2019 Nissan Maxima

The 2019 Nissan Maxima has a refined, upscale cabin, though a few critics think it feels a bit dated. Trunk and passenger space are small by large car standards. On the plus side, the infotainment system is user-friendly.

• "The Maxima is quite nice inside. We drove a Maxima Platinum with the Platinum Reserve Package, and that GT-R leather really is beautiful, especially with the diamond top-stitching. Most parts of the dashboard are wrapped in leather or leatherette, which also makes the car feel high-end." -- Autoblog
• Materials are mostly high in quality, though I concede that perhaps this isn’t an accurate observation across all versions of the car." -- New York Daily News
• Otherwise, the Maxima's interior remains largely the same for 2019, and that's a shame, because it's starting to look quite old. Some new seat stitching patterns and semianiline leather trim spruce things up a bit, and Nissan's 'Zero Gravity' seats are as comfortable and supportive as ever. But really, this is the same interior since the eighth-generation Maxima debuted in 2015. It's fine, but not great." -- CNET

Seating

This Nissan sedan seats five people on standard cloth upholstery. A power-adjustable driver’s seat is included. Numerous leather upholstery upgrades, ventilated and heated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel are available.

The front seats are well-cushioned and comfortable. Rear head- and legroom are mostly adequate, but some class rivals offer more room in the back.  

For installing child safety seats, there are two full sets of LATCH connectors on the rear outboard seats. The rear middle seat has a third tether.

• Rear seat passengers benefit from proper support and good legroom, but foot space is limited beneath the front chairs." -- New York Daily News
• "Your 5-foot-11-inch author's noggin was nigh nudging the headliner with the seat in its lowest position." -- Autoblog
• "In terms of space, front and rear legroom is acceptable, but the Maxima can't match the rear seat space of less expensive midsize sedans like the Ford Fusion or Honda Accord, let alone similarly priced sedans like the Toyota Avalon." -- Edmunds (2017)

Interior Features

Standard features include the NissanConnect infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, an eight-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, two USB ports, push-button start, remote start, proximity keyless entry, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Standard safety features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, and automatic braking.

A navigation system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, an 11-speaker premium stereo, HD Radio, four USB ports, a panoramic moonroof, and a noise cancellation system are available. Several safety features are available as well, including a surround-view parking camera, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition. Some of these are included in the Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance tech.

The touch screen has crisp graphics, and its menu layout is simple to navigate. There are also physical controls for some settings.

See 2019 Nissan Maxima specs »

• The infotainment isn't top of its class for design or functionality, but it is improved with the now-standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto." -- Autoblog
• "All Maximas get the user-friendly NissanConnect infotainment system, housed in an 8-inch touchscreen display, though it can be controlled through a center console-mounted dial, as well. I actually prefer the dial, since it allows me to keep my eyes on the road longer." -- CNET
• As we mentioned earlier, there are no major changes to the dash, and our drive reminded us that none were really needed. The analog gauge cluster and 8.0-inch display screen (more specifically, the graphics displayed on it) are hardly cutting-edge, but the controls are easy to find and feel substantial in use." -- Automobile Magazine

Cargo

With 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the Nissan Maxima has one of the smallest trunks among large sedans. However, there are plenty of interior storage pockets for smaller items, and the trunk’s wide opening makes it easy to load cargo.

• "Behind the 60/40-split folding rear seat, a 14.3 cu.-ft. trunk is ready for luggage. That’s not much space for this size of vehicle." -- New York Daily News
• "The wide opening, mostly unobstructed floor and the remote rear-seat releases further enhance utility." -- Edmunds (2016)
• "Space and storage are plentiful. Storage for small items is highlighted by a media hub with two USB ports and an auxiliary jack." -- Autotrader (2016)