Is the 2020 Nissan Maxima Platinum a REAL performance sedan?

The Maxima has been in Nissan's lineup for many years. Under the hood is a 3.5L V6 that is producing 300HP & mated to a CVT, The exterior of the Maxima features Nissan's V-Motion grille and unique 19in wheels. On the inside the Platinum the interior features some high end materials and sporty style. Is the 2020 Nissan Maxima Platinum a real performance sedan?
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[@dalegribble3684]

I will never understand why they use that junk CVT in this car that’s $40k+.....they should use one of the 7 speed Infiniti transmissions

[@original__gmebvy]

Dale Gribble if they did then people wouldn’t buy the Infiniti for more money. The Maxima is what you buy when you want an Infiniti without the “prestige snobbery” that tends to come with luxury cars

[@RaitisRides]

It's all about cost cutting.

[@joeyGalileoHotto]

@@original__gmebvy Infiniti isnt really a prestigious luxury car brand to begin with, cant come close to Mercedes Benz or BMW.

[@raymondknight5298]

people hardly buy infinity anymore period, they have shot both their feet.

[@ms3173]

Joseph G. Hotto Infiniti is clearly a prestigious luxury brand

[@mattc7879]

'since the earth was created' LOL

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for letting me share some laughs with you Matt!

[@Gunners4life629]

😂

[@playboyloui3006]

Had me laughing soo hard 😂😂😂

[@roughwoof]

12:25 *OH YEAH BABY LET ME SEE YOUR TRUNK! I want to see how much room you have!* *OH? I HAVE TO PUSH AND LIFT? Alright!* *HMMM LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOME ZONK AROUND THE OPENING! IT'S NICE AND TIGHT!* *I had to do a 60/40 split to get in. It's pretty deep inside here! Yeah, I like that...*

[@jovani6044]

Ong tho lmfao 😂

[@stephen5665]

This design first came out in 2016. I still think it is beautiful.

[@DMCarReviews]

Owned a 2017 Nissan Maxima. Put 45k miles on her in 2 years. Never had a single issue. Very reliable and efficient. Was a great car.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that great input and feedback from your ownership!

[@jesusbaez4427]

Just love how you add humor to your reviews, you my friend are one if not thee best car reviewer on KZbin in my opinion. You give a little history of the make and model plus the little laughs you add you and your crew are top notch

[@RaitisRides]

I am so grateful for your support and kind words. Thanks for taking the time to say that!

[@Brascobadboy]

It’s good to have balls

[@javierjohnson5577]

Joe, your reviews just get better and better! 👍

[@TJRSIM]

Nice review. I still use my 2014 as my daily driver and still love it. Holds up great and tires last forever. For those not knowing even in Houston driving with rough roads, the interior is holding up really good. Does have a slight rattle over bumps behind the seat, but other than that a really solid car. Have 103k miles on it now. Been wanting a new sports car or sport SUV, but not willing to trade in my MAxima. Just too good of a car to let go of. Hope this helps others

[@deangordon7783]

I have a 2019 Platinum reserve and I absolutely love it. The outside is amazing but the interior does need to be updated. Love your videos

[@Noah-ui1iu]

People bitching about it have never driven one.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that great input from your experience!

[@RaitisRides]

Isn't that usually the case! ;-)

[@lynnnabors4709]

i have 2 friends with Nissans with CVT transmissions and both say they've never had any problems. and with me often riding with them i can say they are very good running cars. i myself drive a ram truck.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that great input from your experinece!

[@fredwilliams7893]

I have beat several other V6 sedans that had traditional transmissions! In my 16 SR ! Trust me!!! the cvt is not bad at all! I find it amusing how many dislike them yet never owned one! Lol!

[@TariqMansour1990]

@@fredwilliams7893 do you have any complaints about your 16 maximma ?! I am thinking to get used one , looking for your feed back, thank you fred

[@fredwilliams7893]

@@TariqMansour1990 Honestly None! It's a 16 SR. The sr has sport seats sport tuned suspension 19 inch wheels and the cvt acts quick in sport mode. The bullshit you hear about cvts is the older ones and people did not change fluid often I would highly recommend every 30,000. It's fast it handle great and can't beat the used cat prices. Bang for buck car.

[@xxtrue2gunzxx914]

I love your commentary lol . Amazing buddy . Just bought a car on Saturday in Nissian NPR . 2020 Altima SR . Will go Maxima SR next time . Thanks

[@ksbn001]

✅V6 ✅Exhaust ❌CVT ❤️Joe's reviews

[@RaitisRides]

I liked the way that you displayed that! Thanks for watching!

[@AYouTubeChannelwithNoName]

V6 🤩 Exhaust 😁 CVT 🤬

[@mariowhyte2816]

Cheese graters!!!! Hahahaaaaa nice one Joe!!! Definitely zonking that CVT... no way they should've put a CVT in there. They have a solid trans over at Infiniti...put that in there. Great review as usual Joe. Stay safe out there bruh!!!

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for letting me share this one with you Mario!

[@50falcon]

just got the 21 Maxima platinum, my 4th one, thanks Joe!

[@jaywilliams3625]

Nice looking car. Thanks for reviewing different types of cars and trucks. Give me a great idea for what im looking for. Thanks Joe👍

[@tyricc3671]

I personally feel like this powertrain is very good for the Maxima. The CVT has no holding back such as downshifting, which just puts the power down with no hesitation. The Maximas CVT is tuned and has a chain belt which makes it more reliable. In my opinion, I feel like if it had a 7spd or 9spd it would make it slower.

[@melvin3r512]

I have a 16 Platinum and loving it...V6 300 hp goodness. They programmed the CVT to act like a real transmission so one should drive it first before judgement. The sport mode and manual shifting is all over the place at times and I hate the auto-shifting but if you manage it right it shouldn't be a problem. The torque on this thing is crazy gas it to hard and the front tires spin so it definitely needs AWD but besides that loving the Maxima and I hope to get this 2020 Maxima Platinum Reserve used in 2022.

[@RaitisRides]

I am so glad that you liked this one and thanks for sharing that great input from your experience!

[@cliffm6566]

People are uninformed about how the CVT has been calibrated for this car. It’s a very good transmission and this edition of the famous Maxima is a fantastic car. Try it, you will be pleasantly surprised how good it is.

[@melvin3r512]

i know its not that bad i love how it simulates gears and i hate the droning sometimes but if you work the sport and manual right you should have no problem

[@Yoshigamingchannel]

Do you put regular gas ⛽️ ?

[@melvin3r512]

@@Yoshigamingchannel premium

[@blazeahundred]

I have a 17 SR and maintenance is zero to none and the CVT is super smooth you get use to it quick.

[@lexuslife9751]

Another great video, thank you Rati!! I'm going to be honest, I am not a Nissan fan at all. But the Maxima is a pretty attractive car inside and out!! I love that interior combo it's right up there with the black leather interior with the black and orange alcantara option that the Maxima has!!

[@jeffwarren1547]

You're right..... I did forget about the maxima. Glad to see I didn't miss much.

[@RaitisRides]

I see what you did there Jeff!

[@jdmstreetfighters9978]

I've always loved this generation of Maxima except for the CVT that it comes with. Thanks for this review Joe. Oh yeah, you got me with that cheese grater joke. You have a beautiful sense of humor. I love it...

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for letting me share some laughs with you!

[@shopwithaaron]

Great when you're tailgating!

[@Sc0rpy]

Nice car comfortable seats I like the interior my brother owns the 2018 model good car feels sporty as well thanks for sharing mate great review as always

[@mattjo6204]

Ok. Look. I love how your vids keep coming. Please review a 2016 A6 3.0t prestige. Purchased mine a year ago for 28800 OTD. It's been great especially with the APR tune. That's my wish so make it happen! :)

[@catsarereallycool]

Nice car, and another great review. Thank you.

[@Aschoolbusandsimulatorfan2219]

Three years ago today! Planning to buy it!

[@LearningFast]

I know the CVTs have had reliability issues in the past. However, a CVT is the single best transmission for both performance AND fuel economy. With a CVT you can hold the rpms at the max horsepower and let the gears vary continuously. This gives you the absolute maximum acceleration that the car can achieve. So many people don’t understand this. That is why Nissan has actually tried to mimic the distinct gear shifts instead of varying the gears continuously. It is a shame that the CVT was never embraced. It could have been a fantastic transmission for sport sedans if it hadn’t gained such a bad reputation.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that input and perspective.

[@uraldamasis6887]

What's the point of having good fuel economy if you just end up paying thousands more to repair it anyway?

[@PhillyFan20]

It's a nice looking car, but the CVT takes the enthusiasm out of the experience. If Nissan doesn't kill it, I'd love to see a fast back design a la the Kia Stinger with an 8 speed automatic and AWD. The CVT does not belong in this car.

[@olikat8]

Agree & read above.

[@RaitisRides]

I totally agree with you!

[@qnzman578]

I used to read this all the time about cars specifically nissans with cvts and believed it until I got a 3.5 Altima. Driving-wise I much prefer the cvt in that car vs a standard automatic transmission. The acceleration is ridiculous compared to every other naturally aspirated v6 I've driven which made it a lot of fun to drive specifically off the line as you don't feel that lag when the gears shift. Maintenance-wise it ran me into the ground but I still would drive it over the v6 I'm currently driving.

[@chronot1342]

qnzman578 did the cvt in your Altima give you issues?

[@brandonjohnson5205]

You people only dislike the cvt simply because you don't like the sound they make and can't here the traditional changing of gears that traditional transmissions make. There's literally nothing wrong with the cvt they are currently using and they arnt having problems selling them. The average person who buys a maxima to get from point a to point b won't even notice that it has a cvt because they arnt taking it to a track or driving it like a race car.

[@lukesylvester2022]

love the heated and cooled and rear heated seats

[@davidsapir3764]

Very well done review that was cool to watch, thank you! Test driving a 2019 Maxima Platinum tomorrow. Deep burgundy, only 300 miles. It's a drop dead gorgeous car. And yes interwebbers I know, it's got a CVT tranny and guess what, I don't effing care.

[@mcmanawt6057]

Please do the Dodge Dart! I absolutely love your reviews, you add actual personality and comedy to it making it more watchable than others.

[@harryebenezer1238]

I love your work

[@PKMSU17]

I'm always raiti for some quality content from Joe! Great review as always.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for having my back!

[@noogai171]

I was eating baked ziti with Parmesan on it when you made the cheese grater joke on the back, I almost spit it out joe!

[@CheekyBoy73]

“Nice to have a couple balls with ya” Joe you are hysterical you never fail to crack me up 👌🏻

[@RaitisRides]

I am so glad that I can share the laughs!

[@AlxN52]

Definitely considering this car.

[@iraAlbucher]

I had a great 1988 Maxima with a 4 speed MT. It was a beast for it's time.

[@Crypto-D]

Does this one in your opinion soak up the bumps n holes nicely? And thanks, @raitisrides

[@funkyfurballs1078]

When I had my Infiniti FX35, the key fob fell down into the seat rail... I heard a deathly crunching sound as the electric seat inched backward... and I enjoyed it!

[@RaitisRides]

That is terrible! I am so sorry to hear about that.

[@funkyfurballs1078]

@@RaitisRides LOL Nothing to feel sorry about... ancient design not withstanding, I hated the fob!

[@WillEvo22]

Had a 2014 Maxima. Loved it and had plenty of power. Only downside was that stupid cvt. Will never buy another vehicle with a cvt. And for people who own cvt transmissions make sure you just drain and fill. DO NOT FLUSH.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that great input from your ownership.

[@WillEvo22]

@@RaitisRides you're very welcome and Happy Birthday!

[@hispanica316]

Why not to flush the transmission?

[@johnatansingh8047]

Joe... Happy Birthday!!! You can’t seem to disappoint me!!! My first car was a 93 Maxima!

[@olikat8]

That was a great car.Today, avoid Nissan like an STD

[@johnatansingh8047]

olikat8 facts!! They look good but won’t perform like they used too

[@RaitisRides]

I really appreciate that!

[@seanthetaurus6244]

Looks like a fun ride

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I remember the second gen Maxima SE with the V6 and five speed. Wish Nissan would at least offer a manual.

[@RaitisRides]

I miss those days!

[@SlimeZ33]

You want 400HP, 7 speed transmission, and AWD...then go for the Infiniti Q50 Redsport 400 👍

[@_gramcrakka_82]

Truth. Nissan is behind.

[@Pinkpolo85]

Happy Birthday Joe!!!!

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for saying that!

[@johnwjeromejr]

Many moons ago, I had a 95 Maxima, base model with a 5-speed manual. It was a 3.0 liter V6 with 190 HP but it was quite zippy (0-60 in 6.6 seconds). Because it was a base model, the rear seats didn't even fold down so the trunk was what you see is what you get. It wasn't very sporty as there was lots of body roll in turns. I didn't notice until I was in my next car that the shifter was quite far to the right of the driver. All in all it was a very nice car and it cost me only $16K brand new. I think the dealer was glad to get rid of it when I made my low ball offer because it was a stripper and that most Maxima buyers didn't want a manual trans.

[@windanthonystream]

I like the old Nissan and Mazda’s key fob even though a little dated .. It fits well in your pocket... My 2019 Ram key fob is so huge!

[@RaitisRides]

This is true.

[@blairbrown4812]

My uncle had one of these for a while,and I fell in love. If I have a choice,this would be my value proposition.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@Noah-ui1iu]

Everyone whining about the CVT have never driven it. I've driven the current gen Maxima and it's a superb driving experience for what it is and have never had problems with it. Is it the most engaging and funnest car to drive? No, but for a family sedan with good power numbers and MPG is where it excels the most. As an enthusiast, I would like to see a traditional automatic and AWD but it is what it is. The VQ 3.5 V6 has been around since the early 2000s and is a bulletproof engine. We had a 2012 Nissan Quest, regularly maintained it, went for 170K miles and traded it in still running flawlessly, for a 2016 Quest.

[@RaitisRides]

What kind of driving are we talking about? I promise I am not whining but would like to see an upgrade.

[@Noah-ui1iu]

@@RaitisRides wasn't referring to you dude, just everyone else in these comments. Good review.

[@original__gmebvy]

Noah Mascarin the closest you’ll get to a traditional auto and AWD is in an Infiniti Q50 sedan. Some of them even come twin turbocharged

[@Noah-ui1iu]

@@original__gmebvy I've driven the Q50 3.0T which makes the same amount of power. With the twin turbos, launching, it does send you back in your seat. I like that car but the interior is horrendously dated. The Maxima has much better looks. Nissan also dropped the 4 Door Sports Car marketing with the 2019 Maxima. All the 4DSC stamps in the headlights they removed for the 2019 model year probably because they know it's not a true sports car.

[@JokerG16]

@Noah Mascarin oh shit I didn’t know they removed the badging from the lights. Thanks for that info.

[@olikat8]

The 3.5L V6 is a Renault design with an internal water pump- you know what that means? When the water pump seal or bearings go, the coolant gets dumped into the crankcase. Engine? Destroyed. Even if you catch it in time, the job is thousands. Why, it's just a water pump? Well, the French geniuses placed the water pump behind the timing chain cover- so you have to remove the engine and then disassemble that side of the motor, may as well do the chains, tensioners & cam phasers while in there. The CVT? Made of glass- absolute junk, when they go it's $4500 just for the reman'd unit- only a few places do them. Servicing? The fluid is $14 a quart. In essence, when they start going, they aren't even worth what the repairs cost. Nissan needs to get out of bed with Renault, they have ruined Nissan's rep. There is a reason Nissan, like FCA, is a "King of Subprime Auto Loans & Fleet Inventories."

[@Static1011]

olikat8 You sure? they’ve had the vq35 since 2003. It’s the 350z engine. Heard they’re pretty reliable. They also use it in the Murano

[@Dandre181]

@@Static1011 I've owned every maxima since 2002 I serviced my cars on time had no major engine issues only had to change transmission on my 04 model

[@olikat8]

@@Static1011 Yes. Check what it'll cost to do a water pump on one of these late model 3.5's. If they fail and don't fill the inside of the block with coolant, it'll pucker your wallet. Ford did the same dumb idea with (I believe) their earlier 3.7. Internal water pump- just like the CVT, run away from the vehicle

[@Static1011]

olikat8 So they change the vq35 engine at some point to have the water pump internally?

[@olikat8]

@@Dandre181 There is a reason Nissans have the rep & resale they have these days. The Renault merger, and especially the Carlos Ghosn "Leadership" (he was/is legend for his absolute "Cheapening" /cost cutting measures) era have killed Nissan for me. Look up Ghosn, the dude is such a snake- he even screwed the Japanese government. That's the guy who was running the joint, "Calling the shots" up until recently. Junk

[@r.davidyoung7242]

Road noise? I really want a quiet interior. I drive a lot of highway and want to listen to my stuff on low volume. I have some ear ringing issues and don't want to add to it. I'm s subscriber and love your channel. Thank you!🙂🙉👍😺🌞👻🙂🕶️ Oh, FittingTwinkies in the arm rest compartment are very important!

[@r.davidyoung7242]

Cheese graters! That was funny!! I have a 2014 v6 Altima. Love it. But I think it's time for a Maxima.

[@ramoncarter6585]

Beautiful Maxima wonder if be a new design next year?

[@Traysandor]

5:19 Nissan + CVT = Massive Waste of Money. Get an Avalon instead.

[@RaitisRides]

I am right there with you!

[@JokerG16]

The Max smoked the Avalon

[@slump45]

JokerG16 not in 10 years 😅

[@e46erjsg95]

Get anything else. CVT has been ruining Nissan since it came out. Unreliable and boring. I don’t understand why they don’t change it? Their sales decline each year

[@papayaman123]

@@JokerG16 barely

[@marcdesforges8963]

Tu est un bon et tu fais bien pour dire tout pour la Nissan Maxima 2021 et cool et bravo lâche pas

[@zainpiper6407]

Great video ! In this competition environment there are few draw back, firstly we missing ambient lightning (they have but you cant see them, you need to have hawk eye) secondly we need LCD instrumentation. Tired of same old interior design.

[@jonathanbougere8006]

Happy Birthday Joe! Hopefully that Maxima has room for a Jimmy John's sandwich. 👌

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for the Bday greeting! I think you can put a few in this one. ;-)

[@arnoldbuckner6351]

He “ZONKED” that GD CVT!

[@RaitisRides]

Heck yeah!

[@flipfloplogic]

44K? No way. I don't see how its worth that. It does look nice. I hope you have or had a great bday!

[@RaitisRides]

I totally agree with you! Thanks for saying that!

[@Laptops1781]

My 18 maxima is my favorite car I've ever had, and I got it new for less than a 4 cylinder camry. The cvt has never bothered me. Nissan did a good job with the cvt in the maxima vs other nissan vehicles. Yes, there is a difference

[@chrisdagoo]

they use a chain not a belt

[@minivanlinda1762]

I had a 99 Maxima and loved it...they're not the same now.

[@RaitisRides]

Those were the days!

[@digitaldoc100]

This car has strayed too far from the 4DSC formula.

[@bigrig9749]

I had a 99 SE the car was awesome I bought in October 2001 had till 2005 but I remember constantly changing the ignition coils,spark plugs and o2 sensors.

[@backbeat3]

I still have my 98. It’s going on 350,000 miles and still chugging along

[@digitaldoc100]

@@backbeat3 we had both a 1985, and a 2002 Maxima in the family, and they were both excellent. I have no desire for the new one, and it overlaps way too much with the Altima turbo. Pity the Maxima has strayed so far from it's origin.

[@jonhmedero4777]

Hi, which car is most better on performance the Nissan altima or the maxima.

[@Sivaprsx]

You had me at CD player...

[@RaitisRides]

Heck yeah!

[@robertortiz8540]

Joe, Like always Thank You for posting I'll probably stay with the 2020 Avalon or Lexus.

[@RaitisRides]

You are so very welcome Robert. I would do the say!

[@shauncampbell969]

Hey Joe. In early 2019 I took a test in the Platinum Maximum. (Teddy Nissan, Bronx, NY.) I had to "Zonk" the FWD. The engine sounded like a Cougar, which was hot. Zonk,😖 again for the none stick e brake. And Zonk, for the BMW looking shifter. I prefer the 370Z, touring. Ok No guy wants to scratch his Twinkle hahahahahaha. Great video. All the best Shaun of NYC Happy Birthday. I'm an April Taurus

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for the Happy Bday from a fellow Taurus! I think you hit the nail on the head!

[@jamesgand828]

I had a 1999 maxima and the automatic transmission was a thing of beauty. I have no idea what their obsession is with CVT but it is seriously killing the brand for me.

[@RaitisRides]

Things have changed for the worse!

[@brandonjohnson5205]

You people got to grow up lol. You only dislike the cvt simply because you don't like the sound they make and can't hear the traditional changing of gears that traditional transmissions make. There's literally nothing wrong with the cvt they are currently using and they arnt having problems selling them. The average person who buys a maxima to get from point a to point b won't even notice that it has a cvt because they arnt taking it to a track or driving it like a race car.

[@RomaneMaticaliseGordon]

This would be such a good car if it had a real transmission

[@RaitisRides]

You are so very right!

[@blessed4164]

Even with the cvt, this car is better than most cars with a "Real transmission". Stop drinking the kool aid.

[@luishenriquez9823]

@@blessed4164 cvt are trash give it a break

[@blessed4164]

@@luishenriquez9823 Owned a gen7 2013 and a gen8 2016 never had an issue. Currently driving a 2018 M3 been to the dealer 2 already.

[@luishenriquez9823]

@@blessed4164 ya BMWs are over done to the point where they forget the reliability Or just flat out dont care. But I'm glad you had a good experience but my experiences with cvt are not good at all

[@jonhettrick7969]

when the Nissan maximum was first redesigned to look like this it was designed after the blue Angels f-18 hornet fighter jet I read the whole article about it and how they looked at it to design this car.

[@noahgumushian2000]

Awesome video. Can you review the 2020 Honda hrv touring?

[@RaitisRides]

I will get that together for you!

[@noahgumushian2000]

@@RaitisRides thank you so much

[@robertkeefer1552]

Nissan CVT: Constantly Vexing Transmission

[@r.davidyoung7242]

Fitting a taco in the door pocket... And a bottle of water... Good enough for me!!!

[@kairomendez7766]

Love the video! Love the car! Hate the price 😬

[@josht717]

Coming from someone who drives a C7 with the 7sp manual, I was actually pretty impressed with the Maxima. Its transmission did not behave like other cars that I've driven with CVTs. It was quick off the line and fast to respond to full throttle while cruising. It's droning is awkward AF but it keeps the engine in its optimal RPM range and it definitely worked a hell of a lot better than the CVT in my 1.5T Accord. That said, it's DEF not a "four door sports car." It's a fat pig of a car, no matter what Nissan's marketing department says lol

[@TheKhaos85]

Late reply but the maxima is definitely sporty, might not be as nimble as a bmw or quick of the line but it has very responsive throttle. Plus you drive around in a borderline hypercar of course it doesn't seem fast to you lol.

[@DigitalSubset]

@@TheKhaos85 My favorite cars of all time is the maxima and the corvette lol

[@TruhBassman]

If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure this is the 8th Gen Maxima. Also heres some random (but interesting) information on Maximas and their lifespans 1st Gen (81-84) (aka Datsun 810, this is the only Maxima in history (correct me if I'm wrong) to have more than one engine choice for the US. Options were between a 2.4 i6 or a 2.8 i6 Diesel. I don't see a lot of these at all anymore. These were sold both in Sedan and Wagon form) 2nd Gen (85-88) (These were also available in Wagon and Sedan Forms however the engine is what mainly saw the upgrade to the 3.0 V6. Japan got two more variants as a 2.0 V6 as well as a 2.0T V6. This is the last of the Wagons we would see in the US as wagons were not an option for the Japanese market) 3rd Gen (89-94) (This is where they began marketing it as a 4DSC, mainly because of it sharing an engine with the 300ZX and independent rear suspension) (This also happens to be the first car I ever drove. I basically grew up in one. My grandparents owned it then sold it to my parents. We sold the car in 2013 with 331,000 miles on the original engine. Was definitely a workhorse) 4th Gen (95-99) (This is the generation seen in the original Fast and Furious movie. This was one of the few strictly four door, V6, cars that was available with a manual transmission) 5th Gen (00-03) (This is where Nissan started doing updates in the middle of a cars term, 00-01 are different from 02-03. Different front end as well as a different engine. This is where they bumped up top the 3.5L displacement to match the upcoming 350z "sports car." This generation also had a 6 speed option that had a Torsen LSD option that was borrowed from the Skyline GTR. A lot of Maxima owners say this was the highest point of the Maxima name) 6th Gen (04-08) (This is where things kinda turned. Maximas got transferred from Japan to the US for production at this point. They made changes almost every model year in some way. 04 We had a 3.5 attached to a 4 speed auto, 05/06 had a 5 speed auto (04-06 had a 6 speed manual option), 07-08 we had a facelift as well as shift over to the CVT Transmission. At this point they no longer offered a manual gearbox) (I personally own a 2006 5 Speed auto and it has some nice features for its time. I also own a 2011 Infiniti G37 and the Max has features that the G does not have. (ie a Heated Steering Wheel) There was also an Elite package that had rear heated seats as well as an electric sun visor for the rear window) 7th Gen (09-14) (This generation is pretty hit or miss from what I've heard from groups and forums. People (including myself) think this is the best looking Maxima even today, however this continued the CVT transmission. This was also the "fastest" Maxima with 290 horsepower (up 25 horsepower from the previous generation) (0-60 is 5.8 seconds). 6 speed manual swaps are popular among these cars the most from what I've seen. There were reports of a diesel engine in 2010, but never happened) 8th Gen (15-Present) (This I think is where Nissan can turn it around if they are to get refocused. I think the facelift for the 2020 model definitely helped. I agree with Raiti 100%. If they had put possibly a 3.7 VQ (Infiniti G37/Q Series) or even a VR30DETT (Q Series) and had an AWD option and dumped the CVT Transmission out of it and matched what Infiniti did with say a 7 speed auto/6 Speed Manual, the Maxima would rise again) Thank you to coming to my MAX Talk.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for that great info. I appreciate you sharing.

[@Brandon-qc6gj]

Some people just on the” cvt hate ban wagon “ never drove one because it’s really not that damn bad like people making it out to be.

[@tkatxu1967]

I must agree!!

[@stellantistom6881]

"Nice to have a couple balls with ya" That part got me so hard. XDDDD

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for letting e bring the laughs!

[@stellantistom6881]

@@RaitisRides ;)

[@TalooshDaBoss]

Are you going to review the new Z when it (hopefully) might come out?

[@RaitisRides]

You better believe it!

[@ahmodondec8]

I love Nissan and they have the best sound systems in any car! I’m ready to argue !

[@kerryernstsamedy2690]

You’re right

[@jwhythebest]

I own one and it is a very good car. Only thing missing is awd for sure!

[@RaitisRides]

I totally agree with you! Thanks for sharing that input from your ownership!

[@LearningFast]

I don’t want linear torque delivery I want more torque with a nice flat torque curve. Only a turbo engine can deliver that. The days of the naturally aspirated engines are over except for in hybrid vehicles.

[@starklike7610]

Very nice. I had the 2014 before 😊

[@Gunners4life629]

Would a upgraded Nissan Maxima that has modifications go very fast

[@hellraiserx9490]

Wow my St 0-60 is almost the same 1 AND ITS A BIG BEAST.

[@YoungForeignAli]

Can You Do The New 2021 Platinum Review ?

[@jordanunruh5619]

This dude is hilarious! “No guy wants to scratch their twinkies ” 😂 Tickles me how much he talks about candy...

[@ogtekneeq705]

Damn dat interior

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one!

[@AZrakoon]

It's an improvement from the previous generation.....almost seems like Nissan wanted to leave the extras to Infiniti brand.

[@RaitisRides]

I totally agree with you!

[@MeliorIlle]

For platinum/sport trim they need to put the 3.8 GTR engine in there with a real transmission. Doesn't have to be super charged or turbo'd.

[@ChrisCars414]

Honestly loved my 18 Nissan Maxima Sr midnight but it was just missing too much important features even though it had a lot of them at the same time. No AWD and an unenthusiastic CVT transmission led me to an Audi A4 that had awd and the same features

[@original__gmebvy]

Should have bought an Infinit Q50 sedan. It’s basically a Maxima with available AWD and a 7 speed auto. Ironically you can get a Q50 for about the same as a fully equipped Maxima, and you can get one for less than a new Maxima if you buy a certified preowned one.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for sharing that great input and perspective from your experience!

[@guyallman777]

Have fun when that Water Pump goes out ! , Audi’s are Junnnnnkkkk

[@naywahn]

This is NOT an unreliable vehicle. The 4cyl Nissans (except Rogue), have rubber in the trans that fails under heat, the V6 CVTs have steel that only fails if you help it, by using the wrong fluid or skipping fluid changes...

[@adgar912]

I actually watch this guys reviews not for the cars but for the one liners and storage abilities THE TWINKIES hahahhaa 🤣🤣🤣 this guy said hope diamond omg im dead LOL

[@WilliamB.D.]

this particular Maxima has zero gravity seat ?

[@baronvg]

I know Maxima is like the flagship of Nissan and it’s the 4-door Soortscar and all but $44K sounds pretty damn steep, especially with having a CVT.

[@XZAKLY99]

I really hope that we'll get a redesign but I'm not so sure anymore.

[@RaitisRides]

It will be interesting to see what happens.

[@LimmBurger]

I'm in the market for a new compact sedan but the choices out there are making it difficult for me to choose one. Would you ever do a video where you have all the new 2021 models go head to head? I would love to get your opinion and see which one you'd go with.

[@RaitisRides]

I will try to get that together for you!

[@LimmBurger]

@@RaitisRides It's definitely a large undertaking. Even if it's not possible I appreciate your efforts.

[@LoverBoyLensky]

Raiti i gotta zonk the steering and handling on this car. It feels like a video game for the price it should be firm and grip to the ground like other competitors. Also For the price they need to update the interior cmon Nissan it’s been the same since 2016. Other competitors are doing tablet and 12-14 inch display. Also no awd !!!! Cmon. What is your opinion Raiti? Other then that, besides redline reviews your my second car youtube channel.

[@recl971]

I owned this generation maxima for about a year ,then sold it ,hated the Torque steer,had a temperamental navigation screen that wouldn't work in cold temperatures ,cvt was starting to slip,other than that ,smooth silky ride,definitely NOT a sports sedan ,but a superb cruiser ,upscale daily ,cvt kills it

[@TopRamen144]

Can you do the z car? Or even a nismo z?

[@LS1007]

V6,👍🏻 CVT,👎🏻 Joe’s review,👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

[@RaitisRides]

I loved the way that you showed that Larry!

[@Crypto-D]

Hey Joe I know I already commented recently but I think I found a car that you might get a lotta views on, it's the BMW X4M, 2020, give it a shot if you can find one, and I think Lauri would like the pink lights on the interior of it on a night drive, wink, not to sound nosy ha,

[@stellantistom6881]

Hey Joe. Love the aggressive look on the Maxima, especially in Black!!!

[@RaitisRides]

I am so glad that you like this one!

[@stellantistom6881]

@@RaitisRides yes, my zonk is CVT

[@giofromtexas2679]

This is the platinum reserve model 😎 The platinum model has silver machine finish wheels and doesn't get that orange interior, you're welcome!

[@LS1007]

It says platinum on the rear of the car.

[@giofromtexas2679]

@@LS1007 Yep! Check Nissanusa.com!

[@LS1007]

It’s a Platinum model to start and when you select that color interior it adds the reserve package. The Platinum Reserve is a separate model.

[@RaitisRides]

Thanks for the heads up!