You Won't Have Trouble Finding the 2019 Nissan Maxima in L.A.

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

At Nissan, all eyes are on the vastly revamped 2019 Altima, currently trickling onto dealer lots with a revolutionary variable compression four-cylinder under some hoods and available all-wheel drive. A very different roll-out is underway north of the border.

All of the hubbub surrounding Nissan’s new midsizer doesn’t leave much oxygen in the room for the model’s slightly larger sibling, the Maxima. Confused in identity for about the past two decades, the Maxima doesn’t enter 2019 unchanged. There’s styling and content tweaks afoot, though you’ll have no trouble spotting the 2019 Maxima after its launch at the L.A. Auto Show next month.

The above photo depicts the refreshed 2019 model, making this one of the most low-key styling updates in recent memory — though the Toyota Sienna and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport deserve honorable mentions. See the 2018 model below for reference:

To Nissan’s credit, the revised lower front fascia does represent an improvement, boosting the model’s visual athleticism with decent-sized side scoops and the appearance of a larger lower air opening. Underscored by a strip of chrome, the rejigged maw is flanked by headlamps with revised LED strips.

Anything going on out back? Maybe, but whatever it is, Nissan isn’t showing. It wouldn’t be a big change, anyways.

Right now, all Nissan is willing to reveal about the latest iteration of its so-called “four-door sports car” is the model’s available Safety Shield 360 suite of safety and driver-assist features. Oh, and it goes on sale in December. Appearing for the 2016 model year, the current-generation Maxima offers drivers a single choice of powertrain: a 3.5-liter V6 making 300 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission.

While Nissan’s branding attempt fell apart after reviewers got their hands on the not-so-scorching vehicle, buyers responded favorably to the eighth-gen model. Last year’s volume was the model’s highest since 2009. Amid the model’s sell-down and Nissan’s move away from sky-high incentives, Maxima sales are down 36.2 percent over the first nine months of 2018.

[Images: Nissan]

Steph Willems
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  • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Oct 22, 2018

    Amid the model’s sell-down and Nissan’s move away from sky-high incentives, Maxima sales are down 36.2 percent over the first nine months of 2018. Yeah the biggest reason to buy a Maxima was the incentives (which also contributed to serious depreciation). A friend of mine picked up a used one at CarMax and he's the kind of guy who will buy a new truck but if you catch him in a car it will be lightly used and stupid cheap. Even with the Altima ditching the V6 the best argument for a Maxima would be if it were still available with a manual trans.

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    • 9Exponent 9Exponent on Oct 23, 2018

      @JohnTaurus Every Altima coupe I see has been de-badged, murdered-out, and looks to have been to hell and back. It’s hard to guess what’s going on under the hood, but I bet each owner truly wanted a G35.

  • JohnTaurus JohnTaurus on Oct 22, 2018

    "You Won’t Have Trouble Finding the 2019 Nissan Maxima in L.A." Unless there is a 2018 parked next to it, then you may be lost for a moment. Honestly, I kinda like the current one a smidge more.

  • Kjhkjlhkjhkljh kljhjkhjklhkjh Pay money to be inundated in Adverts for a car that breaks when you sneeze? no
  • Laflamcs My wife got a new 500 Turbo in 2015. Black exterior with an incredible red leather interior and a stick! The glass sunroof was epic and it was just about the whole roof that seemed to roll back. Anyway, that little bugger was an absolute blast to drive. Loved being run hard and shifted fast. Despite its small exterior dimensions, one could pile a lot into it. She remember stocking up at COSTCO one time when a passerby in the parking lot looked at her full cart and asked "Will it all fit?" It did. We had wonderful times with that car and many travels. It was reliable in the years we owned it and had TONS of character lacking in most "sporty" car. Loved the Italian handling, steering, and shift action. We had to trade it in after our daughter came along in 2018 (too small for 3 vacationers). She traded it in for a Jeep Renegade Latitude 6 speed, in which we can still feel a bit of that Italian heritage in the aforementioned driving qualities. IIRC, the engine in this Abarth is the same as in our Renegade. We still talk about that little 500..........
  • Rochester If I could actually afford an Aston Martin, I would absolutely consider living in an Aston themed condo.
  • Redapple2 I ve slept on it. I would take one on a 3 yr lease for $199/mo- ($1000 down total). Evil gm Vampire gave me this deal in 2012.
  • 3SpeedAutomatic Would prefer a non-turbo with a stick shift. That would be more fun to drive!!🚗🚗🚗Also, I could teach my nieces and nephews to drive a standard. You'd be surprised how many folks can't handle a stick shift today. Yet, in Europe, most rental cars come with a stick unless you specify otherwise.
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