I kind of like it. Doesn't seem cheap like the previous gen Nissans.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...nterior-leaked

 

Love the new interiors but do not like the new exterior, it seems very kia optimaish,imo

 

I love that steering wheel. I want it in my 5th gen lol

 

The interior is definetly a step up from the previous and the exterior is an improvement. Can't wait to see options and colors.

 

I agree that wheel is sexy as hell, and the interior looks like a benz or bmw too me.

 

it looks good, but it does look too much of a Kia Optima dash, kind of wrapped around you.

 

True. But just because there may be a resemblance does not mean this arrangement will not work well for the driver. Being unique has some advantages, but I lean to the best arrangement over having to come up with something unique. And the overall quality of this Maxima interior appeals to me over the Kia Optima interior, although Kia has done a commendable job. Both Kia and Hyundai offer good products for the money, and some of their styling has been eye-catching.

 

Something about its cool factor reminds me of this famous interior..

 

wow I like that they finally have the screen oriented towards the driver. Makes it seem more like a cockpit.

 

I think the Maxima is the type of vehicle where orienting the center portion of the dash slightly toward the driver will be appreciated by most owners. My wife and I noticed this because we are together in whatever vehicle we may be using on any particular day (advantage of being retired), and the person riding shotgun is usually pushing the buttons. But this tilt is not enough to cause us any difficulty. We just wish the person riding shotgun could use the navi while the car is moving. But, being retired means we have the time to simply pull off the freeway and stop and piddle with the navi any time we wish. Life is good.

 

I've always taken to auto electronics, in particular navigation and radio controls. Now, if Google were to create a great experience for automotive electronics, I'd be in. From the picture depicted with the flat-bottomed steering wheel, can anyone point out the location of the paddle shifters, if they're located on the backside of the wheel itself, or on the steering column frame like the current 7th gen and '15 Altima?

 

There were no paddle shifters on this version shown in this pic. From what I can tell...this is not a top end trim package as it only has heated and not climate controlled seats. You can tell this by the buttons by the center arm rest. I hope they keep them...where available...on the column and not move with the steering wheel. I love having them in a stationary spot while driving.

 

I think you are correct about this not being a top of the line version. One poster here who clearly has some kind of connection to Nissan told us last month that there would be FIVE levels of the 2016 Maxima, and he even gave us their 'designated names.' The paddles are probably only on the top two or three versions. I would be very surprised if Nissan moved the paddles off the steering column and had them turning with the steering wheel. That would not be logical.

I lost virtually all circulation in my hands back in my seventies, so can only drive cars with heated steering wheels during the cooler half of the year. So, unless Nissan changes things from the last two generations (where heated steering wheel was only available with the Sport and Premium packages), I will be restricted to one of the upper level Maximas.

 

Its been available on gens 5.5 (02 to current) on the upper trims only.
I'm not really a fan of it myself but glad it works for you, I usually prefer my good ole' nice gloves if it gets that cold. Still surprises me that some "luxury" cars still do not offer this option in 2015.

 

LOTH, very well said and true. My grandfather (nearing 90-years-of-age) has some of those issues, god rest his soul, love him to death, in addition to some of my father's softball team players have those issues (or tendons stuck to the skin from catching hard line-drives), any way to stimulate blood-flow is a huge plus. There is only one company that I can think of that offers a heated steering wheel outside of Benz, Cadillac with their XTS series offers heated steering wheel with wood-trim.

As for the 5 trim levels, obviously PLATINUM being top-of-the-line fully-loaded, what would they be called? Standard, Sport, Premium, Sport Premium, and Platinum? If in the greatest stretch, Nissan deploys a NISMO series, would they have 3 trims...NISMO, NISMO AWD, and NISMO PLATINUM with AWD?

I would hope so if they offer NISMO as such, or just NISMO PLATINUM AWD with the choice of leather seating or Alcantara seating with bolstered seats and rear bucket seats.

Let me know your thoughts and any chance by miracle that NISMO comes to fruition for the 8th gen.

 

S, SV, SL, SR and Platinum for MY2016.

 

Thanks, bruddahmanmatt. I remembered that you had posted the 2016 Maxima levels here, but, in looking back, was not able to find them. You have given us some very much appreciated info on this 2016. I especially liked knowing the color palate. Thanks!


jpiarull - At this point, rather than surmise and maybe start misleading rumors, I think I will hold off for just 13 more days, at which time Nissan will introduce the 2016 and give us real firm data. I will be a little surprised if we have a NISMO version early on, but Nissan may announce one to be released later. Personally, I would be pleased if Nissan would simply make NISMO aftermarket parts available for the 8th gen Maxima so that we could make quite a few upgrades ourselves.

 

Gloves worked quite well for me from the late 1940s until around 2000, but once my circulation failed, there was no heat in my fingers for the gloves to protect, and they stayed icy in the warmest gloves. I was not aware the 5.5 had a heated steering wheel in upper models. Thanks for that info. The only 5th gen I had was a 2000 SE that I special ordered with the GLE package added. That car was loaded.

Like you, I am a little surprised more cars do not have heated steering wheels. I would think some folks in the snow belt would opt for them.