Last year, Nissan->ke62 offered a limited run of its Midnight Accessories package. The demand for the package was so strong, Nissan decided to one-up its previous production run and start offering the Midnight Edition Package as a factory option for the Nissan Maxima.->ke540 The downside to the package is that it's only available on the Maxima in SR trim, so if you’re looking to get your hands on a “dark” Maxima, you’ll have to go with the Sportiest trim available.

The best part about the whole package as a factory installed option is that it comes at a considerable discount. Dan Mohnke – Vice President, Chief Marketing Manager and Marketing Operations – said, “Customer response to our limited production Maxima ’Midnight’ accessories package last summer was so strong, we’ve now made it a factory installed option – and we’re launching it at a $1,000 discount versus what it would cost to order and install the features individually. This special edition->ke2041 combines a more aggressive look with an affordable price, taking the popular SR grade level to an even higher level as enthusiasts’ favorite Maxima.”

An overall discount of $1,000 doesn’t sound too bad at all, does it? The package consists of several different body color options, as well as several exterior modifications. There are a few modifications to the interior, but this package is mainly designed for exterior gratification, so don’t expect much. So, without wasting anymore time, let’s look at what comes on the Maxima SR Midnight Edition.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Nissan Maxima SR Midnight Edition.

What makes the Nissan Maxima SR Midnight Edition special

To start off, the Maxima SR Midnight Edition comes in one of five different colors – red, white, gray, blue, and black. You’ve really got to give Nissan credit for choosing these five colors. Black just stands out in stylish form against all of these colors. The biggest additions from this package are the 19-inch, black, aluminum-alloy wheels, which certainly add a high level of appeal to the already beautiful design of the Maxima. Next up on the list of exterior upgrades is the black spoiler installed on the decklid. If you look at the image of the Maxima SR in red, the combination of the black window surrounds, the wheels, and the spoiler really creates a tempting color scheme. In addition, the diffuser around the dual exhaust outlets was also finished in black – not a bad way to round out the exterior.

As mentioned before, the inside yields far less from the Midnight Edition Package than the exterior, but Nissan saw fit to add a little bit of that dark appeal to the inside as well. The interior is packed with plenty of premium, Charcoal colored leather, and the seats have Alcantara inserts. Unfortunately, the modifications to the interior stop there, but if you look at the package as a whole, it's more than enough. Besides, the combination of the Maxima’s already generous technology and the overall design of the cabin was enough to make the model a winner on my list. Adding in the premium charcoal leather and Alcantara seat inserts is just a bonus.

Nissan Maxima

Believe it or not, the Maxima name was actually first used back in 1976 on the Bluebird. The first real Nissan Maxima – as a standalone model – didn't come to be until 1980. It’s been 26 years since that debut, and we’ve seen a total of eight generational changes, with the most recent happening for the 2015 model year. This generation is the most exciting of them all, with the new Maxima inheriting about 90 percent of its DNA from Nissan's 2014 Sport Sedan concept. Needless to say, the Maxima hit the ground running in 2015, and so far it's given other sedans in the segment a serious run for their money. Nissan did a great job designing this generation, and it’s a mystery how it will manage to improve next time a successor is due.

Read our full review on the Nissan Maxima here.