Nissan, like so many car manufacturers today, is working hard to deliver high levels of technology, safety, and quality in its vehicles. Pricing for Nissan vehicles like the 2021 Nissan Maxima is well worth the value with the number of conveniences you gain. If you are planning to purchase a Nissan Maxima, this trim guide for 2021 outlines the features you can expect to see in each of the four available trims for what Nissan affectionately refers to as its “four-door sports car.”
All 2021 Maxima trims are built with a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 300 horsepower and gets 30 MPG on the highway. The engine is paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission and features a sport mode to maximize throttle response for a more exhilarating drive. With this much power on tap, you will enjoy your ride every time you get behind the wheel of the Maxima, and you will still get better fuel economy than many SUVs.
With Nissan’s standard Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-assist technologies, the 2021 Maxima is an incredibly safe and easy vehicle to drive. Inside, a standard seven-inch LCD instrument cluster display in the dash is easy to see and read, while the eight-inch standard touchscreen for the infotainment allows intuitive access to a multitude of features. Pair your smartphone with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, use Bluetooth to make calls and stream content hands-free, navigate with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and use the Nissan door-to-door navigation to find your way to and from your car.
Affordable Comfort – The SV Trim
MSRP: $37,090
For an entry-level trim, Nissan makes the SV incredibly inclusive with technology and conveniences. When you approach the exterior, features that define this trim level’s appearance include 18-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels and chrome quad-tipped exhaust finishers. The LED daytime running lights and tail lights are matched by the Intelligent Auto Headlights, which use sensors to gauge dark or rainy conditions and automatically turn on when needed. The convenient heated exterior mirrors have integrated LED turn indicators for better signal visibility on the road.
Driver-assisted technology featured in the Safety Shield 360 suite is comprehensive and is included standard. To mitigate or reduce the effects of an impact, Nissan provides the Maxima SR with Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Combined with assistive features like the RearView Monitor, Rear Sonar System, and Traffic Sign Recognition, the Maxima can utilize technology to scan the environment to provide the driver with cues and alerts for safer driving.
Further features in the safety suite make driving simpler to reduce fatigue and monitor the driver’s level of awareness. The standard Intelligent Cruise Control can match traffic flow on the highway, even when other vehicles reduce speed in your lane, without needing to be manually adjusted. High Beam Assist automatically dims your headlights for oncoming traffic or city driving, and Intelligent Driver Alertness uses a sensor to monitor the driver’s level of engagement at the wheel. If you seem sleepy or unresponsive, the system uses an alert to encourage a stop. Finally, the Integrated Dynamics-Control Module includes active ride control, Intelligent Trace Control, and an Intelligent Engine Brake to improve your vehicle’s performance on the road.
Utilize the Nissan Intelligent Key to open the door, and you will find a standard leather interior, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and trimmed in chrome to emphasize the sporty and upscale design. Front seat passengers can warm themselves on chilly days with the heated seats and adjust the temperature for their individual preferences with dual-zone automatic climate control. Remote front windows and are linked to the key fob for ease of entry or comfort. Finally, the standard auto-dimming rearview mirror, speed-sensing wipers, and rear door alert all assist the driver with automated convenience. An eight-speaker audio system links to the infotainment for streaming, hands-free phone use, and listening to the radio.
Sporty and Stylish – The SR Trim
MSRP: $42,250
While the 2021 Maxima is already marketed as a sporty sedan, the SR trim offers upgrades in performance and styling to give buyers a more exciting and engaging experience behind the wheel. On the outside, the SR has black accents, 19-inch gloss black aluminum-alloy wheels, a black V-motion grille, and black quad-tipped exhaust finishers. The sport spoiler delivers better speed performance and control, and the LED fog lights improve visibility. The exterior mirrors gain the auto-dimming feature, and the dual panoramic powered moonroof opens up your Maxima to the outside.
Performance-related features found only on the SR trim include paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel, a larger front stabilizer bar for cornering with more precision, and stiffer coil springs. The retuned dampers of sport suspension also stiffen the ride for crisper control on winding roads. W-rated all-season tires with narrower sidewalls add to the features that improve provide performance, and aluminum sport pedals on the interior add to the appearance and match the sport-style flat-bottom steering wheel.
Other interior details take this trim level into more luxurious territory, with Ascot leather-appointed seats and steering wheel, diamond-quilted Alcantara inserts, and satin dark chrome trim. A memory system for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors saves your settings and is invaluable if you share the car with another driver. The passenger seat gains a power lifter, and both front seats are heated and cooled. On cold days the heated steering wheel warms your hands, and adjustable ambient LED lighting sets the mood on your travels.
Technology upgrades for this trim include the premium Bose 11-speaker audio system that features Centerpoint 2 technology to improve sound quality with finer detail. Active sound enhancement and noise cancellation ensure you never miss a note or word while you drive. Utilize the HomeLink universal transceiver to control your garage door, and improve your view when backing out with the Intelligent Around View Monitor. The lane departure warning is also upgraded with Intelligent Lane Intervention, and front sensors are added to the rear sonar system for more safety.
Premium Driving – The Platinum Trim
MSRP: $42,320
The more elegant Platinum trim restores some of the appearances of the entry-level SV trim on the outside but includes 19-inch machined-face aluminum wheels fitted with the higher-rated all-season tires of the sporty SR. Chrome brightens up the exterior details again, including the quad-tipped exhaust finishers. While the spoiler is removed for this trim, the Platinum does gain the convenience of rain-sensing wipers. All the driver-assisted safety equipment included in the SR trim also remains.
On the interior, upgraded seating has a lush feel with premium Ascot leather-appointed seats that feature diamond-quilted leather inserts matched by an Ascot leather-wrapped steering wheel. The steering wheel further gains a powered tilting and telescoping capability, and the rear-seat passengers can utilize the powered sunshades for the rear windows.
Celebrate Four Decades of Performance – The 40th Anniversary Edition
MSRP: $44,445
Based on the Platinum trim, the 40th Anniversary Edition celebrates four decades for Nissan’s largest sedan. This version upgrades the features and appearance of your 2021 Maxima with a sleek style. From the outside, paint colors feature a two-tone appearance with Ruby Slate Gray Pearl and Super Black. Exclusive 19-inch gloss black multi-spoke aluminum wheels match the black trim on the V-motion grille, front fascia, rear diffuser, and rear license plate finisher for a defined detailing that sets this trim apart from all the rest.
Inside the 40th Anniversary Special Edition, red semi-aniline leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts are embossed for a refined interior trimmed by Satin Dark Chrome or Satin Birdseye Maple. Black anniversary badging on the dash defines the quality of this special edition trim, along with the embossed logo on the steering wheel, which is leather-wrapped and highlighted by contrasting red stitching. Round out the appearance in the cabin with white-faced gauges in the instrument panel, and improve the comfort of your rear-seat passengers with heated rear seats.
