Hey guys I thought the 4th Generation Maxima ranked much higher as far as safety crash test ratings go..check it out for yourself. I found it interesting.

Lata!
-Jeremiah
1995-1996 Maxima Rating
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/95012.htm

1997-1999 Maxima Rating
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/97024.htm

Overall Comparison Rating Score
(scroll to the bottom for Maxima score)
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/...ary_midmod.htm

 

pretty old news, but for the newer members on the board - i'm sure it'll help them out

 

i can actaully vouch for that...some stupid b!tch at the gas station the other night, was pulling out, and i was behind her....well the crackhead decided to go into reverse, right into my car....god what a stupid b!tch....i was heated, but there wasnt even a single scratch/dunt/scuff

 

thats funny you guys say that because it was the worst one tested! maximas are my favorite cars but didn't you read the articles?? they scored the worst unfortunately!!!

 

I can say, having been in an accident in my 97 Max (got rear ended), I felt like there were pillows all around me and I didn't get hurt at all. Airbags didn't go off (they're not supposed to in a rear-impact accident), but my friend in the backseat didn't have his seatbelt on and got tossed around a bit, and my gf decided the best thing to do was act like a ragdoll and ended up getting a little whiplash for a week. Everyone was all back to normal 2 weeks later, and the MAx was back to normal 4 weeks later. I give the 97-99 Max a good crash rating.

 

Nissan engineering and quality for you. Maybe that is one of the reasons insurance for the Maxima ran me $1500/year without good grades discount, but now my insurance on a Corvette is $1600/year with good grades discount.

 

If you look at the 3rd link, the 2000 max is last on the list. Click the tab at the top of the list & go to "earlier designs". For the period that matches the 4th gen (95-99), the 97-99 came in 2nd behind the Volvo 850/S70. That's not bad.

Unfortunately the 95-96 is at the bottom of that list.

 

Dont feel bad bro. Im 19, and my insurrance is $2400 a year. So when ever you feel down about payiing that much for insurance, think of me.

 

Man, i wish. Think of me!!! My insurance is gonna be around 4K a YEAR!. That is if my insurance doesnt drop me. BTW, Im 17 with an accident (accident going on the premium in march).



Eric

 

Wow!!! Man I didn't realize being over 25 made such a difference. I pay $1900/year for 2 cars (both 99 Nissans). My max probably runs about $1k/year by itself. Never realized the blessing until now.

 

Maximas may not test well but in all the years I've been here I can't remember to many times where the occupants have been seriously injured when involved in an accident. If you want the safest car on the road, then buy a Volvo.

 

If you read the test reports carefully, you can see a major reason the 95-96 didn't do so well, is because the drivers seat somehow came loose of its railing during the test, causing more "injury" to the test dummy.

The IIHS groups certain years of cars differently if there is any structural change or change in restraints. The 97's had modified rear bumper reinforcement. Nothing was different about the interior or driver's seat mounting between a 97 and 95. The 97 fared much better in the tests. If the seat didn't come off the track on the 95 model offset crash test, it would have fared similar to the 97 with exception of the rear bumper test.

So was it a fluke with the 95 test car that the seat came loose?

 

It is not surprising that the 5th gen did worse than the 97-99 because the insurance institute rates based on damaged caused as well. Newer cars integrate the grille into the bumper, so that gets damaged as well during a front end collision. The main issue with all 4th and 5th gens is footwell intrusion. Can't really do much to protect yourself against that, other than not driving too fast and not sitting too close to the wheel.

One thing I really wish Maximas had is a telescoping steering wheel. The Accord has had one for many many years.