2009 Nissan Maxima at MIMS

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By Alborz Fallah | February 27th, 2009

Nissan Australia has unvieled the 2009 Nissan Maxima at the Melbourne International Motorshow.

The new J32 Maxima will go on sale in June. The original Maxima was introduced back in 1990 and new generation starts from $33,990.

Powered by the VQ35 3.5-litre engine or a 2.5-litre VQ25DE the new Maxima is set to excite the market with its bold design and better fuel efficiency.

Standard features include leather trim, electrically adjustable driver and passanger seat, dual zone climate control, Xenon headlamps, 6 stack CD player, 17″ allow wheels and start stop button.

Safety is taken care of by 6 airbags, ABS, VDC as well as a rear reverse camera (option).

Mark B

I didn’t know a deisel model would be available… that will definitely boost the market’s interest in this car.

Ugly though.
http://gmail.com Lester

The maxima at least looks more individual than the Honda Accord.. and now with a 4 cylinder option makes it more competitive in the aussie market.. Also I believer the Nissan Maxima pioneered the 4 door coupe look that was eventually ” perfected ” by the Mercedes CLS.. and created a niche in the market.. VW etc… Still would have likes the US Built Maxima to come over here.. again with a 4 cylinder option or hybrid.. would give nissan a great image boost in the family car segment. !
http://gmail.com Lester

The maxima at least looks more individual than the Honda Accord.. and now with a 4 cylinder option makes it more competitive in the aussie market.. Also I believer the Nissan Maxima pioneered the 4 door coupe look that was eventually \” perfected \” by the Mercedes CLS.. and created a niche in the market.. VW etc… Still would have likes the US Built Maxima to come over here.. again with a 4 cylinder option or hybrid.. would give nissan a great image boost in the family car segment. !
LN

Ive driven these in Japan last year… how i loved it… it was like arm chairs wheel.

I have mistaken this car for a mercedes benz but looking at it up close it was badged as a nissan.

This car should do well and I don hope Nissan Australia do get the marketing for this car right. The J31s have had really poor sales due to poor marketing.
crouchy

The rear end looks like the FG falcon!!!!!!!
Yianni

I would have expected a cheaper starting price considering they’ve thrown a 4 cylinder in there now. The V6 price will definetely be pushed close to 40G now also no doubt.

This is priced exactly the same as an Accord Euro now.

Styling doesn’t really do it for me, especially the rear end.

Accord Euro or Maxima? Hmm…
Myke

^I’m guessing, but I assume it is has an auto as standard. Therefore it undercuts the Euro by $2k. I consider that a decent starting price.
ScottB

Gah, it makes a Lexus look exciting. Why couldn’t you give us the US market Maxima, Nissan? This thing stinks.
Yianni

“Myke Says:
February 27th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

^I’m guessing, but I assume it is has an auto as standard. Therefore it undercuts the Euro by $2k. I consider that a decent starting price.”

If it does come standard with an auto then its 2K cheaper like you said and offers decent value. Although it could also be put up against the standard Accord at 31K which comes standard with an auto.

I’m still not convinced with its styling but I guess everyone will have their own opinion on that.

The standard trim level is impressive though.
Nathan

It doesn’t say anywhere in there that it has a 4 cylinder

the VQ25DE is still a V6
Andronicus

Middle class luxury.

On the right track though.
Bimmerc

Correct, the 2.5L Maxima is V6 that sell to most of Asian country.
Driving Driver

A much better drive than an Aurion.
Yianni

That’s great news then. If the 2.5L is a V6 it should make some decent power.

It’s 1G cheaper than the outgoing model which is also good news considering all the price rises we’ve seen from all other manufacturers.
milobob

I personally think a 2.5L V6 will be smoother than the 4-banger 2.5L. The standard features list is impressive though I’m thinking that will be reserved as std features for the 3.5L V6.
JEKYL & HYDE

what about the suspension?MAJOR drama with the old model.resale an issue.great motor.good seats.it would get me out of a camry(then again,anything would).
http://caradvice shaun

OH DEAR! ive just been woken up because the last maxima put me too sleep only too see the new one is having the same effect. BORING NISSAN, VERY BORING! Why wont you give us the U.S model. If you did, I would have bought one sight unseen, but this one……..ill keep looking around. Looks like ANOTHER maxima model im going to miss out on buying again. Oh well, back too sleep for me, wake me up when something EXCITING arrives will you all please. p.s – whats the point of a 2.5 v6 the “other” option should be a diesel or hybrid not another v6 option.
Ian

C’mon, there is nothing wrong with the current Maxima except for its soggy suspension and the fact that Nissan are hopeless at marketing it.

On the other hand, this new one is rubbish to look at. Nissan seem to very good at releasing cars that are overpriced, or ugly or also-rans, sometimes they have all three charcteristics. This Maxima has the latter to in spades and deserves to fail spectacularly. Just maybe one day this company will learn.
topdog

Besides the soggy suspension every else wheels rated ahead of the commondore better fuel econmy quicker than the holden smother better equipt a craker of an engine the only thing thay could pick on is the handling so if you wont one just buy one seconehand bargain and put better new shocks in it and springs you will have great bargain seconed hand car i recone
Bob

It was rumored that this Maxima is based on the same design platform (D) as the US equivalent

it was also said that this would have progressive springs all round to give a smooth yet responsive handling experience
NacaYoda

Indeed, this Maxima is uninspiring. I actually like the styling of the outgoing model, with the constant exception of the wheels. Nissan never seem to fail at bundling ungly rims on a car to make it less appealing. The GT-R and 350Z might be the only exceptions. I don’t think rims will help sell this ugly duckling though.

If they had trouble marketing the last Maxima, they’re not in for a good year with this new one. It’s worth mentioning though, that as a rule, the Maximas are amazing value. A cracker engine and tonnes of included luxury items come standard. If only Nissan got those messages accross to people and made them a tiny bit more visually appealing!
Stealth

I heard that the new Maxima will be made in Thailand… can anyone confirm this?
Bob

i heard China, just like the J31
Michael

I’ve got a 2004 Maxima (8 spoke rims) and I think the car is great. I was looking forward to buying the new 2009 model. The car doesn’t impress me. I’m dissapointed with the same old Nissan exterior colour range and dissapointed there is no choice of interior colours. nissanusa has a chice of 8 different interior colours. EIGHT! We get one. I don’t know what I’m going to replace my existing Max with. Where else can I get, at a reasonable price, 3.5L thats not a 4×4 truck or a sports car?
Forza M

stealth, correct
bob, the current one is made in japan
michael, good luck
Stormshark

I’m with you Michael,was looking forward to changing my 04 Maxima to 09, but not sure now.Has anyone seen one for real(non phot) maybe they look better?
alex

agree with above re styling; i would have bought the american version but will now look elsewhere for a new vehicle as the ‘new’ maxima looks decidedly ‘old’
NacaYoda

Stornmshark: I saw the new model in the flesh at the MIMS. It is… uninspiring.
Stealth

How can I verify that the current Australian Maxima (J31) is made in Japan?
My mate was arguing that it is made in China.
Tomas79

Just look at the plate, in the engine bay of the maxima, it should tell you where it was built!
Ali Baba

The current Maxima is made in Japan. I have one. I also have this serious problem: I love the Maxima’s when I am driving them (minus the front suspension), but these do look oldy, kind of flabby. I REALLY LOVE the US model and was holding off to buy a new car until the new Maxima arrives.

How does Nissan make decision on which model to import? Surely if going by current sales figures there is something not right there, and the Executive making this decision SHOULD BE SACKED! Do you think Nissan holds something like Focus Groups and discuss the car and options? I bet you everyone will choose the US model. Why? because this Japanese model FRONT AND SIDE LOOKS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE. Have anyone fiddled with the Navigation screen in the new Murano? the buttons are flat facing UP, but the driver is not sitting above the dash to read the keys!!

Seriously, very disappointing. Well, I am choosing a Honda Euro (wish it had the Nissan V6).

Good luck Nissan
Ali Baba

Forgot to say the Murano has almost the same dash and navigation screen as the new Maxima.
Michael

I agree with you Ali. It seems as though Nissan make a decision on what Nissan wants to happen and not what the customer wants. Have you noticed Nissan.com.au has no facility where you can email them? They just don’t want to hear about it. I’ll bet Nissan does not read these comments either.
CJF

It’s a disgrace. A touchup of a 6 year design when America has a new real mindblower model. We have a A33 TI. When first saw American model told wife, there is our new car, but this eyesore that has underperformed sales wise for its entire model life is an insult to Australian motorist and only the usual small numbers will sell. Nissan bosses need a rocket under them
ThaidNBound

Over the past few days I’ve been test driving the Thai market 2009 J32 Teana (Maxima) 250VX – the Aussie Ti spec but with the smaller 2.5L V6 – comparing it against similarly spec’d Camry (Aurion) and the 2008 Accord.

What a class beater! The new Teana/Maxima makes the Accord feel like a Jazz, and the Camry feel like a Yaris. The ride is magnitudes more comfortable and substantially quieter then it’s rivals, and the combination of the small V6 with the new CVT tranny is silky smooth and silent. Even with the smaller engine it feels responsive at all speeds.

The interior trim brims of quality as well, and feels like a whole segment higher than the horridly techy Accord, and multi-coloured, cheap and nasty feeling Toyota.

Exterior styling aside, Nissan have certianly raised the bar with this model by a substantial margin.
wtf

hmmm….. the 2009 Australian Maxima V6 import has 185kw, the 2009 NZ Maxima V6 import has 190kw, the American made Maxima V6 for US market has 220kw