2009 Nissan Maxima Photo

2009 Nissan Maxima - Expert Reviews

MSRP: $30,160 - $32,860 See Local Classifieds
 

Expert Reviews from Around the Web

We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 13 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.
RankingDetails
#1
2009 nissan maxima Professional Edmunds Review
Source: Edmunds

...At our test track, the Maxima SV went from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Its fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. Safety: Every 2009 Nissan Maxima comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front and rear outboard active head restraints. A rearview camera is optional. Interior Design and Special Features: The 2009 Nissan Maxima features design and craftsmanship worthy of its luxury-car price. In fact, the Maxima's cabin -- in Premium and Sport guise -- is...

#2
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...The results of all the sport-ifying are mixed. Indeed, you could call it Mixima. The car has serious and significant road-holding ability in corners, big lateral grip. However, first you have to get it in the corners, and that means using the steering wheel, which is full of twitches and uncertainty. The steering ratio is quick -- when you turn the wheel a little, the car turns a lot -- but the low-friction steering doesn't feel connected and secure, nor does it want to center itself. At moderate highway speeds, the Maxima requires a lot of tiller tending. Out in the esses, the Maxima has a...

#3
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...The trunk is sizable, but if you have a double stroller I'd make sure it can fit back there before buying the Maxima. My test car came with a 9.3GB hard drive for music, which is part of an optional Tech Package. For the first time ever, I figured out how to record my CDs to the hard drive, so I wouldn't have to tote CDs around. I really liked this feature, but if you prefer an iPod, an iPod interface is also available as part of the optional package. The navigation system's controls are completely separate from the stereo buttons; this helps minimize confusion. The touch-screen also displays...

#4
Flash Drive: 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV
Source: MSN Autos

...– Perry SternNissan has adopted a continuously variable transmission to help improve fuel economy, which it does, but in the Maxima the CVT also provides a super-smooth ride at all times. There are no lurches or jolts because there are no gear changes. The CVT does mean that even medium acceleration comes with significant revs from the engine. Thankfully, the interior is comfortable and well-insulated, so acceleration doesn’t come with intrusive noise. The Nissan Maxima is no longer the sportiest choice among family sedans, but it is very competitive in the category, with plenty of space...

#5
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...But some enthusiasts would appreciate a manual transmission on this car, which should be available on a vehicle that is billed as a sports car. Nissan used the chassis of the redesigned Altima for the new Maxima, but altered it significantly to give the car its sporty handling. The car has a 109.3-inch wheelbase, 1.9 inches shorter than the '08 model, and is 73.2 inches wide, which an increase of 1.5 inches. The extra width provides better stability, Nissan said. Standard safety features include electronic stability control, traction control, front seat-mounted side air bags, front and rear...

#6
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...It draws elements from Infiniti's G and M sedans, while the wraparound dash looks much like the one in the Altima. All told, it easily rivals the cabin in a Buick Lucerne, another upscale player in this group. Depending on configuration, the rear seat can come with a center pass-thru or as a conventional 60/40-split folding seat. Trunk volume is 14.2 cubic feet, well short of the cavernous trunk space in a Lucerne or Taurus. Even in 3.5 S trim, the Maxima comes well-equipped; standard features include a moonroof, power front seats, a six-CD stereo and dual-zone automatic climate control. The...

#7
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...Nissan added 35 horses to this V-6 through increasing its air intake, making it more efficient when burning fuel and lowering exhaust back pressure. The result follows the same path as the vehicle's body -- a leaner, meaner machine. Nissan also reworked the way the engine was mounted to help cut down on vibrations and noise. While I couldn't hear the engine, other than that pleasant vroom, I could hear the road and wind. This was one of the few areas I was disappointed about with the Maxima. While road and wind noise come with a sports car, this is also a sedan, so my expectation for a quiet...

#8
CarGurus' Review for 2009 nissan maxima
Source: CarGurus

...The Nissan Maxima has long deserved an overhaul, and the 2009 model takes the first steps in reinvigorating the look and feel of the full-size sedan.
With upgrades to the engine and platform, and sharper lines to its profile, the '09 Maxima is once again fun to drive.
The only significant drawbacks in this era of high gas prices come from its low fuel economy and premium gas requirement...

#9
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...Using belts and pulleys, the transmission makes tiny adjustments as you accelerate though you never feel a shift -- sort of like a boat: as you increase power, you just go faster. Plenty of companies including Honda, Ford and Chrysler have offered CVTs, and they work fine, but the long-touted fuel-economy improvement that they once promised has never really materialized. To me, a CVT is neither a plus nor a minus -- it just is. On the road, the Maxima's increased horsepower and smaller size make acceleration impressive and handling more nimble, but the ride remains close to luxury-car smooth...

#10
2009 Nissan Maxima Professional Cars.com Review
Source: Cars.com

...The SV model adds leather sport seats, a Bose premium audio system, fog lights, and outside mirrors with turn-signal indicators. Options include a navigation system with real-time traffic information, XM satellite radio, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, rear spoiler, high-intensity headlights, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, memory front seats, heated seats and steering wheel, and heated outside mirrors. Our tester didn't have navigation, but did come with a $2,300 Sport package that added a sport-tuned suspension, the 19-inch alloy wheels, the rear spoiler, high-intensity-discharge...


Nissan Maxima Related News
 
2009 Nissan Maxima

Nissan reviewing U.S. diesel plans

Diesel engine sales have stagnated in the U.S. due largely to lingering perceptions of the clattering, foul smelling contraptions of the 1970s and earlier. It hasn’t... March 17, 2009 by  8


 
2009 Nissan Maxima

New Renault-Nissan V6 diesel to power wide range of cars, SUVs

Diesel engine sales have stagnated in the U.S. because of lingering perceptions of the clattering, foul-smelling contraptions of the 1970s and earlier. Many carmakers have... January 5, 2009 by  6


 
Steve Millen Sports Cars 2009 Nissan Maxima

Nissan celebrates tenth year at SEMA with 12 specialty vehicles

Nissan is not only celebrating its tenth year at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Auto Show, as 2008 also marks the carmaker’s 50th anniversary of... November 5, 2008 by 


 
2009 Nissan Maxima priced  to start below $30,000

2009 Nissan Maxima priced to start below $30,000

Having teased the new Maxima for several days before its New York Auto Show debut earlier this year with hints of bringing back the 4DSC - Four-door Sports Car - moniker... June 24, 2008 by  6


 
2009 Nissan Maxima unveiled in New York

2009 Nissan Maxima unveiled in New York

Although we saw several images of the new Maxima just a couple days ago, no details of the new car were yet available. Now that Nissan has officially revealed the car at the... March 19, 2008 by  10


 

Why should I also consider these?

The 2009 Nissan Maxima appeals more readily to those looking for a perky, smooth, and stylish V-6 luxury sedan than to those wanting a sport sedan.

For the latter, shoppers might consider the Pontiac G8—especially in GT trim—or the Dodge Charger R/T, though neither of those cars has an interior that's as stylish as the Maxima's or offers the same level of appointments and tech options.

At the opposite end of the scale, for those who might want even more comfort and interior space, there's the Toyota Avalon, although it's less exciting to drive and look at.

In between, the Volkswagen Passat VR6 offers similar performance and a very attractive, comfortable interior, along with available all-wheel drive, but it's more expensive.

The newly redesigned 2009 Acura TL, which at the time of this writing hasn't yet gone on sale, also promises to be a formidable rival.

 
2008 Acura TL
The 2008 Acura TL is a "nice" car that's well equipped in every category except personality.
 
2008 Dodge Charger
The 2008 Dodge Charger sedan has plenty of practicality and character--and thirst, with the big HEMI engines.
 
2009 Pontiac G8
The G8 gives Pontiac real sport-sedan credentials and hits the mark with only minor faults.
 
2008 Toyota Avalon
The 2008 Toyota Avalon is designed for a cushy, comfortable ride and impressive interior space above all else.
 
2003 Volkswagen Passat

 
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