2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum Review – Unique And Stylish
When you think about Nissan, the first thing that probably comes to mind is their lineup of affordable and reliable vehicles. But what you may not know is that they also make some cars with some pretty high end touches. The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum is a perfect example. With its sleek design, powerful engine, and luxurious features, this car definitely has it all.
First launched in 1982 under the name Datsun Maxima the Nissan Maxima has built up a loyal following worldwide. This once steady seller has followed the trend of many large saloon cars with declining sales. Although rumored to be discontinued in 2022, it appears it will soldier on for some time.
That is no indictment of the car itself as previously it enjoyed a solid fan base who, in the USA alone, purchased 60,000 units per annum. Unfortunately, times have moved on, and customers are now looking for greener products based on more sustainable technology. Saloons with big engines are losing favor across all brands.
What is the 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum Like?
The Nissan Maxima has enjoyed a reputation of being a somewhat bland, affordable sedan that uses a naturally aspirated V6 engine as the power source. Its main competitors, the Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord, became victims of the race to reduce engine size by changing to four-cylinder turbo-powered units.
It doesn’t matter how well designed and engineered the smaller capacity engines are; they will never match the smoothness of a traditional six-cylinder power plant.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum edition is positioned below the range-topping Nissan Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition.
All the Maxima models come standard with an impressive range of features; however, the Platinum version offers some additional benefits which enhance the overall ownership experience and add a touch of luxury to the owner’s life.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum Interior
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum provides comfortable seating for five in a cabin filled with soft-touch materials, which imbue a level of luxury generally found on more expensive vehicles.
The passenger experience in the 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum is very high-end and comfortable. It offers class-leading legroom for front-seat occupants and, although not as roomy for the rear seat passengers, is still very adequate.
The front seats are power adjusted, the steering wheel and gear shift knob look the part and are both covered in Premium Ascot Leather.
Standard across all the Nissan Maxima models are the following features;
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
- 8-way power driver’s seat.
- Leather-trimmed seats.
- Heated and cooled front seats.
- Ascot Leather seats.
- Driver seat memory.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum model adds the following.
- Ambient LED lighting
- Ascot leather steering wheel
- Maplewood-toned interior
The final vehicle offers an extensive yet understated level of comfort, which cosets the occupants making long trips.
The only real negative of the Nissan Maxima Platinum is the small trunk. Smaller than any of its competitors in this class, it disappointed us with its cargo handling ability.
The Nissan Maxima Platinum edition’s rear seatbacks fold down to accommodate bigger items.
You can overcome this problem by hooking up a small luggage trailer and packing all the holiday luggage in that. The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum certainly has the engine to tow a luggage trailer without compromising gas economy too much.
Infotainment is now as crucial a requirement as the rest of the interior. The Nissan Maxima Platinum doesn’t disappoint and provides an 8-inch touchscreen unit with a straightforward interface to access all the systems features, which comes equipped with two USB-C ports, two USB 3.0 ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum system provides vehicle monitoring, remote access, and emergency services. Parents will appreciate the speed, boundary, and curfew alerts, and the system automatically contacts emergency services when the airbags deploy. Having the ability to track the Nissan Maxima Platinum’s location if you lose it when parking, or more seriously, if it’s stolen, is a valuable feature.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum also includes remote start and door lock access as standard features.
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum Engine
The standard power plant across the range is the 3.5-liter V-6 producing 300 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 261 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 RPM.
These are class-leading specifications that provide more power than the 4-cylinder turbocharged engines of both the Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord.
The engine connects to the drive wheels via a CVT transmission. A CVT is similar to an automatic transmission in that it does everything automatically, but it replaces the gears with pulleys. The first one connects to the engine, and the other connects to the wheels. A flexible belt connects the two pulleys, and the width of the pulley changes as the power is modulated, so there are essentially an unlimited number of “gears.”
The Nissan Maxima Platinum offers a flawlessly smooth (if perhaps a little unexciting) drive, positively affecting fuel consumption.
The Nissan Maxima Platinum is surprisingly fast, achieving 0-60 mph in 5,9 seconds. In a drag race, it comfortably beats both the Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord; this is an elegant way to keep the adrenalin flowing for the dad who has had to give up his sporty hatch or two-seater.
In all things with life, there are no free rides. On the one hand, what the engineers give, the forces of nature take away with the other. The cost of this impressive performance is the fuel economy.
The highway is Nissan Maxima Platinum’s natural home, and you can expect to achieve 30 mpg has usage. With all the boy racer acceleration and braking in town, the fuel consumption will decrease to 20mpg. It’s not shabby by anyone’s standards, but it is not as good as its four-cylinder competition.
What Will You Pay For A 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum?
Prices haven’t moved much between 2021 and 2022. The cost of a new Nissan Maxima platinum has increased by $560, and you can have a used Nissan Maxima Platinum 2021 model for $42,220, which is a discount of $1,195.
| 2021 MSRP (New) | 2022 MSRP (New) | 2021 model price in 2022 |
| $43,415 | $43,975 | $42,220 |
Our Verdict on the 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum
The 2021 Nissan Maxima Platinum edition delivers more than you probably expected. Its smooth, relatively powerful engine delivers effortlessly in moving the vehicle, and the interior makes it a nice place to be.
It is a well-balanced vehicle offering some older technology (the engine) that I am already starting to miss and manages to provide a safe, comfortable driving experience at an affordable cost.
