Used 2021 Nissan Maxima for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2021 Nissan Maxima cost?

Prices have softened 8.95% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 455 listings available, which gives you a modest 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, features, smooth ride, and luxurious interior. The Maxima also gets credit for its modern touches and overall appeal as a full-size sedan with a more upscale feel.

The trade-offs are clear: it can use more fuel than expected, and it does not offer all-wheel drive. It also leans more toward relaxed comfort than truly class-leading sportiness.

For you, that means the Maxima makes the most sense if you want a stylish, well-equipped sedan with a premium cabin and a calm ride rather than a practical all-weather commuter.

Only 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so the market still rewards shoppers who move quickly on the right car.

Is the 2021 Nissan Maxima reliable?

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

The owner feedback points to a car that feels dependable, with praise centered on comfort, features, and the kind of ownership experience people feel good about living with over time. That matters because satisfied owners are often the ones who notice whether a car feels trouble-free in daily use.

The Maxima’s V6 powertrain and mainstream mechanical layout also support a straightforward ownership experience, and Nissan backs it with a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about complexity and more about how the car was maintained, since a higher-mileage sedan with a strong performance-oriented setup can show wear if it was neglected.

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

At 61.3% 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. A pre-purchase inspection is especially important here, since condition can vary a lot from one listing to the next.

Focus on signs of wear in the cabin, evidence of uneven tire wear, and anything that suggests the car was driven hard or maintained inconsistently. If a listing looks especially clean, make sure the paperwork and inspection support that impression.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base SV gives you the core Maxima experience, while the SR and Platinum add more upscale equipment and visual flair. The 40th Anniversary Edition package on the Platinum adds a two-tone exterior, blacked-out trim, model-specific 19-inch wheels, red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white gauge faces, and heated rear seats.
• 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 car is still front-drive only.
• 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.
• 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. The system is functional, but the interface feels dated.
• Fuel efficiency: It returns 24 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway), and the test car managed 20.6 mpg during the review week.

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 Maxima’s core strengths without pushing the price too high. If you want the best value, this is the trim to start with because it captures the V6 power, standard safety tech, and main comfort features without paying for extras you may not need.
• SR: This trim is the better pick if you want a more upscale and sportier presentation. It sits above the SV and adds more equipment and a more premium feel, making it a good middle ground if you want more personality without going all the way to the top.
• Platinum: Choose this if you want the most luxurious Maxima experience. It brings the richest cabin presentation and is the only trim that can get the 40th Anniversary Edition package, which adds the most distinctive styling and interior touches.

The safety package is a strong point across the lineup, but some advanced driver-assistance features remain optional rather than standard.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you have room to shop, but the best listings still deserve quick action.

• Deal availability: 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 455 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.95% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 61.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,438, 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 $19,621 sits slightly below last year's $21,549.

That decline suggests the Maxima has become more affordable for used buyers, but it also means future sellers may face a softer pricing environment than owners saw a year ago. If you buy well now, you may be starting from a more favorable entry price than previous shoppers did.

The good news is that the model still has clear appeal: a strong V6, upscale cabin, and a loyal owner base help keep it relevant in the used market. That kind of demand can support resale value better than a car that feels ordinary or forgettable.

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 received an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+” rating, and it earns five-star ratings in frontal, side, and rollover crash tests from NHTSA.

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

Standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 equipment 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.

One caveat is that headlights were rated only “Average” by IIHS, so the Maxima’s otherwise excellent safety profile is not perfect.

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 61.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.95% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 stands out for its 40th Anniversary Edition package and strong safety ratings.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $17,250, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $19,621 average.
• It offers plush accommodations, a potent powertrain, and a luxe interior.

The bottom line: If you want the strongest mix of current pricing, safety, and owner satisfaction, the 2021 is the better all-around pick. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the smarter value play, especially if you find one in clean condition with the features you want.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.