1990 NISSAN Maxima 3.0L V6 5MT (170 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The third generation of the Maxima was launched in 1988 for the 1989 model year, and despite being offered with just one engine, it was a good bet for Nissan.

The mid-size segment in the U.S. market was already contested by most other carmakers, and it was dominated by Ford with the Taurus. Still, Nissan didn’t drop the ball and launched the Maxima as a serious contender for the blue-oval brand. It did that by completely redesigning its flagship model for the American market and fitting it with all the amenities it had in its basket.

Nissan pushed the limits of its marketing strategy by calling the Maxima a four-door sports car, but that wasn’t entirely an overstatement. Its front fascia with horizontal, rectangular headlights resembled some of the sports cars from that era. Moreover, the aerodynamically profiled bumper featured some additional air intakes and sported the parking lights and the foglights below. The flowing lines of the bodywork were an important step forward in Nissan’s design strategy, which ditched the wedged shapes sported by the previous generation. In addition, the blackened B-pillar left the impression of a two-door vehicle, while the body-colored flush door handles amplified that image. Finally, depending on the option, the carmaker installed a wing on the trunk, emphasizing the car’s sports-oriented profile.

The greenhouse’s shape was a trade-off for the rear passenger’s headroom, but that was a problem only for adult occupants. With its cloth-upholstered front bucket seats that provided adequate side support, the Maxima delighted its drivers and its passengers. In addition, the flowing lines on the dashboard complemented by the white dials in the instrument cluster created a pleasant ambiance.

Nissan installed its 3.0-V6 single-cam engine under the car’s hood. It was similar to the one available in the 300ZX sports car. Thanks to its independent suspension and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, the Maxima confirmed Nissan’s statement about the four-door sports sedan.