I'm a noob. I've finally broken the Nissan Maxima package codes (for the most part) but I can't break this.

Other than paddle shifters and 1 inch bigger wheels, and memory seats, what's different about the sport package? I know its "sport tuned" but what does that mean? Also, how's the ride?

 

Sport package gives the trunk spoiler, red leather stiching..
Regarding the ride it is stiffer than a premium I assume and because the tires a lower profile.

 

Sport tuned generally means stiffer shocks and springs to give the ride and handling a tighter and firmer feel. I have a '12 Sport, but I can't say how it compares to non-Sports as I only had intentions on getting the Sport.
I copied and pasted the Sport features straight from Nissan's site.

Sport-tuned suspension
19" aluminum-alloy Light Hyper Silver finish wheels with P245/40R19 V-rated all-season tires
Rear spoiler
Dark-finish sport grille and smoked headlights
Trunk chassis reinforcement
High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights
Heated outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down feature
Auto-dimming driver-side outside mirror
Premium leather-appointed seats
Heated front seats
Parallel-seamed heated premium leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters
Parallel-seamed leather-wrapped shift ****
Power tilt/telescoping steering column
Memory System – driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors (two settings, remote control-activated)
Driver’s seat entry/exit system
Rear bucket seats (3-passenger capacity) with large fold-down center armrest
Rear-seat trunk pass-through (replaces 60/40 split fold-down seats)
Metallic trim (replaces piano-dot trim)

 

Thanks. I had seen some of that but forgot. I'm seeing alot of sport on the used market, and I'm trying to figure out if its worth it for me. I'm all about "sport" but I am trying to find a white pearl with black interior and its alot harder than you would think. Seems 90% are either S's or Cafe Latte in my area. So I am trying to figure out if I will be happy with a sport option car vs price vs features etc. It seems most of the white/black combos have sport.

 

Another quick question...the seat extension. Is that a sport thing as well?

 

For the 09-10 model years, some of these features overlap into the the premium package. the biggest difference is the silver interior trim instead of wood, stiffer suspension, regular moonroof, and the 19s. If you want the 19s you can always get aftermarket wheels. Non sport models can come with the trunk spoiler, my car for example. And if you have to have the spoiler, you can always install one. The panoramic roof in the premium trim isn't a big deal to me since 99% of the time no one sits in the back.

 

I believe all SV trim Maximas have this.

 

red stitching was only 09-10 cant recall if 11's has them... but 12's def dont.

 

Man, it just gets more confusing. Can someone confirm what part of the VIN identifies the car as an SV? I'm not sure that one of the cars I am looking at has the extendable seat, yet it has leather. I want to make sure I'm not considering buying an S that has had leather installed. Some dealers around brag about how they can install leather.....

 

11s dont.

 

My non sport has red stitching.

I agree. Too many variations. Easy way to spot a SV is the blinkers in the mirrors.

 

quoted from : http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/maxima/2009/

The Maxima SV adds foglamps, a driver seat manual thigh-support extender and power lumbar support, leather upholstery, a compass, a Homelink universal garage remote and a nine-speaker Bose stereo upgrade.

The SV can be equipped with either the Premium or Sport packages, which offer much of the same equipment but differ in key areas. Both add transmission paddle shifters, xenon headlights (available separately, but curiously, this requires adding Bluetooth, too), a driver-side auto-dimming outside mirror, heated front seats, driver memory functions with automatic entry/exit, a power tilt/telescoping steering column, a heated steering wheel, rear bucket seats with a center trunk pass-through (60/40-split feature deleted), upgraded leather upholstery and trim, Bluetooth (available as a stand-alone option) and satellite radio.

The Premium Package is differentiated by a dual-panel sunroof, a rearview camera, a seven-inch LCD screen, a cooled driver seat, rear-seat audio and HVAC controls, automatic up/down rear windows, a power rear window shade, wood trim, an audio-visual auxiliary audio jack and a dedicated iPod interface. The Sport Package features a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and metallic-look interior trim. High-performance summer tires are an added option with the Sport Package.

The Technology Package available on the Maxima SV adds a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic, a rearview camera, an auxiliary audio-video jack, a dedicated iPod interface, satellite radio, a single in-dash CD player (which replaces the six-disc version) and 9.3GB of digital music storage. This package is cheaper when combined with the Premium Package, since several features overlap. The heated front seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors can also be had in the Cold Package.

 

I have an 11 sport and it doesn't have red stitching either.

 

In 09 the 7th Gen started life with red stitching with the Sport and Premium Leather, they changed that cause on nissanusa the red stitching comes with just the regular leather, if you get the Premium Leather, the red stitching goes away.

Now if some could post a side by side of Nissans Leather compared to Premium Leather, cause one has perforated seats and the other has more perforations

 

Ghost posted some good info, but paddle shifters should be your key thing to look for on a Sport model

 

Paddle shifters also on my '11 with premium pkg. And I've wondered about the red stitching in the leather because I have the charcoal leather and the stitching is a reddish color also.

 

2012 Sports have a silver/gray stitching. When I was looking through the lot the day I got my '12 Sport I recall that both 2012 SV's and 2012 SV Premiums had a dark reddish/brown stitching. Hmm.....

 

IIRC... Red stitching is just regular leather and white stitching is the premium...

 

My '12 SV with Premium package has all of that including black leather with red stitching. The Sport pack is now mainly the same, aside from 19" rims instead of 18" and the grill and headlamp color. Some of the Sport-equiped models come with dark gray rims instead of bright silver, but it depends on what the dealer has in stock (some will swap them out and some will not).

The 60/40 split rear seat is a nice thing to have on the Sport, rather than a small pass-through door, although I was able to carry home a few lengths of 8' long crown molding with the trunk closed, which was nice for a change.
The sport has additional bracing that the Premium does not have.

I'm not sure what suspension differences there are between the two trim lines.

 

the sport model also has a reinforced front sway bar.

ive seen some people who get a base model S, or SV with no packages, and trade it later for a sport/tech or premium. if you have an eye on some of the luxury items just add them bro, you'll be glad you did trust me.

i think the best 2 packages are sport/tech and premium. many people will get premium though and just mod the car so its sporty then they end up with heat/cold seats and a nice sunroof. #jealous

 

I have a 2011 SV Premium and I DO have the red stitching.

I had a '09 SV Sport before this one and I had light grey interior with carbon fiber looking trim.

The '11 Premium has the dark grey leather with wood grain trim.

Both had 2 setting memory seats, paddle shifters, heated seats & steering wheel, the leg/seat extension on driver seat, and a rear trunk spoiler.

The SV Sport had a 6-disc CD changer, larger wheels and a stiffer ride.

The SV Premium has the panoramic roof, ventilated (A/C) seat, rear power sun shade, Monitor Package (color screen & backup camera)

 

Well that 12' Limited Edition S has those in the side mirrors as well....

 

Damn, Nissan changed around the Sport stuff from one year to another

 

The Sport and Premium both have the additional bracing across the car just behind the back seat. That is why the 'S' and base 'SV' have the 60/40 rear seat split, while the Sport and Premium have only the little pass through between the rear seat and the trunk.

That extra bracing makes the Sport and Premium bodies more rigid than the 'S' and base 'SV', giving better control of the car at speed, especially on less-than-perfect roads.

Where the Sport improves its handling over the Premium is the thicker sway bars, lower profile tires and larger diameter wheels.

 

^
I have a 2010SV Premium.
I dropped it with Eibachs/Spacers and in keeping my 18's I now have (in my old person mentality) a very good looking, well handling, and very nice riding pseudo Premium/Sport.
This was my plan from the beginning when I first saw the 7th gen...and I couldn't be happier....for now!

 

Just look for the XM radio antenna atop the car. I think this is exclusively on the sv models.

 

I love my 10' Sport package Max, but it rides like crap..If I get another it wont be a sport..

 

Let's trade

 

The tires and rims have a big affect on the feel. Try changing to smaller rims and higher profile tires.

 

^ill settle for that trade

 

I specifically didn't want the dual sun roof. I prefer the standard moonroof configuration. I just wish I could have the power rear shade, auto-up windows, and a cooled driver's seat in my 2012 SV Sport. I mean come on...how much extra could the auto-up windows all around have cost? Throw that in to the Sport package...jeez...

The extra mood lighting would have been nice too

 

I don't even notice the mood lighting.

 

Neither do I. Where exactly is the mood lighting at? And is it in all years 09-12?

 

I think it's 3 lights. One by the moonroof control that shines on the gear shift and 2 that shine on the door lock switches in the front doors. Never noticed till i read it on the forums. No idea what trim models it comes in.

 

From what you describe the straight line ride and going over bumps should be the same on Sport and Technology because the shocks/struts are the same. The difference will appear in the cornering capability. If so why do so many complain that the Sport has a harsher ride? Personally I like the Sport ride.

 

have you test driven a premium? its like floating, but when you hit a turn it feels like a pickup

 

The sport has larger wheels (19") than the Premium and other Maximas (18"), and the Sport has lower profile tires (40) than the Premium and other Maximas (45). Those tire/wheel combinations definitely make the Premium ride slightly softer than the Sport. The difference is not great, and many folks will be pefectly happy with the Sport ride. But the Premium is slightly softer.

I would suspect that those driving the Premium package could somewhat duplicate the ride of the Sport by pumping the air in their tires up around 37 PSI. I have the Premium, and carry 37 in the front tires and 35 in the rear.

 

Thats funny, when I was going through the exhaustive check of the car before driving off, the salesman made it a point to identify the lights. I don't think I would have noticed, assuming the switches are all backlit. It is a neat feature.

 

Like you, I really like the mood lights, and not for any 'mood' they might create. They are not dim in order to create a 'mood', but so they will be unobtrusive and not distract from driving.

The 'mood light' under the upper part of each of the two door-closing grips enables me to find the switch in the armrest array that I am looking for when driving at night.

The mood light near the sunroof switch is designed to cast a very soft, faint glow on the console area below, so it is possible to see what we are reaching for when driving in very dark areas.

 

2011 SV have the red stiching!!