Overview & Reviews

The Maxima receives updates this year that make it less of a family sedan and more of an entry-level luxury sport sedan. Headlining this year's upgrades is a 3.5-liter V6 that produces a stunning 255 horsepower. For maximum performance, sport-tuned SE models now combine this engine with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Other changes include revised exterior styling, additional feature content and an optional GPS navigation system.

• Impressively powerful V6 engine, sports car moves, plenty of room for five adults.

• Odd styling details, high price, rough ride quality with SE suspension.

User Reviews:

Showing 161 through 170 of 311.00

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  Great All Around Car - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Tony - October 15 - 1:53 pm

  Purchased this 02 GLE from my cousin in 07 with only 50K mi. Well built, reliable, powerful, comfortable...its simply an excellent all around daily driver.

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  Oil Consumption - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Maxima -Minimus - October 15 - 6:53 am

  Had to replace engine at 61K due to excessive oil consumption. Was adding oil weekly driving less than 30 miles per week but rings still damaged cylinders. Bought car for known reliability. Very sad and painful experience. Wards 10 best VQ35. Yeah,Right!

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  Nissan is Good - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By TaxMan - October 6 - 10:00 am

  The only car I drove that outperformed the Maxima was a 540 6-spd, but it was two years old, had over 30k miles, and was priced about $10k more than the Max I purchased. No other car priced under $35k can match the Maximas blend of performance, quality, and content. My only major complaint is the paint quality - the car is five months old and has almost a dozen paint chips on the front bumper. Great car - loads of passenger space, good looking, fantastic engine and transmission.

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  Best car in its class - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Arthur - October 6 - 10:00 am

  This is really a very good car. Ive been driving Maximas since 1995. Its the best car in its class(Honda Accord, Toyota Camry etc). Has the best V6 engine, very powerfull and very vell balanced. Previous year (2001) was not thet good: very unbalanced (very poor brakes for the power like that-215 hp). But this year -- excellent. Cars like it -- 0 (V6, 255 HP and the funny part -- only $24000 with the sunroof and everything power). ENJOY!!!

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  2002 maxima gle - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By max - September 18 - 2:10 am

  Bought this car in 2006 with like 49k now I have only 67k and I have mixed feelings about it is just not the way everybody think it is.Good thing it is loaded with heating steering wheel which is nice heated seats and much more features but it has so many downside things that I would not buy it again. Start with turning radius it is like an old Russian Lada than torque steer terrible than trany is going out at 67k almost gone than my struts in the front bad $1000 at least to fix them and I dont want to forget the wind noise is terrible, worse than my 90 Camry so in the other way dont buy it

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  Better than the others - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By szutavern - August 30 - 2:20 pm

  My wife just wrecked our 2002 maxima. Bought it used with less than 30K on it. Radio was a piece but the car ran and drove flawlessly for over 7 years and 155k miles. The dammed low-profile tires you have to run on these is the worst feature. All I did was change the oil regularly. It was in the shop for struts and then again for a steering rack. Total additional cost over regular stuff was like $2,000. Almost made the mistake today buying a an 2001 accord w. 73K on it till I read about all the problems with trannys and abs light garbage on those era of Hondas. I am looking for another nissan

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  I Luv My Maxima - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By nissanlover - August 26 - 2:46 am

  I have owned this car for 2.5 years and I am now at 135k and have no major problems. The power in this maxima is awesome and always performs like a champ. I also have a 2004 Maxima but I like the 2002 alot better

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  This car rocks!! - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By 2k2MaxSE - August 25 - 5:46 pm

  Plenty of power throughout the powerband. Easily the best combination of sporty/sedan for the $$$. Nice HIDs and exterior styling, although most other drivers will only get a look at the tail lights...

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  Middle-Aged Maxima - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By Buck Wheezer - August 25 - 9:40 am

  Drive mostly city. Gear shifting notchy. Only real gripe is the oil consumption that affected 10% of VQ35 engines. Still a fantastic engine.

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  Ergonomic Nightmare - 2002 Nissan Maxima
  By GWindsong - August 24 - 10:00 am

  The Maxima SE is GREAT in all respects but one - cockpit layout. Whoever designed it knew NOTHING about human interface design. The seats feel like bench seats, the climate controls use mixed modes (slide AND dial), for those with long legs the steering column does not telescope resulting in arm/shoulder fatigue, and the control console is hard to reach if your seat is all the way back. A month after purchase I had such neck, shoulder, and back pain that I was going to the chiropractor as often as twice a week. It took a while to figure out that the poor seat and layout design in the car were to blame.