2004 Nissan Maxima Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Sharing the same chassis as the Altima, and actually now a bit smaller than its fellow mid-size sedan, the 2004 Nissan Maxima looks to distinguish itself with a sporty makeover and a focus on personal luxury and refinement. It adds three inches to its wheelbase and over an inch in width, for more interior comfort. It also gets a new and highly rated 3.5 V6 that hits 265-hp, 20 more than in the Altima.
The 2004 Maxima comes in the sports-oriented SE and more upscale SL trims. A 6-speed manual is standard on the SE, while a 5-speed auto tran comes with the SL. The automatic is optional for the SE. Both sedans feature the Skyview glass panel that stretches the length of the roof for better visibility for all passengers. It doesn't open like a sunroof, but a traditional sunroof is optional. The 2004 Maxima does not offer a sedan without this panel. Both SE and SL trims come with power seats, cruise control, auto-dimming mirrors, power folding mirrors, a garage opener, ABS brakes, and CD player. Traction and stability control are available options. The SL adds heated leather seats, memory settings, and power passenger seat. Many of the SL features are options for the SE. The SE focuses on performance, with a stiffer suspension and larger 18-inch tires. Xenon headlights and a rear spoiler are options for the SE. Both cars can also be equipped with a DVD system.
The new styling of the 2004 Maxima emphasizes fun, with a sloping coupe-like roofline. The roomy sedan seats five, but there is an option to replace the rear bench with two heated bucket seats and a center console. Since the Altima has the lower price tag, the 2004 Maxima emphasizes its posh interior loaded with convenient and indulgent features. Owners like the extra attention on them and they love the V6 engine. The ride is smooth, even in the SE. Downsides are an extremely wide turning radius and reported problems with the front struts, rotors, traditional sunroof getting stuck, and a tendency for steering wheel shudder at high speeds.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2004 Nissan Maxima
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by Anonymous
Jan 11, 2022
Very nice body style and car looks clean. Jan 11, 2022
by Maurice K
Jan 30, 2021
shakes bad at 55mph and higher, none of the windows work, deep and scratches on the trunkJan 30, 2021
by Dion B
Feb 24, 2015
It's fast, but bad on gas. My car is a spirited bronze car, that looks very sporty. Recently, I made it look even more sporty by changing the grille to a more unconventional sporty grille. I am totally satisfied with my maximaFeb 24, 2015
User rating:
by Anonymous
Jan 11, 2022
Very nice body style and car looks clean. Jan 11, 2022
by Maurice K
Jan 30, 2021
shakes bad at 55mph and higher, none of the windows work, deep and scratches on the trunkJan 30, 2021
by Dion B
Feb 24, 2015
It's fast, but bad on gas. My car is a spirited bronze car, that looks very sporty. Recently, I made it look even more sporty by changing the grille to a more unconventional sporty grille. I am totally satisfied with my maximaFeb 24, 2015
by Daniel S
Oct 09, 2014
For 2004, it had an innovative design that screamed drive me! The lost concepts was functionality of the trunk and addition of cassette player. Really? That died in the early nineties. The maxima boast great power, which enable a fun and sexy capabilities. Meaning the 6 cylinder had some Getty up on 18 inch tires with a inticing purr from the dual twin pipe exhaust.Oct 09, 2014
by Kingston F
Sep 24, 2014
love the car as a whole leather heated seat,fast,added a few touches a double din kenwood. the only thing i despise is the fwd, and the heat of the engine coming into the cabin in the summer.its a load of fun ,and the color radiant ember is sexy,& the reason why i got her. she has 169k miles,replaced the transmission @ 120k just because,replaced the cv joints last yr, all 4 rotors,2014 i replaced both left,right side axle rods with seals upper n lower ball joints,shocks,struts,all four springs,rear camber original Nismo parts,ngk platinum spark plugs,head gasket seal just in case,valve cover gasket just in case,tension wheel and tensioner,belts,hoses, i my self flushed and replaced the anti freeze,change the oil monthly like clock work use only Mobile high mileage and lucas oil additive,replaced the oil pan seal,i only use mid-high grade gas only,every season change i replace the air cabin filter,and the air filter nismo parts only,...in one yr i've spent approx 5,500 dollars and well worth it. i have traveled from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts,to Kentucky,Atlanta Georgia,South Carolina,Virginia,and back to Massachusetts she has never left me stranded on the side of the road,comfortable,easy access to all buttons easy read console,also you can replace original wheels with any Nissan/infinity wheel package 5x144 bolt pattern. i have 245-45-r18's GoodYears the rims came from an 2012 7th gen Maxima i just painted them black...currently i use the car to go to school 20 min away and home...Sep 24, 2014
by George R
Jul 25, 2014
Very fun to drive I would buy another one! smooth ride on the freeway and great handling in the hills, brakes on a dime!!! the acceleration is very good as well....sound system is OK...However gas mileage is not what i expected.Jul 25, 2014
by Jesse D
Mar 12, 2014
I like how nice it looks on the inside and outsides, It is very sporty and is somewhat a luxury car. Having astro start in it also made the winters a lot better for me. Pretty good on highway gas millage gets around 30mpg.Mar 12, 2014
by Anonymous
Nov 12, 2013
I love this car so much. I haven't had any issues with it before, and I've owned it for over a year now. I couldn't think of a better first car purchase that I could have had. it's so much fun, I always find myself unable to wait to get behind the steering wheel again.Nov 12, 2013
by carl r
Jul 09, 2013
the up grades and style 4 new rims and tires the interior is in great shape
the carbon fiber look make this Nissan maxima stand out against all 04 maxima
the roof wing also makes a difference, a great car.Jul 09, 2013
by Chris K
Jun 18, 2013
Nissan Maxima is a great sports car as well as a great family car with plenty of room. Love it's response and power when in traffic. Excellent passing power as well. Wanna get around someone in a hurry, this vehicle will do it.Jun 18, 2013
by Rigo G
Dec 05, 2012
My ultimate dislike in this vehicle was the transmission issues which of course I knew nothing about and Nissan apparently knew everything about. It upset me that more that 75% of Maxima owners with 04-06 models experienced this issue with their vehicles after 4 or more years of having the car. My car is currently at 170,000 miles and it jerks everyday! There is no recall on these transmissions which is crazy to me. At one point this seemed like a small dent in the car's reputation because the look, speed, feel, style, and comfort of the vehicle overshadowed that issue. It handles amazingly when going into a curve and then just shoots off once it get out of one. The braking is good however the car has too much power for such small brakes. The 18" rims are a good look as well especially if they came with stock chrome wheels. I enjoy the sound system (I'm a music buff) but the Bose system doesn't need some work on the mids if it's going to have a lot of bass. I love Love LOVE the Skyview Roof on the vehicle; it really opens up the car. It's roomy enough for 5 adults over 5"11 to sit comfortably. There are lots of buttons that you must get used to but it's fun to know that there are lots of features those buttons control. Gas mileage for me has never been an issue because you have to spend money regardless of the kind of car, especially if it's a full size vehicle. I get 23-24 MPG. I drive highway all the time because my job is 33 miles away. Now that I have had the car for over 9 years though the transmission issue has become an issue of safety and I don't want to spend 4,000 to buy a new one and 500 to get put in. This is why I will be upgrading to a 09-11 model.Dec 05, 2012
by Scott R
Oct 15, 2012
Pretty fast in a straight line, handling isn't the best.
Difficult to drift because its FWD
Huge car, lots of interior room
Beautiful
Takes premium fuel and gets 19 mpg
Decent enough to get by in the snow
Maintenance isnt too expensive, Japanese cars are pretty cheap to maintain Oct 15, 2012
by Anonymous
Sep 27, 2012
I've added some aftermarket 20 inch rims to the car, and it looks very nice! Currently has about 215,000. I am looking to sell this car in the near term and get something newer. Probably an American made car. Maybe a Ford Fusion or TaurusSep 27, 2012
by NELSON F
Mar 17, 2012
Had this car for about 2 years, bought it from a relative who was getting a Lexus at the time.
Love the looks and the feel of the car. Nothing beats those heated seats in New Yorks cold mornings. Drove it to Boston (500 miles two ways) on one tank and a quarter. Very confortable ride.Mar 17, 2012
by Bob P
Dec 08, 2011
4 DOOR SPORTSCAR! 265 HP! This is a beautiful Nissan Maxima 2004 with a long moonroof. Mostly highway miles. Maintenance and oil changes done regularly. Very fast, responsive and sporty. Must see to appreciate. Selling to purchase a newer Maxima. Call Bob Page at 704-305-0457 or e-mail: Bob.Page7777@yahoo.com to schedule your test driveDec 08, 2011
by Aloha S
Sep 29, 2010
The Performance was good, with its VQ 3.5, but the FF layout made this car torque steer. Manu-Matic is fun and automatically shifts up after 6k RPM.
Build Quality was a little less than I hoped for, some fit and finish problems near the console and passenger cabin.
The Appearance was slick, but the midnight blue color begs to be cleaned often.
It costs alot more gas than I thought it should but it was mostly for city drivin., IMO the car has problems with the engine mount and AC vents, especially on the passenger side.
The Fun Factor is average, it feels somewhat unrefined and the sport suspension isn't too comfy on some bad Hawaii roads.Sep 29, 2010
by Julio M
Sep 23, 2010
pretty good car i have a lot of miles on it and it still drives really nice. the
only thing is that the tires are super expensive on here and last about six
months . but overall cant complain its a great carSep 23, 2010
by Anonymous
Jan 24, 2010
This is a fun car to drive, fast, nice features. Why the low scores? At 80,000 I just sunk $3500 for a new transmission, this model year is notorious for bad automatic trannies - BEWARE! Get a different year model of this car.Jan 24, 2010
by Hussain M
Dec 08, 2009
Best Car i have owned so far, Super Quick, Excellent interiors.
Muscle car yet elegant, The interior was very spacious and
the wooden trim inside gave a luxurious look. Once you buy a
maxima, you can never go back to a toyota or any other
saloon.Dec 08, 2009
by Vivek M
Sep 12, 2009
Really fast for front wheel drive 6-cylinder of its size,
handles quite well, kinda solid gangsta look without
being american trash, comes base with all kinds of
features (skyroof, heated power seats n steering
wheel, 18" wheels, etc), really easy to create an
original look on the road n be your ownSep 12, 2009
by Craig Y
Jul 02, 2009
Good allround car. Reliable, good performance, not bad on fuel, great visibility and braking. Very solid car and nice and safe. There is nothing bad about these vehicles at all! They are front wheel drive but they dont bump steer like other V6 FWD's. I love the seats!Jul 02, 2009
by Eric M
Jun 10, 2009
Fast car, comfortable car. Great quality, Nissan reliability. The build on the car is so so, paint chips on the front and such. Aerodynamics is cool, styling and all. Fun to drive as it can really get up and go, a bit pricy but good combo of sportiness and luxury.Jun 10, 2009
by Salik M
May 19, 2009
Its marvelous to see its road grip, due to mall body with good 3.0 engine its like a bullet ont e road. its really fun to grive this car. It reches 200 within seconds. I m love in it. One must drive this car to see what a ride it is.May 19, 2009
by Frank H
Oct 16, 2008
Acceleration and braking is great with the torque steering as a minus and the turning radius is less than average. It's a nissan so the car is lasting so far as most foreign cars are more dependable when you maintain it well. MPG is about 18-21 miles per gallon on average so its not bad...I think.Oct 16, 2008
by J A
Oct 08, 2008
I love this car. Its a rare 6-speed model. Its very fast i have surprized a few Z's, g35's and M3's. It has tein springs and 06 350z rims. It runs 14.3. The car handles great. I really wish it was rear wheel drive but its all good!Oct 08, 2008
by Michael S
Sep 17, 2008
It's a real badass car. It is actually real quick. I love how my windows are blacked out on it. I think I get about 21 mpg city, and then about 27 mpg highway. This a very fun car to drive everything works real well on it. And is just the best car.Sep 17, 2008
by Brittany G
Sep 03, 2008
Ok, so I had my Maxima for 1 year and the only reason I sold it was because the turning radius sucked. Very roomy interior and lots of pep in the engine. The car was powerful, stylish, and fun to drive, but not being able to do a standard u-turn really irritated me. And some interior compartments were cheaply assembled.Sep 03, 2008
by Richard M
Aug 23, 2008
The combination of performance and luxury meets but the obviously, we get more luxury than performance, although it is still not too shabby... at 265 hp. The nice thing about it is the very low noise level in the car. Leather seats and full electronic group are just a complement of all the joy of owning on of them.Aug 23, 2008
by Jason T
Jul 02, 2008
Love the carJul 02, 2008
by Youssef A
Jun 26, 2008
Bat out of hellJun 26, 2008
by David L
Jun 15, 2008
Dislikes - fuel consumption (premium) & limited rear seat space with baby seats etc
likes - DVD player, leather, sunroof etcJun 15, 2008
by Sébastien Z
Jun 10, 2008
Mag 20 pouces suspensions EIBACH DROP 1.75 EXHAUST P-FLOW...Jun 10, 2008
by Ala A
May 24, 2008
the car has a good standard of driving, it is not that stable on free ways but it does some workMay 24, 2008
by Mikaël M
May 21, 2008
See pros and cons.
May 21, 2008
by Jason I
Apr 12, 2008
Bought it new in May of '04. So far I've put over 60K trouble free miles on her. Only bad thing so far was replacing the Goodyear Eagles at 250 bucks a peice. Ouch!Apr 12, 2008
by Tyler H
Apr 06, 2008
get the leather and momory seatsApr 06, 2008
by Michael W
Apr 05, 2008
great car over all good car Apr 05, 2008
by Salik M
Mar 23, 2008
You can get it at www.nissan.comMar 23, 2008
by Mikhail M
Mar 21, 2008
Dominant literally in every way.Mar 21, 2008
by Anonymous
Jan 11, 2008
IT IS WICKED FAST AND YOU CAN TAKE CORNERS PRETTY FAST TOOJan 11, 2008
by El B
Jan 06, 2008
you should try it Jan 06, 2008
by Adam P
May 04, 2007
My Maxima has been an excellent vehicle and still manages to impress me!May 04, 2007
by John M
Feb 23, 2007
I was impressed with the 2004 Nissan Maxima 3.5SE. I have been driving it as a loaner from a family member while my car is in the shop. Even with 102,000 this car is running strong and I believe shows the normal reliable Nissan reputation. The car's design is very modern and has the typical Nissan sport look but yet seems to be more on the side of luxury.
Under the hood however, is all sport. With dual exhaust and a powerful 3.5 V6 the car is very impressive. The car is very fun to drive due to this fact if acceleration is important to you. Passing power is also nothing to worry about, in tight situations where going from 50 - 70 in a hurry is important, this car handles the task with ease.
Inside the car is very sporty yet has a hint of luxury with leather, Bose audio, auto climate control, seat and steering wheel memory, heated steering wheel, etc... you'll find a lot of touches that are typically reserved for luxury cars.
Also this car has the Nissan Skyview Skylights. Though they don't open to let air in (simply for light only) I have had many people comment on how they like the look from the outside and I've had almost all my backseat passengers comment on how they enjoyed having the skylight in the back as well.
If properly taken care of, this is an awesome car that has excellent reliability.Feb 23, 2007
What users have asked
Interchangeable engine
Can I use a 2004 Nissan Murano 3.5 v6 engine in my 2004 Nissan Maxima SE 3.5 v6 ??? Both vehicles are automatic transmissions but the Murano is a rear wheel drive and Maxima is front wheel drive please help quickly thank you very much
835 views
How do I disable car alarm
I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima the alarm keeps going off how do I disable it
70 views
Battery Warning Light Comes On, Randomly, than gous off
Hi, 2004Nissan Maxima Ti, 6 cyl, 3.5 ltr, A battery light Warning comes ON randomly on dashboard, then gous Off, on it self, ( no pattern 4it as 2.when comes ON and no pattern 4 going OFF, also very random and no pattern off the times it remains lON. Now the battery'are brand new, may be 3 weeks old. When it comes ON wile you driving, or when standing @ the Lights, the car drives and behaves normaly when it comes on, even Under a load as, stereo, A/C, blinkers or lights.. Any one has any ideas- ??? Thanks. Tony.
19376 views
Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2004 Nissan Maxima?Compare this car
2004 Nissan Maxima Pricing
Original MSRP
$27,660 to $29,560Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Sunshade: power rear window
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front and rear · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: HID
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power retractable
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent