Used 2021 Nissan Maxima for Sale near Alabama

How much does the 2021 Nissan Maxima cost?

Prices have softened 8.92% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 434 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Nissan Maxima a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Nissan Maxima earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 7.33/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, design, and features, and they also highlight the smooth ride and luxurious interior. The Maxima’s use of premium materials and its stylish cabin help it feel more upscale than many mainstream sedans.

The trade-offs are clear: it lacks all-wheel drive, its fuel economy is poor, and the back seat is cramped. That makes it a better fit if you value a comfortable, upscale-feeling sedan more than maximum practicality or efficiency.

The Maxima’s appeal is strongest if you want a full-size sedan with a distinctive personality and a more premium vibe than most rivals. 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there are still some attractive opportunities in the market.

Is the 2021 Nissan Maxima reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback also points to a reliable, dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with praise for the car’s long-term appeal and the sense that it’s a vehicle you can count on. On the road, the powertrain feels composed and dependable, and the CVT is described as one of the better examples of its type.

Nissan’s warranty coverage includes a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which helps support early ownership confidence. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that a well-equipped sedan like this can become expensive to keep satisfying if prior maintenance was inconsistent.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Nissan Maxima?

At 61.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle-history report and confirm whether any prior damage was repaired properly. After that, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection so you can check for uneven panel gaps, tire wear, suspension issues, and signs that the car was not maintained consistently.

Focus on the condition of the interior and the electronics as well, since this model leans heavily on comfort and features. If you’re comparing multiple listings, the cleanest example with the best maintenance record is usually the smarter buy than the cheapest one.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The 40th Anniversary Edition adds a two-tone exterior, model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, black exterior trim, red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white gauge faces, and heated rear seats. The base SV is the least expensive path into the Maxima, while the SR and Platinum add more equipment and a more upscale feel.
• Powertrain: You get a 3.5-liter V6 with 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. It feels quick and smooth, but the front-drive layout can bring torque steer under hard acceleration.
• Safety package: Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system are optional, and ProPilot Assist is not offered.
• Infotainment: The Maxima comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and USB-A and USB-C ports. An 11-speaker Bose audio system is available.
• Fuel efficiency: EPA ratings are 24 mpg combined, 20 mpg city, and 30 mpg highway. In testing, it returned 20.6 mpg.

Which 2021 Nissan Maxima trim should I buy?

The 2021 Nissan Maxima is offered in 3 trim levels: SV, SR, Platinum.

Here's the short version:

• SV: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core Maxima experience at the lowest price. It makes the most sense if you want the V6 power, standard safety tech, and the Maxima’s upscale feel without paying for extras you may not need.
• SR: This is the best-value choice for many shoppers because it sits in the middle of the lineup and adds more equipment without jumping all the way to the top trim. If you want a more complete Maxima without stretching to the most expensive version, this is the one to focus on.
• Platinum: This is the most luxurious version, and it’s the trim to target if you want the richest interior presentation and the most premium overall feel. The 40th Anniversary Edition package is offered on this trim and adds the most distinctive appearance and cabin touches.

The safety package is strong across the lineup, but some advanced features remain optional rather than standard.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Nissan Maxima?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but still move quickly on the right car.

• Deal availability: 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 434 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.92% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 61.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,433, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Nissan Maxima's resale value?

The current average of $19,580 sits slightly below last year's $21,497.

That decline suggests the Maxima has softened in the used market, which can help you buy at a more favorable entry point today. For a future seller, that also means resale value may depend more on condition, mileage, and equipment than on broad market momentum.

Well-kept examples with desirable trim content should hold up better than neglected ones, especially because shoppers in this segment tend to reward comfort, features, and presentation. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Nissan Maxima safe?

The 2021 Nissan Maxima earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five-star ratings in frontal, side, and rollover crash tests.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard and includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features include adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system.

The main caveat is that headlights were rated only Average by IIHS, even though the rest of the crash performance was excellent. ProPilot Assist is not offered here, so you won’t get Nissan’s more advanced lane-centering setup in this model year.

Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Maxima or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 61.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.92% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It brings a 40th Anniversary Edition option package and strong safety ratings.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $17,109, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $19,580 average.
• It offers plush accommodations, a potent powertrain, and a luxe interior.

The bottom line: If you want the newer model-year pricing context, strong safety, and the 40th Anniversary Edition option, the 2021 is the better target. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the value play and still delivers the Maxima’s core strengths.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.