Used Nissan Maxima for Sale nearSan Jose, CA

How much does the Nissan Maxima cost in today's market?

Used Nissan Maxima prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Nissan Maxima's current nationwide average price is $15,966, and its year-round low is $15,983.34. That puts the model's current pricing in a fairly broad band across the lineup, with older and newer model years separated by several thousand dollars. Recently, prices have come down for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Nissan Maxima a good car?

Yes — the Nissan Maxima has broad owner appeal thanks to its style, comfort, and strong performance character.

The all-generations owner rating is 4.55/5 across every model year in the data.

Owners consistently praise the Maxima for its stylish design, comfortable interiors, and enjoyable driving feel. Across the model years, the cabin and features also come up often as strengths, along with the car's smooth ride and premium-leaning character.

Expert reviews rate the 2020 and 2019 models among the highest across all years.

The main trade-offs are the fuel economy, the CVT's effect on response, and the tighter rear-seat and cargo packaging that show up in several years.

25.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Nissan Maxima models reliable?

Owners and experts consistently point to the Maxima's comfort, strong performance, and upscale feel as core strengths. The model also earns repeated praise for its stylish design and well-equipped cabin across multiple years.

• Owners rate the Nissan Maxima between 4.31 and 5.0 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, long-term ownership risk is best managed by checking service history carefully, especially on older examples where owner feedback shows more mixed experiences.

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

Across all model years, at 56.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

Older model years carry meaningfully higher accident rates, so always verify the vehicle history report on pre-2023 models.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: Nissan Safety Shield 360
• Infotainment: an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility
• Fuel efficiency: 24 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway)

Which Nissan Maxima trim should I buy?

The 2021 Nissan Maxima offers these trims:

• SV: The best-value trim, with the base Maxima SV starting the lineup and giving you the core Maxima formula at the lowest entry point.
• SR: Adds a sportier step up in the range, with pricing above the SV.
• Platinum: The range-topping trim, bringing the most upscale positioning in the lineup.
• 40th Anniversary Edition: A special package for the Platinum trim with 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.

What Nissan Maxima do most buyers choose?

The Nissan Maxima years with the most listings are 2017, 2018, and 2016.

These higher-volume years tend to be popular because they give you more inventory to compare and often sit in a sweet spot between price, equipment, and availability. That makes it easier to find a Maxima that fits your budget and feature priorities.

What is the Nissan Maxima's resale value?

Most model years are down year over year, and several recent ones show especially sharp declines. That pattern can work in your favor if you're shopping used, since it opens up more value on newer examples. The smallest changes are concentrated at the top end of the lineup, where prices have moved less dramatically.

The 2023, 2016, and 2018 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Nissan Maxima safe?

• 2021: 9/10
• 2020: 9/10
• 2019: 8/10
• 2016: 7/10

The 2021 Maxima includes Nissan Safety Shield 360.

For the safest used buy, the 2020 and 2021 models both post the highest confirmed score of 9/10.

Should I buy a used Nissan Maxima now or wait for the next model?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2022 model is at −6.47% versus a year ago, and the 2021 model is at −10.18%.
• Deal availability: The 2022 model has 31.8% good and great deals.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2017 model has the most listings at a current average price of $12,775. The Nissan Maxima offers a distinctive blend of style, comfort, and strong V6 character that gives it a premium-feeling personality.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: The Maxima is available only with a 3.5-liter V6 making 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and FWD.
• Tech: The Maxima comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.
• Safety: Standard safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 banner include 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.
• Starting price: Pricing starts at $38,040 for the base Maxima SV trim level.

If you're buying used today, the 2017 model year offers the best mix of value and availability. If you want the latest tech and features, it may be worth waiting for 2024 inventory to mature.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.