Nissan Maxima named to '2016 Wards 10 Best Interior' list

WardsAuto today named the all-new 2016 Nissan Maxima as one of its "10 Best Interiors" for 2016. The Maxima features a bold new exterior design and a premium-crafted interior anchored by a command central fighter jet-inspired driver's cockpit that rivals luxury vehicles.

Maxima was chosen among a field of 47 nominees with all-new or significantly improved cabins, including 15 sedans. Also included among the "10 Best" nominees were the freshened Nissan Altima and all-new Nissan TITAN full-size pickup. The Maxima will be honored at the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 11 in Detroit.

Now in its eighth generation, the flagship Maxima sedan was noted by the editors of WardsAuto for being the ideal front-wheel-drive sport sedan with a warm, inviting interior that competes with significantly more expensive vehicles from luxury brands.

"This interior makes a brilliant first impression," said WardsAuto Senior Editor Tom Murphy. "The Maxima exhibits expert craftsmanship and reminds us once again why it serves as Nissan's flagship. We love the black-and-camel color scheme, two-tone flat-bottom steering wheel, 'Liquid Chrome' metallic trim and Alcantara diamond-quilted seating surfaces. Nissan took some chances with the Maxima interior, but the rewards are evident."

Eight WardsAuto editors selected the "10 Best Interiors" after spending February and March evaluating the vehicles and scoring each based on materials, ergonomics, driver information, safety, comfort, fit-and-finish and aesthetics. There is no price cap for the competition, though value remains an important judging criterion. This is the sixth year that the "10 Best Interiors" awards have been given. The new Nissan Murano was named to the list in 2015.

"WardsAuto editors have said that the line continues to blur between luxury and mainstream brands in terms of premium materials, connectivity, driver-assistance and infotainment systems – and the new Maxima certainly fits that positioning," said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "Nissan products are developed in a global collaboration and so was the new Maxima. We are especially proud that Nissan Design America and Nissan Technical Center North America played significant roles in that process. This strongly validates that here in North America we can design, develop and manufacture highly competitive world-class products with global appeal, as recognized by WardsAuto."

About the 2016 Nissan Maxima

The 2016 Maxima takes the nameplate's cutting edge design, performance and innovation leadership to its highest execution ever. The new 2016 Maxima embodies the latest Nissan design language and projects a distinctive upscale look through its unique combination of a lower profile and a wide stance, bold front end, Nissan signature V-Motion grille and floating roof appearance. Inside, the use of available premium materials includes Ascot Leather-appointed seats include diamond-quilted inserts – with Alcantara® diamond-quilted inserts on SR models.

At the heart of this newest generation "4-Door Sports Car" is its completely revised 300-horsepower 3.5-liter VQ-series V6 engine and new performance-oriented Xtronic transmission. Along with a high specific output (HP/L) of 85.7 horsepower/liter, the revised engine also offers a 15 percent increase in highway fuel economy to 30 miles per gallon. The new, performance-oriented Xtronic transmission features a wider ratio range, which allows for stronger acceleration from a standing start and an all-new D-Step shifting logic that provides rapid shifts at high throttle openings.

The 2016 Maxima also offers an extensive range of available safety, security and driving aids, including Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Driver Attention Alert (DAA)*.