Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima is a five-passenger, front-engine, full-size car that was manufactured and marketed by Nissan as Nissan's flagship sedan primarily in North America, the Middle East, South Korea, and China — across eight generations. The Maxima debuted for model year 1982 as the Datsun Maxima, replacing the Datsun 810.
The Maxima was marketed as an upscale alternative to the Altima and prior to 1993, the Stanza, distinguished by features such as a premium interior and V6 engine. Most Maximas were built in Oppama, Japan, until North American assembly began in Smyrna, Tennessee, for the 2004 model year.
For the US and Canada, Nissan ended production of the Maxima in July 2023.
Outside North America, the Maxima nameplate has also [|been applied to variants or trim levels of several other models].
First generation (1981)
The first car to wear the Maxima name, the second-generation Datsun 810, was introduced in 1980 for the 1981 model year. It was essentially a Japanese-market Datsun Bluebird with the wheelbase extended to accommodate the inline-six engine. This model replaced the Datsun 810. The second-generation Datsun 810 was not marketed in Japan, only in North America as the lower trim Datsun 810 Deluxe and upper trim 810 Maxima. Both were available with either sedan or wagon bodywork. In 1981 for the 1982 model year, all 810s were rebranded as Datsun Maxima. In 1983 for the 1984 model year, the last year of the first-generation Maxima, North American Datsuns began carrying the "Nissan" badge as well. Only 1984 model year Nissans have rear "Nissan" and "Datsun" badges, although earlier models had a "Datsun" badge with a small "by Nissan" designation below.For the first model year, the 810 Deluxe came with a five-speed manual transmission, while the upper trim 810 Maxima only came with a three-speed automatic. The Maxima's introduction to North America followed the successful introduction of the Datsun 240Z, and used the same engine and transmission while offering luxury content four doors. The sedans have independent rear suspension while the wagon has a leaf sprung live rear axle. The wagon also received rear drums rather than disc brakes.
The second generation retained the same 2.4-liter base engine as the previous Datsun 810, although up by 2 to and with more torque available at a lower engine speed. It was also available with the 2.8-liter LD28 OHC inline-six diesel engine with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
Some of the power steering pumps were sourced from General Motors' Saginaw Gear division, while others were sourced from Atsugi. This was the second Nissan to use US-sourced parts besides the Borg-Warner T-5 transmission used in the 82–86 Nissan ZX Turbos. The use of USA-made parts was phased in prior to the passage of local content laws imposed by the U.S. Government.
The Maxima featured a phonograph-based voice warning system. Warnings an open door, etc. would be relayed through the miniaturized phonograph and played audibly: "door is open, key is in ignition, etc." 1981 models were the first 'talking car' marketed in the US and offered only one voice warning, a female voice reminding the driver to "Please turn off the lights".
Second generation (1985)
On October 17, 1984, the first front-wheel drive Maxima was introduced for the 1985 model year. This Maxima was available with a, 3.0-liter VG30E V6 engine and a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. In Japan, a smaller 2.0-liter version of this engine was fitted. These engines were the first V6 engine to be mass-produced in Japan, and the first Nissan to utilize a V6 engine with front wheel drive. The second generation was assigned compact status in the US market. This was the last generation to be available as a station wagon, a version which had been offered since the Datsun 810 days.In late 1986, the 1987 Maxima was introduced with a freshened exterior and interior. Automatic shoulder belts became featured on both the 1987 sedan and wagons built after February 1987. Luxury amenities were offered on both the "base" GL, later renamed GXE and SE trim levels. Such features for the GL/GXE included digital touch entry system on the driver and passenger side door panel, power windows, locks, antenna, power seats, remote trunk release, voice warning system, optional leather seating, optional heated front seats, an optional Electronics Pkg and an optional power sunroof. 15-inch alloy wheels were standard for the Maxima.
An exclusive option for 1988 was the DUET-SS Super Sonic Suspension -which was part of the Electronics Pkg- replacing the trip computer that was previously offered. This feature used sonar waves to monitor the road conditions ahead and adjusted the shocks accordingly for the most controlled ride. The electronically controlled shock absorbers were installed on a trailing arm suspension for both the front and rear wheels. 1988 was also the year that the previously standard digital touch system offered on the GXE sedan became part of the 'Electronics Package' option as well. The SE offered dual power seats, a five-speed manual transmission, three-way shock adjustable suspension, front and rear windshield defroster, and a factory-installed security system. The SE also has a small rear spoiler, all-wheel disc brakes, black side rear view mirrors, and body molding. Again, the Maxima's prime competitor was the similarly specified Toyota Cressida, which remained rear wheel drive. The Maxima provided a combination of luxury and sporty features while the Cressida was generally seen as being softer and more luxurious.
The Japanese market Nissan Bluebird Maxima received either four-door hardtop sedan or pillared sedan bodywork and a 2.0-liter V6 engine. It received the smaller V6 engine so that it would avoid bigger taxes on vehicles with larger engine displacement. The station wagon bodywork was not available in the home market, with the hardtop exclusive to Nissan Store Japanese dealerships.
Third generation (1989)
The redesigned Maxima debuted on October 24, 1988 for the 1989 model year, internally designated J30. Larger dimensions made it the second Japanese sedan sold in North America to qualify as a "mid-size". Nissan used a "4DSC" window decal on the third-generation Maxima in North America, marketing it as a "four-door sports car." This generation was briefly marketed in Japan, replacing the Nissan Leopard sedan at Nissan Store locations. A refresh occurred in August 1991 for the 1992 model year, adding a driver's side SRS airbag. The facelifted version was no longer offered in Japan.It became available with the, 3.0-liter VG30E V6, with the, VE30DE unit standard on the SE model starting in 1991. In the United States, the VG30E engine, which featured a variable intake manifold on automatic and manual transmission models, was used on all 1989 to 1994 GXE models and 1989 to 1991 SE models. This generation Maxima was fitted with an independent trailing arm rear suspension, and continued to offer the road scanning, electronic Super Sonic Suspension. The digital touch entry system on the GXE allowed the windows to be lowered and the moon roof opened from outside the vehicle on a keypad integrated on the front door handle, without the key in the ignition. One of the industry's first heads-up displays was also included in the package for model years 1989–92. The system projected a holographic image of the vehicle's speed on a small screen in the windshield.
The VE30DE engine was exclusively offered on the 1992–1994 Maxima SE. It was a 3.0-liter, 24 valve, DOHC motor. Its iron block was topped with aluminum cylinder heads and featured a dual length intake manifold, variable intake valve timing, coil on plug ignition, plus a limited-slip differential. The VE30DE was rated at at 5600 rpm and at 4000 rpm, and had a 6500 rpm redline. SE models include white-faced gauges, twisted-spoke turbine wheels, body-colored grille, twin-tip mufflers, factory-tinted tail lights, black trim replacing chrome, firmer sport suspension, and optional 5-speed manual transmission. The automatic transmission on all GXEs was a compact unit from Jatco, which featured "sport" and "comfort" modes that shifted at different points. The 1992 to 1994 SE received an optional automatic transmission that had stronger internals, but kept the "sport" and "comfort" modes. The SE also had a rear spoiler and black side mirrors, whereas the GXE has body-color side mirrors.
During this year, the Maxima was first introduced to the European market, replacing the Laurel. For European markets, the model range was: 3.0, 3.0 S, and 3.0 SE. The only engine was the single-cam VG30E, producing.
Nissan Australia began importing the J30 series for a May 1990 release to replace the locally assembled Nissan Skyline sedan and station wagon. Powertrain comprised the 3.0-liter VG30E V6 rated at and a four-speed automatic. Nissan made the Maxima available in two equipment grades, the M and Ti. The M featured air conditioning, alloy wheels, central locking, cruise control, power steering, and power windows. The Ti added a rear spoiler, climate control air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, electric seats and a PIN touch-pad locking system. The M-based LE of late 1991 featured a CD player and sunroof. There was also a leather/sunroof pack optional on Ti. Nissan Australia released a facelift in January 1993 that included a new grille insert, revised tail lamps, wheels and cabin trim. A driver airbag became fitted to the Ti, and made optional on the new Executive trim that replaced the M. The J30 in Australia was replaced in February 1995 by a new Maxima based on the Nissan Cefiro.
The three variants assembled locally in New Zealand had automatic transmissions and the VG30E Engine only. Versions sold in Japan and Europe had a manual transmission option as an alternative to the automatic transmission that was standard in North America and Australia/New Zealand. The Maxima SE was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1990.
Another Bluebird Maxima continued on as a Nissan Bluebird and solely as a station wagon with the VG20ET engine during this period until the introduction of the U13 Bluebird, and the Avenir replaced the Bluebird wagon altogether.