2022 Nissan Maxima Battles On With Minor Updates, Slight Price Hike

The Nissan Maxima may be soldiering on with special editions such as the 40th Anniversary Edition, but the writing is on the wall for this once popular Japanese sedan. Production of the Maxima, along with the Leaf and Murano, was shut down earlier this year due to the ongoing chip shortage, but Nissan is pushing ahead with the 2022 Maxima and has now announced pricing for it. The 2022 Nissan Maxima will start with an MSRP of $37,420 for the Maxima SV trim. The Maxima goes up against more accomplished competitors such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, and Nissan's pricing strategy might just be the final nail in the coffin for this piece of middle-management metal.

The Maxima isn't a complete lost cause, of course. It was named as the best overall model in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality Study and managed to bag a 2021 Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the IIHS. For 2022, the Maxima will see the introduction of a new exterior color called Scarlet Ember Tintcoat which replaces Carnelian Red Tintcoat. The Platinum trim also adds standard rear heated seats. The Maxima range consists of the SV, SR, and Platinum grades. Standard features included across the range are leather seats, navigation, a 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, and Nissan's driver assistance tech suite called Nissan Safety Shield 360.

The base model, which starts at $37,240, is more expensive than the top-of-the-line Toyota Camry XSE V6 which comes in at $35,720 and offers similar power, more brand equity, and a superior overall ownership experience. The range-topping Honda Accord Touring 2.0T comes in at an even more affordable $37,400 and is the superior driver's car, despite being down nearly 50 horses. The mid-range Maxima SR pushes the asking price up to $42,400, and the range-topping Platinum is $42,550. Sorry Maxima, but the time has come to throw in the towel.