Nissan Maxima Celebrates 40 Years

The Nissan Maxima began its life in the US in 1981 as the Datsun 810, pairing the 240Z’s engine with a five-speed gearbox. By the mid-1980s, the Maxima had a V6 engine and a Nissan badge. Now, 40 years later, Nissan is celebrating with a special anniversary edition available for the 2021 model year. Nissan says it’ll limit the package’s production, though the automaker doesn’t specify that number.

The package is your typical special edition flair, building on the model’s Platinum trim of goodies and features. Customers will receive unique two-tone paint – Ruby Slate Gray Pearl with a black roof, gloss black 19-inch wheels, black exhaust finishers, and black exterior badges that include special anniversary edition badging.

Inside, it’s not all dress-up. The model will receive heated rear seats as an upgrade while the speedometer and tachometer will feature white faces, a nice callback to past Maxima models. Nissan will emboss 40th Anniversary Edition into the red semi-aniline leather seats, too. Other touches include red contrast stitching and Satin Dark Chrome trim pieces throughout the interior.

Nissan will offer the 40th Anniversary Edition package on the SV, SR, and Platinum Maxima models. Nissan’s 3.5-liter V6 engine making 300 horsepower (223 kilowatts) and 261 pound-feet (353 Newton-meters) of torque is standard, as is the automaker’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Nissan hasn’t strayed too far from the Maxima’s sporty origins, always building on its heritage, and it must be working. According to the automaker, Maxima customers are among its most loyal.

Pricing for the package isn’t available yet, though Nissan says we should expect a full rundown, including pricing and specs, of the 2021 Maxima lineup closer to the model’s on-sale date scheduled for this fall. The subtle touches and upgrades shouldn’t be too expensive, though. The 2020 Maxima starts at $34,450, which may tick upward for 2021.