Here’s how much a 2021 Nissan Maxima depreciated in five years

Nissan decided to appeal to your nostalgic hearts in renewing the 2026 Z, a car that has its roots in the iconic Datsun 240Z from 1970. Well, there is another old Nissan model that shared (part of) its mechanical heritage with that classic: the first generation Nissan Maxima that relied on the same engine. It was a sign of things to come for the model, which became known as the ‘4DSC’ (four-door sports car) for its third generation in 1989. By the last generation – which lasted from 2016 to 2023 – the Maxima’s unique performance position had largely melted away, leaving a car that leaned more toward luxury. Today we take a look at what the market thinks of the eighth-generation Maxima by checking the depreciation rate for the 2021 model, the most recent model to reach the typical five-year benchmark for depreciation evaluations.

The bottom line is that a ’21 Nissan Maxima, which had an MSRP of $38,065 (including $975 destination charge), has depreciated by approximately $22,165 – more than 58% – indicating a Kelly Blue book (KBB) retail value of $15,900 as of early February 2026. The estimated trade-in value for a 2021 Maxima is $13,300.

Note that for whatever reason, KBB lists the Maxima’s MSRP at $38,040 that year, but we used Nissan’s numbers as a starting point in our calculations. As for depreciation rates, KBB bases them on the average prices of comparable vehicles, using the website’s Private Party Values, combined with data and forecasts from Manheim auctions.

KBB can also help us discover the specific depreciation rates for individual Maxima trim levels. The math is a little different here, as we will be comparing the car’s original 2021 price to KBB’s current fair purchase price for used examples. The 2021 Maxima lineup started with the SV trim, which opened at the aforementioned $38,065 and included Nissan’s 3.5-liter V6 making 300 horsepower. What perhaps wasn’t so good was the car’s CVT and front-wheel drive. Still, with a current fair purchase price of $17,300, this means a five-year depreciation rate just south of 55%.

The next rung on the ladder was the 2021 Nissan Maxima SR, the most athletically oriented member of the family. Granted, there was no actual upgrade to the car’s power, but improvements were welcomed such as a sport-tuned suspension, a larger front stabilizer bar, paddle shifters, Alcantara seat/steering wheel detailing and 19-inch wheels. The entry price for the SR was $43,225 (including a $975 destination charge), and when you consider the fair purchase price of $21,600 for this trim, it has lost only 50% of its value in five years.

Platinum was the premium trim of the bunch, priced just $70 above the SR, and it traded performance features for luxury cues as part of the $42,320 MSRP. Additions included high-quality inserts for the front seats and maple wood accents. It appears these luxury touches hold their value more than enthusiast-oriented upgrades, as the Platinum trim had the lowest 2021 Maxima depreciation rate of only about 46% – which equates to the highest fair purchase price of the bunch: $22,900.

With sporty pretensions, 300 horses and an original MSRP of less than $40,000, the 2021 Maxima is a good match for the 2021 Toyota Camry V6. Unfortunately, the only new Toyota Camry models in dealerships these days are hybrids rated at 232 horsepower, but those V6 engines put out 301 horsepower and were available for just $33,210, including a $33,210 destination charge. 1,025. And that was for the TRD version, tuned by Toyota Racing Development. In terms of depreciation, the Camry TRD lost less than 20% of its value in five years.

The 2021 Kia Stinger also makes for an interesting comparison to the Maxima, as it had the same sort of sport-sedan look and price range – albeit with the benefit of rear- and all-wheel drive. At one end of the price spectrum, the least expensive Stinger (the RWD GT-Line) hit the market with an MSRP of about $34,315, including a $1,045 destination charge. The turbocharged 2.0 four-cylinder engine delivered 255 horses (upped to 300 hp for 2022). The cheapest Stinger with an available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 delivered 365 horsepower, raising the MSRP to $40,635 – including destination charges, as usual. If you look at the respective five-year depreciation rates, the former is just under 40% and the latter is only a few percentage points higher.