2009 Nissan Maxima User Reviews

Pros

Very Smooth Engine, Smooth Transmission, Great Exterior Design!

Cons

Certain features not available on base model, small jerk when coming to a complete stop from trans.

Purchased As New

I have had my 2009 Maxima for about 3 weeks. I absolutely love the car. There are some enhances I would make on the car though. 1st, all maximas should come with fog lights. Any car over 30K should atleast have fog lights standard. They are only offered on SV models. Also, options like HID headlights should be optional on the S. Turn signal on the exterior mirrors should also be optional. My wife does not like leather in cars. I had leather in my previous car and she did not care for it. We live in Michigan and it gets over 100 degrees in Summer and under 0 degrees in winter. So I decided to get a car without leather but unfortunately could not get a lot of the goodies that I am used to having in my cars. I love the standard dual automatic climate control. I love inteli key with push button start. I wanted the bluetooth as an option but of course it wasn't offered. Now bluetooth will be standard on S models next month for 2010 Maximas. IMO, this is the best looking 4 door car in its price range. The engine is very powerful and continues to pull hard at high speeds (over 100 mph). The 7 speed automatic Nissan offers in the Z and infiniti line up would have been perfect for this car. However, the CVT gets the job done. It just does it with less excitement. In Nissan's defense, Ds mode does add some excitement. I love how the engine downshifts so aggresively when your foot is not on the gas. It keeps you right in the sweet spot of the engine for when you are ready to take off again. There is really only 1 thing that is nagging me about the car. There is a small jerk in the transmission when the car is almost fully stopped. Its like the transmission is holding on to 2nd gear at 5-10 mph, then decides to go to 1st gear with a bit of a junt right before the stop is completed. Its pretty irritating. This jerk is not felt when stopping really hard or very very very soft. But it is felt in normal stop and go traffic. I have even tried to downshift it manually by placing it in 1st gear while stopping, but the jerk is still there. Another thing is the manual mode. I don't like when cars offer a manual mode but do not give you full control over what gear you are in. There are times when I want to coast with out pressing the accelerator so I put the car in 6th gear. However, when I get to about 40mph the computer will automatically downshift for me because of the low speed I am at. I will then have to press the gas pedal because the lower gears will slow me down too much. Other than that, the car has been great. I get looks all the time because most people have not even seen the new design yet. It is sculpted so perfected IMO. It is just a great car to have. Perfect balance of sport and comfort on the suspension. Turning circle is good. I am very satisfied....read morehide

Pros

Sporty & Quick!

Cons

Mechanically Unsound & Dreadful turning radius

Purchased As Used

I bought my Maxima with 17k miles and everything was fine until I hit 38k miles. Suspension squeaks (that multiple mechanics say is prevalent on all maximas), motor mounts have been replaced 2 times, sunroof that doesnt work (costs $1400 to fix so I guess I dont have a sunroof anymore), a transmission that had to be replaced at 55k miles, brackets that failed to hold my exhaust in tact, my rearview mirror fell off and the dealer had to send me to an auto glass repair shop....too many issues to list. The service writers actually feel sorry for me because they see me so often. My 99 Maxima was a Champ. My 05 more of a chump. Thankfully I have the extended 100k Platinum Nissan Warranty but they will not enact the Lemon Law. What a shame? It has the navigation, and other luxuries, and it's quick but a headache that I can hardly tolerate!...read morehide

Pros

The engine on the maxima is amazing

Cons

none

Purchased As New

I love my 07 Maxima. If you like a fast car and a great look then you will love the maxima. Mine is fully loaded with everything you might want and need out of a car. When I'm in my car I turn heads. Its a great car with a lot of power. Thanks Perry Nissian

Pros

Great interior/exterior styling, strong engine and overdrive.

Cons

Car drifts when in overdrive is engaged.

Purchased As New

Overall I would rate this care a 9.0. The price and quality of it are very good. For the cost of a 'plain-jane' cloth interior, manuel transmission BMW or Lexus, I got a completely upgraded model with ALL the bells and whisles. Cost to maintain is also decent (not like Mercedes,BMW, or Lexus). The crash test rating is phemomenal, we have a 13y/o and a baby. We fell very safe in this car. It looks very aggressive and sporty, but has plently of interior and trunk space.

Just because it says Nissan doesn't mean they complete with the high-end boys. Actually I was very interested in the G-35, 3-series, but I liked the contemporary styling better and the preformance felt exactly the same.

If you want a great high end car, but you don't want to pay the highend nonsense price, get a Maxima....read morehide

Pros

My 04 Maxima gets about 28 - 30 mpg city/33+ hiway

Cons

nothing bad to say

Purchased As New

At first this was my husband's pick for a new car for me but, after I had it for a very short time (a month) I fell in love with it. Its classy looks with being black with chrome rims (from dealer) and its sleak look and dependability for everything. When we first purchased it in 2004 (new) we filled it up & headed to Las Vegas from Oakdale,Ca on one tank of gas & one on the way back, so if your are looking for a car that gets exceptional gas mileage then this is it. I have now owned it for 5 + years & it still acts and performs like the car I purchased in 2004. Even now I get about 114 - 125 mpg per 1/4 tank of gas and I drive about 40 miles round trip to and from my job everyday (at least 9 - 10 days) before I have to fill up. My Maxima now has 69,850 - 70,000 (est.) miles and its still going strong. And at five years new I just had to install new brakes all around & I purchased my first set of new tires (Michelins) in Dec. 2008....read morehide

Pros

Beautiful styling, good power, reasonable mileage

Cons

Know what you're getting with the sport-tuned suspension

Purchased As New

This is a fantastic car. It is more advanced than many cars costing a lot more, and is miles ahead of earlier versions. The styling turns heads and the car is a joy to look at. I purchased the sport package on the SV. I've read some negative comments about the ride with the sport package, but those reviewers obviously did not do the proper research, and/or do not know what a sport-tuned suspension is. The Maxima's sport-tuned suspension is a great example of that feature on a car. The ride is tight, the car corners beautifully, and the bumps on the road are no more noticeable than with other "sporty" cars. I would urge people to take test rides in both the sport-tuned and non-sport-tuned versions to be certain for themselves what they are looking for in a car. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking at a Lexus, Infiniti, Volvo, etc., as a great alternative to and a better overall value than those cars....read morehide

Pros

Lots of great features withe premium & navigation packages

Cons

Can't change/update navigation system while car is in "drive"

Purchased As New

Completely satisfied with my purchase. Love this car. Handles great, very comfortable, and totally stylish.

Pros

GREAT acceleration, interior, a lot of perks for a base model

Cons

Headlights, some torque steer accelerating out of turns

Purchased As New

Got this car last week and haven't had this much fun driving in a while. Used to have an '05 Pathfinder but decided a car would be better for a younger guy like me. I'm 6'7 and sit comfortably in the car with passengers in the back. The engine is incredible with the CVT. Accelerating is beyond effortless. Love gettin on the highway in this ride. The exterior speaks for itself. I haven't been out on the road once without gettin stares from other drivers. A guy actually asked me what kind of car it was at a red light and couldn't believe it was a Nissan.

On a negative note the headlights on this car could be a LOT better, their range is extremely limited. I've noticed the car pulling a little when I accelerate hard out of turns, but I've gotten used to it. The sound system is average coming from my Pathfinder's Bose system with a subwoofer, but I may add an aftermarket system to compensate for it. I would absolutely recommend this vehicle. It's great for the price and if you don't need all the bells and whistles that come on the SV package or a TL or G37x this is just as good. Nissan is really pushin deals on this ride this summer so get on it!!!...read morehide

Pros

good fuel economy

Cons

Abs brake relays engaging noise

Purchased As New

This is an update on my new maxima. I wrote Nissan headquarters in Japan about my problem and they referred it to a Nissan rep.here in the states and what they told me was the noise is noticeable on all maximas it's the ABS brake cylinders engaging that is making the sound to which I told them I didn't hear that sound until the car had about 2500 miles on it and now that I hear it I can't stand it. Who wants to pay $35,000 and hear a sound like something is stuck and not working correctly on their new car. No other luxury car I have owned has a sound like that they should fire the engineering who designed a system like that. Believe me if you buy this car and hear that sound every time you start the car up you will feel like you bought a lemon and not a high end luxury car. I'm stuck with it till I can trade it in after buying Nissan's for the last ten years I won't be buying another one.....read morehide

Pros

pretty comfortable

Cons

engine can suddenly shut down.

Purchased As New

In spite of recent improvements, Nissan cars are not reliable as Toyato and Honda. I own a toyata and 11 old years, never any problem. I have this nissan for a short time, first the muffler fell off, then the engine broke down. The car runs only 49,279 miles when the engine broke down. And it costs more in labor than other cars because of the complexity of the components....read morehide