Nissan Maxima Engines by Year

The Maxima began as the Datsun 810 Maxima in 1981 with a straight six and a diesel. From 1985 it was a front-drive V6 sedan, with Nissan's VG and then VQ engines, through 2023.

Pick a year to see every engine offered that model year, with its code, rated horsepower and the trims it came in. Each engine links to its full specs.

Jump to a year

First generation (1981–1984): 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984

Second generation (1985–1988): 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988

Third generation (1989–1994): 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994

Fourth generation (1995–1999): 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999

Fifth generation (2000–2001): 2000 · 2001

Fifth generation, updated (2002–2003): 2002 · 2003

Sixth generation (2004–2008): 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008

Seventh generation (2009–2014): 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014

Eighth generation (2016–2023): 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023

First generation (1981–1984)

The 2.4 six and the 2.8 diesel.

1981 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-six (L24E)	120 hp net	810 Maxima sedan (1981), 810 Maxima wagon (1981), Maxima sedan/wagon (1982-1984)
2.8L / 170 inline-six diesel (LD28)	—	810 Maxima / Maxima diesel

1982 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-six (L24E)	120 hp net	810 Maxima sedan (1981), 810 Maxima wagon (1981), Maxima sedan/wagon (1982-1984)
2.8L / 170 inline-six diesel (LD28)	—	810 Maxima / Maxima diesel

1983 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-six (L24E)	120 hp net	810 Maxima sedan (1981), 810 Maxima wagon (1981), Maxima sedan/wagon (1982-1984)
2.8L / 170 inline-six diesel (LD28)	—	810 Maxima / Maxima diesel

1984 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.4L / 146 inline-six (L24E)	120 hp net	810 Maxima sedan (1981), 810 Maxima wagon (1981), Maxima sedan/wagon (1982-1984)

Second generation (1985–1988)

The 3.0 VG30E V6.

1985 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	—	GL, SE, GXE, Wagon

1986 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	—	GL, SE, GXE, Wagon

1987 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	—	GL, SE, GXE, Wagon

1988 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	—	GL, SE, GXE, Wagon

Third generation (1989–1994)

The VG30E and the SE's VE30DE.

1989 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	160 hp net	GXE (1989-1994), SE (1989-1991)

1990 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	160 hp net	GXE (1989-1994), SE (1989-1991)

1991 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	160 hp net	GXE (1989-1994), SE (1989-1991)

1992 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	160 hp net	GXE (1989-1994), SE (1989-1991)
3.0L / 181 V6 VE30DE	190 hp net	SE

1993 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	160 hp net	GXE (1989-1994), SE (1989-1991)
3.0L / 181 V6 VE30DE	190 hp net	SE

1994 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 181 V6 VG30E	160 hp net	GXE (1989-1994), SE (1989-1991)
3.0L / 181 V6 VE30DE	190 hp net	SE

Fourth generation (1995–1999)

The 3.0 VQ30DE.

1995 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE	190 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

1996 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE	190 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

1997 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE	190 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

1998 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE	190 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

1999 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE	190 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

Fifth generation (2000–2001)

The VQ30DE-K.

2000 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE-K	222 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE, SE 20th Anniversary (2001)

2001 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.0L / 182 V6 VQ30DE-K	222 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE, SE 20th Anniversary (2001)

Fifth generation, updated (2002–2003)

The 3.5 VQ35DE.

2002 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	255 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

2003 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	255 hp net	GXE, SE, GLE

Sixth generation (2004–2008)

The 3.5 VQ35DE.

2004 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	265 hp net	SE, SL

2005 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	265 hp net	SE, SL

2006 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	265 hp net	SE, SL

2007 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	255 hp net	SE, SL

2008 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	255 hp net	SE, SL

Seventh generation (2009–2014)

The 3.5 VQ35DE.

2009 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	290 hp net	S, SV

2010 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	290 hp net	S, SV

2011 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	290 hp net	S, SV

2012 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	290 hp net	S, SV

2013 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	290 hp net	S, SV

2014 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	290 hp net	S, SV

Eighth generation (2016–2023)

The 3.5 VQ35DE.

2016 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2017 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2018 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2019 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2020 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2021 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2022 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

2023 Maxima engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
3.5L / 214 V6 VQ35DE	300 hp net	S, SV, SL, SR, Platinum, 40th Anniversary (2021)

Working on one of these engines?

• Engine displacement from bore and stroke
• Static and dynamic compression ratio
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