AUTONEWS

Nissan Altima vs. Máxima

The Nissan Altima and Nissan Maxima have similar looks, are similar in size, and are not that far apart in price, either.
For that reason, it might be a bit difficult to decide between these two family sedans. In this post, we'll compare the appearance, powertrains, size, pricing, and other important aspects of these two cars, hopefully leaving you with a better idea of ​​which suits your lifestyle and your needs. Nissan Altima: The Nissan Altima has a sporty and geometric design with a large front grille, a dramatic side styling line with a prominent notch at the c-pillar that creates a "floating roof" illusion, an integrated rear diffuser, dual tailpipes, and other youthful elements. The Altima was updated for 2019, so this design is also fairly recent.

Nissan Maxima: The Maxima is quite similar to the Altima in appearance with a similarly geometric design. The Maxima's slightly larger size is quite obvious at first glance, though, thanks to its more elongated stance. The Maxima also has a similar notch in the c-pillar for that "floating roof" look, and appears almost identical to the Altima from the rear. The Maxima's styling is a bit more dramatic than the Altima with its floating roof design and funkier boomerang headlights.

Bottom Line: While not identical, these two sedans were very clearly designed by the same company - both sedans have different iterations of the company's trademark V-Motion Grille. If you like the design of one, you will probably like the other. Some shoppers may prefer the up-to-date looks of the Altima, however, while others may prefer the funky style of the Maxima. Space / Practicality
Altima: The Altima is four-door mid-size sedan with seating for five. Front seat passengers enjoy legroom of 43.8 inches and headroom of 39.2 inches, while rear seat passengers have 35.2 inches of legroom and 36.9 inches of headroom. It has a total interior volume of 100.8 cu-ft and a maximum cargo capacity of 15.4 cu-ft.

Maxima: The Maxima is a four-door mid-size sedan with seating for five. It has front seat passenger legroom of 36.7 inches and front headroom of 39.4 inches. Rear seat legroom sits at 34.2 inches while rear headroom is 36.7 inches. It has a total passenger interior volume of 98.5 inches and a maximum cargo capacity of 14.3 cu-ft.

Bottom Line: Nissan's lineup is odd in that it offers two mid-size sedans. The Altima has superior packaging to the Maxima and is actually the most spacious of all Nissan sedans. For that reason, the Altima is the best choice between these two if you have a family or often carry rear seat passengers or cargo. Both have ridiculously comfortable Zero Gravity seats. Powertrains / Fuel Economy
Altima: The Altima is offered with two engines. The base powertrain is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 188 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and a CVT transmission. Power is sent to the front wheels, although Nissan's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is available at additional cost with the 2.5-liter engine.
This setup returns an EPA certified 28 MPG city and 39 MPG highway for a combined rating of 32 MPG. All-wheel drive 2.5-liter models see a slight dip in fuel economy at 26 MPG city and 39 MPG highway for a combined rating of 30 MPG combined.
The optional high-tech 2.0-liter variable compression turbocharged engine in the Altima is rated at 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and is also paired with a CVT transmission and FWD (AWD is only offered with the 2.5-liter engine). The 2.0-liter engine is rated at 25 MPG city and 34 MPG highway for a combined rating of 29 MPG. Maxima: the Maxima only offers a single powertrain: a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 300 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. Only offered with front-wheel drive, the EPA rates the sedan at 20 MPG city and 30 MPG highway for a combined rating of 24 MPG.
Bottom Line: The Altima has two powertrains on offer, compared to the Maxima's sole V6, and is also offered with all-wheel drive. This makes the Altima the clear winner in the powertrain category. If you want a V6 engine, though, then you'll be forced into the Maxima, but the VC Turbo in the Altima is quite good. Driving dynamics
Altima: When we drove the 2019 Nissan Altima, we said that it "feels light on its feet and agile, with a nice amount of heft to the steering system." We also said the CVT was "agreeable," and appreciated the powerful optional 2.0-liter engine, which pulls "with absolute authority from about 3,500 on the tachometer upward beyond five-grand," and "makes the new Altima properly fast." We did not like that 2.0-liter engine AWD, though.

Maxima: When we tested the 2019 Nissan Maxima, we said the big sedan had "a surprising amount of pep to its step," thanks to the 3.5-liter V6 and said the steering was "pleasantly heavy" and that the car "responded to directional changes well. "Despite it being a bit stiff, it also felt" precise and confident, with limited body roll. "

Bottom Line: The Altima provides a cushier ride and with a newer and more refined 2.0-liter engine, it is likely the one that most people will find more fun to drive. The Maxima is tuned for sportiness, though, which helps the front end feel sharper on twisty roads - at the cost of some rough road comfort. Technology
Altima: The Altima comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is also standard Bluetooth, standard six-speaker audio system, available active noise cancellation and two USB ports. Standard active safety tech includes cruise control, forward collision assist with emergency braking, hill start assist and a driver alertness monitor. Available tech includes the venerable Nissan ProPilot assist semi-autonomous driving suite, lane intervention and emergency brake with pedestrian detection, among many more. Maxima: The Maxima also comes with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It gets a superior eight-speaker audio system as standard, however, along with the multi-function steering wheel and one USB port. Automatic emergency braking is standard, but many other active safety technologies are optional. The ProPilot assist semi-autonomous driving suite is also available.
Bottom Line: both of these vehicles offer similar technologies standard. The most important thing is that they are offered with active safety technology - especially ProPilot assist, which adds a range of useful safety technologies that can keep you and your family safe on the road. This category is a toss-up, as the Maxima and Altima are quite equally matched here. Pricing
Altima: The Altima starts at $ 23,900 in the United States for the S base model, while the mid-tier SR, which features the basic equipment that most consumers will want, starts at $ 25,250. The most expensive model, the One VC Turbo Edition, starts at $ 35,750.
Maxima: The Maxima is positioned to a more premium product than the Altima, so there is quite a big price difference. The Maxima starts at a pricey $ 33,950 for the base S model, but it offers much more equipment in base guise than the pedestrian Altima. The most expensive model, the Platinum Reserve, starts at $ 42,580.
Bottom Line: The Altima is priced between $ 23,000 to $ 35,000 depending on the trim level you choose, while the Maxim is priced between $ 33,950 and $ 42,950. That is quite a large price difference and, to be honest, it does not seem like the Maxima is worth the roughly $ 10,000 premium price. The Altima is better value in just about every way, if you ask us.
The Verdict: Nissan Altima vs. Maxima
Normally, these comparisons are fairly close and we advise shoppers to try both vehicles and see which suits their needs. This time, though, we have to say that Altima is the clear winner. With more up-to-date looks, technology, and powertrains, more space for passengers and cargo, available all-wheel drive and much more reasonable pricing, we would steer just about everyone away from the Maxima and toward the Altima. By Sam McEachern