from what I know and what i've seen you need the leather package to get the automatic climate control, however I've recall in the past seeing you could get it, even if you had cloth, is this true?

 

....my 2000 GXE with cloth and convenience package has the auto climate control

 

Unless you have a mistake Maxima...auto climate control isn't available on the GXE at all. Not even on the 2001 GXE.

Although, I know of someone that has a '97 Maxima GXE 5 speed with a sunroof (not an aftermarket one) and according to Nissan you couldn't get a sunroof in a GXE unless you had the automatic transmision.

Sometimes Nissan does make mistakes in option groupings durring production.

 

I believe the US version does not offer auto climate control for the GXE. But here in Canada, the auto climate control is available for all models. Different countries, different specs (i.e., no body kit for the AE in Canada).