Jump LinksScroll through the classifieds, and it shouldn't take you long to find a few used car bargains as you source your next form of transportation. But it might take you a little longer to find a candidate that feels far more expensive than the transaction price once you've settled into the driver's seat. So, it might be worth extending your search to find an eighth-generation Nissan Maxima from 2017 or 2018, which you can probably pick up for around $15,000.When new, these cars started at around $32,000, with the upper trims regularly pushing past $40,000 for a 2018 model, so their prices are quite tasty now. And if you do find one, you're getting a 300-horsepower V6, strong safety credentials, a richly trimmed cabin, and an introduction to entry-level luxury motoring for not a lot of money in return. A 2017–2018 Maxima Is The Sweet Spot Bargain NissanTo be clear, this generation of Maxima was never pretending to be a German sports sedan or even trying to outdo a used Lexus or Acura. However, it combined plenty of the traits that American buyers seek every day, including a quiet, well-put-together ride, strong and effortless acceleration, well-shaped seats, and some premium equipment. In other words, this was far from a bargain-bin family car.When new, Nissan marketed the Maxima as its flagship four-door sports car, and every trim level had the same 300-hp 3.5-liter V6. Each one also featured upscale interior materials and advanced driver aids for the time, and looked the part, with a far more dramatic design than the average front-wheel-drive sedan.The 2018 Maxima had features like automatic emergency braking and intelligent forward collision warning, while the top trims also included the around-view monitor. Nissan had paid plenty of attention to detail on board and even added diamond-quilted leather inserts to the seats, so you were certainly looking at something closer to near-luxury than mainstream.Today, the Maxima isn't quite an Infiniti, but it's certainly a used sedan that'll give you the kind of performance, cabin atmosphere, and isolation that you'd associate with a $40,000 car. And if you're looking for something other than a ho-hum Accord, Malibu, or Camry, then the Maxima makes a very strong case. A Redesign Gave The Maxima Real Flagship Substance Nissan Nissan was ready to spice up its Maxima in the mid-2010s and decided to stand the car down for one year in the middle of the decade before planning a complete 2016 redesign. When the eighth-generation car arrived, it now featured a revised VQ-series V6 and an Xtronic CVT transmission. It had a much lower and wider stance, and the cabin was vastly improved over the predecessor. This really underscored the vehicle's position as the company's flagship four-door, and not just a roomy sedan.Fuel economy data for the 2017 Maxima show 21 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, which isn't too bad at all for a naturally aspirated 300-hp V6 sedan. In testing, the Maxima could reach 60 miles per hour in about 5.8 seconds, which is good going for a front-drive fullsize car. This means the Maxima had enough power and capability to make it a comfortable highway cruiser, and it helps explain why the car still feels such a well-rounded proposition today.Nissan worked hard during its big refresh to create a premium impression. It added standard zero-gravity front seats with sports bolstering, and if you bought a higher trim, you'd get more sophisticated materials and comfort features. The car also had enough size and presence to feel like a proper flagship, and it was far more than just an oversized compact. The Maxima rode on a 109.3-inch wheelbase and was 192.8 inches long, with 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space. The Maxima Feels More Expensive Than It Is Nissan The Maxima may feel like an upscale bargain because it combines several premium car qualities. Many newer sedans from that time used to rely on smaller turbocharged four cylinders, but in the Maxima, you'd get a real old-school and strong motor in the form of that 3.5-liter V6. This kind of engine doesn't need any boost to wake up in the morning but delivers strong, immediate, and smooth power. Reviewers felt the car was surprisingly quick and had plenty of character to match its pace.If you discover an SR trim in the used car marketplace, then you'll discover even more of the Maxima magic. The company gave this car unique suspension bushings, springs, shocks, front stabilizer bar, and chassis bracing, plus 19-inch wheels with stickier Goodyear tires. Together, this helped to transform the SR into something far more deliberate and purposeful than the average front-drive sedan. There was nothing soft about this ride at all, and the company had engineered the Maxima SR to feel substantial.The cabin may be the most impressive part of this period Maxima and could be where it earns most of its 40k car reputation. It's well laid out in terms of the dashboard and center console, and the seating is very supportive. You can get quilted leather on some examples and plenty of other strong features throughout the range, while even the lowest trims offer an upscale spec sheet for key safety tech. So, you can see why the Maxima may land differently from a lot of the near-premium sedans you come across in your search. It isn't a one-trick pony but gives you comfort, design, power, and equipment in a nicely rounded package. The Ownership Reality In 2026 Nissan Having looked at all the good parts, it's important to uncover some of the challenges. The first thing to remember is that this is a Nissan from the CVT era, and to those in the know, that raises a red flag. Certainly, the combination of V6 and CVT can give the car decent efficiency and robust performance, but the Nissan CVT was never the company's greatest hit. It doesn't mean that every Maxima you find will be suspect, but it does mean that you should check the maintenance history carefully. Look at those service records and conduct a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially since many Maximas you find will likely be in six-figure mileage territory by now.When you're searching, look for a well-kept 2017 or 2018 SV, SR, or Platinum with a clean history, completed recalls, and documented maintenance. And if you can keep the purchase price at or below $15,000, you'll probably get the smartest bang for your buck. Why The Market Undervalues It Nissan When it was new, people viewed the 2017 to 2018 Maxima with a bit of suspicion. They felt that it was far more stylish and driver-focused than the average mainstream full-size sedan, but it was still front-wheel drive and a Nissan, of all things. That made it hard to sell to people who favored traditional luxury brands, especially as its price started to push into that neighborhood.At the same time, the market was moving away from sedans altogether. And that means that discontinued sedans are less popular in the used market, even if they're objectively impressive. Shoppers are still looking at crossovers or SUVs and may be unaware of the Maxima's bargain status.Proper luxury cars rarely present themselves as used bargains, but premium adjacent vehicles can slip into that sweet spot, and that's where you'll find this Nissan Maxima. It's a worthy contender that gives you a nice selection of the right ingredients,s but has just depreciated harder than it perhaps deserved.In the used-car marketplace, a 2017 or 2018 Maxima is sitting pretty, with plenty of strength where it matters: the safety credentials, V6 performance, upscale cabin, and road manners. The car is more than an ordinary family sedan. Even though it may not wear an Acura, Lexus, or Infiniti badge, it's no slouch either. Instead, it represents a serious and compelling amount of car for your money when you're searching for a used vehicle with a $15,000 budget.