restyle versions (restyle 2.5 AT 175 mm versus pre-restyle 2.5 AT 140 mm); 160 mm on 1 generation and on pre-restyle 3 generation 170 hp cars; 155 mm on 2 generation and 8 generation (pre-restyle); 140 mm on 7 generation, 4 generation, 3 generation 160/190/194 hp cars, restyle 3 generation, and pre-restyle 5 generation 2.5 AT / 3.5 pair. 8 generation, restyling clearance is not measured.

Brakes: ventilated front from 3 generation and on 7–8 generation; 8 generation, restyling adds ventilated rear. 4–6 generation fronts are Disc (label as in data).

Which version to choose

If you want the latest measured performance. Buy 8 generation, restyling 3.5 CVT: 300 hp at 6400 rpm, 361 Nm at 4400 rpm, 6.6 s, 217 km/h, mixed 9.0 L/100 km, Euro 6, 1656 kg, 68 L, 330 g/km CO2, Variable, FWD, 95 fuel, No boost. Versus pre-restyle 8 generation 3.5 CVT you gain 1 Nm, a published sprint (pre-restyle 0–100 not measured), 0.8 L/100 km mixed, ventilated rear discs, and Euro 6; city/highway and clearance become not measured.

If you want the last 6-speed Manual 3.5. Buy 6 generation or 6 generation, restyling 3.5 MT: 268 hp, 345 Nm, 6.9 s, 225 km/h, 1600 kg, 175 mm, 76 L, 95 fuel. It is 0.3 s slower than the restyled eighth-generation 3.5 CVT but 8 km/h faster on top speed, 56 kg lighter, 20 mm higher (versus 155 mm pre-restyle eighth), and 8 L more tank. Versus its sister 3.5 AT: −0.4 s, +5 km/h, −10 kg. The restyle does not change those numbers, so generation versus restyle is not a spec decision.

If you will not own a Variable gearbox. Do not buy 7 or 8 generation. The last Automatic with gears listed is 6 generation 3.5 AT (5). The last Manual 3.5 is 6 generation 3.5 MT. Fifth-generation 3.5 MT is also Manual 6, at 255 hp (−13 hp versus sixth) and 1460 kg (−140 kg), but 0–100 and top speed are not measured; restyle mixed 11.2 L/100 km is 2.2 L/100 km higher than eighth-generation restyle mixed 9.0.

If you want more power per litre than a 3.0 without a 3.5. 5 generation 2.5 AT at 209 hp / 265 Nm / 2496 cm³ is 83.7 hp/L versus 3.0 MT 67.0 hp/L, 9 hp up and 6 Nm down versus the 3.0, 1430 kg versus 1415 kg, 140 mm clearance pre-restyle and 175 mm after restyle. 0–100 is not measured; top speed 210 km/h is 20 km/h below 3.0 MT’s 230. Compression 11.0 is the highest recorded.

If you want a 3.0 Manual with a full sprint. 5 generation 3.0 MT (200 hp, 8.2 s, 230 km/h, mixed 9.5) beats 4 generation 3.0 MT (193 hp, 8.3 s, 230 km/h) by 7 hp and 0.1 s at +55 kg (1415 versus 1360). 4 generation, restyling 3.0 MT matches the pre-restyle 193 hp / 8.3 s / 230 km/h; restyling does not add power. Avoid 3.0 AT in those generations if the sprint matters: 9.6 s in both.

If you want Turbo. Only 3 generation and 3 generation, restyling 3.0 AT 190 hp (Turbo, 245 Nm, 9.0 s, 218 km/h, 1374 kg). It is 20 hp above the 170 hp 3.0 AT and 0.5 s quicker, but the 170 hp 3.0 MT still wins 0–100 (8.7 s) and top speed (220). Compression on the Turbo row is not measured.

If you want 4 valves on a 3.0 of that era. 3 generation 3.0 AT 194 hp (261 Nm, 4 valves, No boost) — 0–100 and top speed not measured; do not confuse it with 3.0 AT 190 hp Turbo (2 valves) or 3.0 AT 170/160 hp.

If you want RWD. 1 generation only: 2.4 MT / 2.4 AT (122 hp Gasoline Inline 6) or 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (65 hp Diesel Inline 4). Almost every other performance field is not measured.

If you want the smallest petrol four. 4 generation 2.0 MT 90 hp (Inline, Carburetor, 92 fuel, 1310 kg, 11.3 s, 201 km/h). Restyling deletes it. The V-shaped 6 2.0 MT 140 hp in the same generation records the same 11.3 s / 201 km/h at 1431 kg.

If you will run 92 fuel. 1–3 generation petrols that list fuel use 92. From 4 generation 3.0 / 2.0 V-shaped onward the label is 95, except 4 generation 2.5 MT and both 7 generation 3.5 CVT cars on 98. The seventh-generation 3.5 CVT is the only late car that specifies 98; the eighth generation returns to 95 at +10 hp (300 versus 290) and +12 Nm (360 versus 348) for +39 kg (1656 versus 1617).

If clearance is the filter. 175 mm: 6 generation both 3.5 versions and restyled 5 generation versions listed at 175 mm. 160 mm: 1 generation and pre-restyle 3 generation 170 hp. 155 mm: 2 generation and 8 generation pre-restyle. 140 mm: 7 generation, 4 generation, most 3 generation non-170-hp rows, and pre-restyle 5 generation 2.5 AT / 3.5 pair. Do not assume the restyled eighth-generation car matches 155 mm — clearance is not measured.

Problems and reliability as far as the numbers go. The data do not record failure rates. What they do record as decision risk: Variable appears only from 7 generation; Turbo only on one 3.0 AT; Carburetor only on 90 hp 2.0 MT; Diesel only on 1 generation 2.0; RWD only on 1 generation; 98 octane only on 7 generation 3.5 CVT and 4 generation 2.5 MT; CO2 only on 8 generation (330 g/km); Euro 6 only on the restyled eighth. Gaps that must be read as “not measured”, not as “does not apply”: seventh-generation consumption and tank; eighth-generation pre-restyle 0–100; fifth-generation 3.5 0–100; all wheel sizes; first-generation kerb and torque.

Arithmetic summary for a buyer who will only keep one car: the restyled 8 generation 3.5 CVT is the power, sprint and mixed-consumption peak (300 hp, 6.6 s, 9.0 L/100 km). The 6 generation 3.5 MT is the last Manual with a 6.9 s / 225 km/h sheet and the 76 L tank. The 5 generation 2.5 AT is the hp/L rival to the later 3.5 without buying 3498 cm³. The 5 generation 3.0 MT is the last 3.0 with 8.2 s and mixed 9.5. The 3 generation 3.0 AT 190 hp is the only Turbo. The 1 generation is the only RWD and the only Diesel. Same names (3.5 CVT, 3.0 AT, 2.0 MT) are not interchangeable: split them by generation and by horsepower, or the comparison is false.