Since 1981, the Nissan Maxima has been marketed as the "four-door sports sedan" by its manufacturer, Nissan Motor Co. The 2000 Maxima marked the beginning of the fifth generation of production, and the GLE version was considered the top-level trim for this model year--above the base GXE and the sporty SE.
Background
When the 2000 Maxima was released, Nissan was going through a tough period. Sales were plummeting due to lackluster response of consumers to its products. French automaker, Renault SA--which was just as troubled as Nissan--bought almost 40 percent of Nissan in 1999 in an attempt to rejuvenate its brand. Part of the rejuvenation process was a revamped Maxima for the 2000 model year.
Main Features
The fifth-generation Maxima was promoted as an "affordable luxury" vehicle, and the 2000 Nissan Maxima GLE version was the most luxury-oriented of the trims. This was marked by its softer suspension, standard four-speed automatic transmission with no option for a manual, and 16-inch alloy wheels. It also had leather seats with a driver multi-adjustable power seat, features that were not available on the other trims.
Praise
Much of the praise from professional car critics for the 2000 Nissan Maxima, particularly Larry Printz of "The Morning Call" newspaper, went to its engine--a three-liter, 222-horsepower V6 that was noted as the Maxima's most powerful and refined yet. Also, the styling--particularly the car's rear with its taillights--was lauded by journalists such as Warren Brown of "The Washington Post" over that of the previous generation (1995 to 1999), which never won high marks in that department.
Criticism
Editors from car information site Edmunds.com, however, were skeptical of the 2000 Maxima's overall value, especially next to its less expensive and slightly similar sibling, the Nissan Altima. Moreover, some critics, such as Anita And Paul Lienert from "The Detroit News," complained that the car was still, comparatively speaking, stylistically bland.
Price
As the top-of-the-line trim, the 2000 Nissan Maxima GLE was the most expensive of the three versions of the vehicle, with an original manufacturer's suggested retail price of $26,249. As of 2010, Kelley Blue Book estimates its price value range at around $7,300 to $7,900.
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