- I tested a $45,865 Nissan Maxima Platinum.
- The Maxima has been around for decades, and for 2019, the current generation was refreshed.
- The 2020 Maxima is a moderately stylish sedan with some near-luxury touches in the Platinum trim.
- But the Maxima's standout feature is its gusty V6 engine, making 300 horsepower.
- The 2020 Maxima should keep loyalists happy, but the four-door competes in a tough segment that's been shrinking as consumers switch to SUVs.
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I remember my first Maxima. It was the early 1980s, and a friend's mother bought one. I'd never before ridden in a Japanese sedan before, although my grandfather had been an early adopter of Toyota pickups (he'd seen Japan up close after World War II and had become a fan of the country's culture).
After years of Chevys, Pontiacs, Buicks, and at least one Dodge, the Maxima was a revelation. Taut, stylish, fun to drive. I looked forward my pal swinging by to give me a lift, the "Purple Rain" soundtrack on the cassette player.
Fast forward a few decades and the Maxima is still with us. Nissan is currently on the eighth generation, and the four-door is basically and American car, assembled at Nissan's factory in Tennessee.
Sedans have somewhat fallen out of favor in the US, as consumers have shifted to pickups and SUVs. But Nissan, along with Honda, Toyota, and Mazda, are all still in the game. So competition remains robust. That means Nissan needs to stay in top, four-door form.
So is the 2020 Maxima up to the job? Read on to find out.