2012 Nissan Maxima User Reviews

Pros

nice look

Cons

almost everything!!!!!

Purchased As Used

NEVER ever buy Nissan maxima i have 05 maxima SE and transmission start slipping at 80,000 miles and Nissan wont do anything about it!! everything time i get something fixed on the car then something else breaks! I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE!!! I WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN IT JUST NOT RELIABLE CAR AT ALL!!!!!!...read morehide

Pros

Nice looking, fun to drive

Cons

Premium Fuel

Purchased As New

A couple months after purchasing this vehicle I went through the car wash. A couple hours later I noticed water on the floor mat of passenger side. Thought I had left window cracked but I didn't. Felt up behind the glove box and the padding was wet. Also we can't turn off the fresh air intake so the passenger always feels a cold draft. (In Minnesota, that is). Took vehicle to dealer. They tried to duplicate the water coming in by running thru car wash. It didn't leak for them. So thats that. Could not resolve the cold draft either. All that matters is that it happened for me on a brand new vehicle. I'm not a happy camper....read morehide

Pros

Beautiful Car

Cons

Fuel Efficeincy not Great

Purchased As New

I actually just got a 2011 SV with Sport Package. I have had some nice cars in the past- Chrysler 300 in 2011-2005, a fairly loaded Grand Prix- and I have been a passenger in some of the better cars like BMW, Mercedes. I was driving an Altima for 3 years. I am a family man with one in college and one in daycare. I am also an attorney and I do ok. I drive to hearings and clients, goofy or not, always seemed to look at what I was driving in with. I began to become sensitive about this. My friends all lease BMWs and the smaller Mercedes for this reason. Cars mean more to them than me though. I would, other than what I just said, be happy in an Accord or a Mailibu. I decided to focus on some of the lower level luxury offerings like Acura TSX and Audi A4. Both seemed small and I am about 6'1". Then I started getting loyalty stuff from Nissan in the mail. They had some prices in those for the Maxima S (usually cloth seats, no spoiler but same basic car). I went to a Nissan dealer. They had a few new 2011 SVs. My Nissan Loyalty was giving me more for the 2011s. I looked at some 2012s though. There are some options with these cars like navigation, quality of seats, rear monitor etc. I drove 2 to get a feel for the difference in drive- regular SV and SV with Sport Package. The Sport Package has 19 inch tires, sport tuned suspension, basic radio monitor (the orange we have all seen) but it has the premium leather seats. I was surprised to learn it had bluetooth that works good and these cars have some fancy features like seat that goes back and steering wheel that lifts up when you get in and out. Mine has homelink too. The Sport Package was coming in cheaper so my wife wanted me to focus on it even though I tried to explain what 19 inch tires meant to replace and the added bumps of a sport package.
First off, these have some big big prices on the sticker. Do not be afraid. Nissan will wheel and deal with you and it is effortless. I was getting like $2500 (Nissan Loyalty for a 2011), $500 (President's Day Sale) and some rebate that I did not understand. I think the purchase price was less than $32,000. Once this car gets to $32,000, it blows away the other cars anywhere near that price.
The ride is fantastic. It is just like being in a different car. The Bose stereo with XM (3 free months) is incredible. There is almost no exterior noise. The steering is impossible to describe. The seats are comfortable!!! By the way, having just got rid of the Altima, I can verify that -leather or cloth- Nissan has the best seats. Maybe, people are reading this who drive a BMW 5 series or a Benz beyond the C series that take for granted this kind of ride, this kind of comfort. It is not even close to anything I have driven before. It is a completely different way to drive for me!! Traffic jams mean nothing. Power? 290 horses that feels like 300 horses. I envy no one on the road but I probably wouldn't in a Cobalt. That is just me. The wheels on the Sport Package? Oh, the looks I get.
Look, I am 46 years old and I feel young again. If you are like me- want to take a step up but want to go from like $25,000 for an Accord to the low $30,000 range for a truly better ride, look at the Maxima. Do not be afraid of the sticker. If there are none of the incentives I got, wait until Memorial Day or 4th of July. This is truly a great car that I got at a price that cannot be beat for this car....read morehide

Pros

very comfortable, roomy, looks great, BOSE stereo...awsome, handles the road great,

Cons

23mpg.

Purchased As New

This is our 3rd Nissan, we have a Titan and I traded up from a Centra.As soon as I drove the Maxima it fitted like a glove. All our Nissans are reliable and the price is always right @ Bob Richards Nissan, thanks Brad. If you change the oil regulary you"ll have these babies running forever. No tuneup needed until 80000.00 miles....read morehide

Pros

top quality

Cons

none

Purchased As New

I met a guy named Tierney at Northbay Nissan. Not your stereo type car guy. Very helpful. Great service

Pros

Nice sleek look.

Cons

rough ride. I have an 06 Maxima SL. Only runs on premium gas.

Purchased As New

I have an '06 Maximum SL. with less than 60,000 miles on it I've already put a timing chain on it. Right side motor mount. Now my transmission is slipping. I just found out that there's a class action civil suit again the Nissan Corporation, it seems as though these models and others have a transmission flaw. Check it out before you purchase any Nissan. I've always kept my car in great condition. But with these expensive repairs. I will never purchase another Nissan or refer anyone to purchase one. if you happen to have a late model and it works fine. Great for you. Again new car buyers. Check everything out first, before purchasing....read morehide

Pros

Smooth Ride, Roomy Interior, Great Features, Fun to Drive!

Cons

For me, I can't find any.

Purchased As New

I enjoy driving this car - its so smooth!! Has lots of power and handles the road real well.  It's sleek inside and out with a powerful engine and great acceleration.  The CVT is awesome!! Love the cars acceleration, responsiveness, power which make it such a joy to drive!

Pros

Has an almost infiniti interior

Cons

Could use all wheel drive

Purchased As New

I bought it fully loaded for 32900. CVT took getting used to, but all you have to see is the other cars in your rear view mirror to see why its better. The instrumentation is top notch, every thing a tech would want. This car is very fast and smooth, you have to be careful or you will be paying "law enforcement tax" I like the paddle shifters as the car sometimes needs kicking down in town driving. Gas is much better than what i was getting in my 02 Pathy so i wont
complain. Ride is a bit stiff but it handles very well. The rear passenger sunscreen is a nice touch, im thinking someone is gonna come up with a graphic or message to put on it, ive thought of a few, when being tailgated....read morehide

Pros

Fun car while it lasts

Cons

No Nissan makes it to 100,000

Purchased As New

Never, NEVER buy a Maxima unless you trade in cars every four years or so. The dealership even makes you sign a form when you bring in an older car that states, 'when you pay to fix one thing, we will break something else

Pros

Excellent design and features-very well thought out

Cons

Sports package has little stiffer ride.

Purchased As New

If you want the MAXIMUM number of features that only really high priced (not necessarily high end) cars have, for significantly less, then the MAXIMA is for you. If you want to impress people by paying more for an overpriced name, then you need to do elsewhere.