The Nissan Maxima was fully redesigned for the 1995 model year and arrived in the U.S. in base GXE, sportier SE, and luxury GLE trims. It was offered with both a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission, and the big news was the brand-new all-aluminum VQ30DE V6 engine. It had the same 3.0-liter capacity as the old VG V6 in the J30 Maxima, but was 108 pounds lighter, with standard double overhead cams and newfound refinement. The new body was 15% more rigid than the old one, and significantly more crashworthy.1999 Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6 GLEBring a TrailerMy MY1999 tester benefited from the 1997 facelift's updates, including slightly refreshed, cleaned-up styling and structural improvements to bolster crashworthiness in line with the latest U.S. crash standards, including improved side-impact protection. It's an interesting throwback to a bygone era of mid-size Japanese sedans, as the class is dwindling; the Maxima went off the market here in 2023, and we don't even know if there is a Maxima in our future. Following Nissan's recent financial troubles, it's cutting many underperforming models from its lineup in an effort to turn the ship around.Exterior Styling: Blue-Collar Infiniti I30The A32 Maxima was designed from the outset to form the basis of the midsize Infiniti I30 luxury sedan, and the resemblance is immediately apparent, with the Infiniti using the same body and exclusive styling touches, but revised front and rear ends. The A32 Maxima also introduced softer curves than the older J30, and while it's not terribly distinctive, it's neat, though the big taillights won't be to everybody's liking. The small 15-inch wheels also date it, but I have seen the odd A32 with the 16-inch wheels from the S14 Sylvia, and I think it transforms the car (below right), giving the staid sedan body a newfound modernity.1999 Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6 GLEBring a TrailerInterior: Near-Premium Luxury and ComfortThe cabin is what really sets the 5th-generation Maxima apart, and the Infiniti connections are clear in the level of finish and luxury. The good impressions start when you open the door, with triple rubber seals (below left) around the doors to keep wind and road noise out and a near-premium cabin for this class. The dashboard is made from a soft-feel slush molding that is absurdly pleasing to the touch, and the soft surfacing extends all the way down the sides of the center stack before it turns into hard plastic for the center console.1999 Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6 GLE with beige interior driver door cardBring a TrailerThe door cards are soft to the touch as well, and only at the very bottom of the doors could I find any hard plastics, though the moldings remain solid and flex-free. The front door pockets are stupidly narrow, however, and are apparently the result of the space-robbing side-impact protection. You can only get your fingertips in there, and retrieving anything from them is a pain. I was also not enamored with all the fake wood, though this is a matter of taste – and pretty standard fare on Japanese sedans of this era.The GLE's leather is soft and of very high quality, and both front seats are electrically adjustable. The passenger gets basic 4-way adjustment, but the driver benefits from 8-way adjustment and manual lumbar adjustment via a lever on the inside of the backrest. It takes a bit fo faffing to get comfortable, but you can dial in an ideal driving position with a bit of experimentation. The rear seat is pleasingly comfortable and commendably roomy, with far higher comfort levels than the park bench in the old J30.1999 Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6 GLE with beige interiorBring a TrailerDriving the Maxima 3.0 V6 GLE AutomaticThe creamy smooth V6 bursts into life with hardly a sign of vibration and settles into such a quiet idle that you sometimes have to check the rev counter to see if it's still ticking over. In fact, its overall refinement really stood out to me, and stands in sharp contrast to the coarse 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-pots that inhabit most cars of this size nowadays. The rapid throttle response from rest was also a bit of a surprise, given that this car still comes with an ancient 4-speed automatic transmission. Give it too much throttle from a standstill, and it scrabbles away from rest with a noisy burst of wheelspin from the front tires and a pleasing eagerness.There's nothing fancy about Jatco's RE4F04A automatic, and this old stalwart was carried over from the old J30 Maxima and would continue into the A33b that came in 2000, long after most rival makes had moved to 5-speed boxes. Nissan seems to have been self-conscious about plugging this old tech into its fancy new Maxima, so it went the extra mile to make it feel sporty, with mixed results. That over-eager launch makes smooth pulaways tricky, and while the shifts are surprisingly quick, they aren't always smooth, especially the 1-2 shift, which can be quite thumpy.The huge gearing gaps also quickly become apparent, as there are only four gears and Nissan fitted a long-legged (for the time) 4th gear that gives about 2,000 rpm at 60 mph. The car accelerates eagerly to the 6,500-rpm redline, but loses a little steam every time it bridges another big gap in the gearing. Still, it will get you to 60 mph in a smidge under 8.0 seconds, which isn't bad going for a 1999 V6 with 190 hp. However, it runs into the same problem as many 4-speeds, which is a lack of overtaking punch at the speed limit, where it's reluctant to hook second and send the engine revving, while 3rd is too tall to feel really lively.1999 Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6 GLE with beige interior gauge clusterBring a TrailerRather sit back, dial up the climate control to 70, and settle into a cruise, and you may very well be surprised at how hushed the Maxima is in this role, with low levels of wind and road noise, and the engine all but inaudible once in the long-legged 4th gear. The old-school Jatco box locks up in 4th gear only, years after even GM's old 4L-60 offered lockup in both its top gears, but the efficient engine still makes 27 mpg possible on the highway and 24 mpg combined. It's tuned to hang onto 4th and unlock the clutch for a bit of slip and extra wheel torque to hoist you over moderate hills, but can be persuaded to drop to 3rd with a heavier foot, revving the smooth V6 when necessary. And so refined is it that your passengers won't even notice the engine hitting the red in 2nd to overtake if the radio is on and they're engrossed in conversation.Show it a corner, and it doesn't feel particularly eager to engage, but resists understeer surprisingly well and doesn't roll as much as you'd expect, staying neat and composed, despite its somewhat rudimentary torsion-beam rear suspension. Remember, the J30 had sophisticated all-independent suspension. The brakes are strong and resist fade quite well under hard use, though the Maxima never feels totally at ease being flung around a mountain pass.Final ThoughtsI was not prepared for how much an old '90s Maxima would impress me with its hushed engine, quiet ride, and high-quality interior. It's immediately obvious why it was MotorTrend's import of the year for its 1995 launch year. Even today, a late-model GLE like the one I drove, with the updated crash protection and optional front side airbags fitted, would be a great daily to own, while still ensconcing you in a level of quiet refinement not expected of this era.1999 Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6 GLEBring a TrailerThe legendary VQ V6's reliability is proven, but the 4-speed auto will cash out by 150,000 miles, so perhaps a manual is a better starter car to get your college kid to learn driving stick. The cultured old Maxima certainly made me long for the years when comfortable 6-cylinder midsize sedans were everywhere, and I didn't have to listen to the dull buzz of some boosted 4-pot with a gazillion gears. It's an underappreciated gem, if you can still find a clean one.
