Nissan Maxima vs Hyundai Genesis
Overview | |
MSRP$37,090 | MSRP$38,000 |
Average price$18,615 | Average price$12,911 |
Listings3122 | Listings600 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.3 out of 10 | Expert reviews8.5 out of 10 |
Pros
| |
Reviews SummaryThe 2021 Nissan Maxima celebrates 40 years on sale, making it one of the oldest Japanese automotive nameplates in continuous use. While it’s impressive for any model to survive four decades, the Maxima has spent most of its history mired in mediocrity. The Nissan Maxima name first appeared in 1981 as a rebranding of the Datsun 810 sedan. The original Maxima/810 was a true enthusiast’s car, boasting rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a sporty character that led Nissan to declare it a “four-door sports car.” However, that only lasted for a few years. With its first redesign for the 1985 model year, the Maxima switched to front-wheel drive (FWD) and was positioned as Nissan’s flagship sedan. It’s been that way ever since. Nissan has continued to gesture in the direction of that original RWD model, but for most of its 40 years, the Maxima has been a slightly sportier alternative to full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon, rather than a BMW beater. So it is with the current, eighth-generation, Maxima, which debuted for the 2016 model year. It enters the 2021 model year with few changes, the most significant being a 40th Anniversary Edition option package for the top Platinum trim level, which sits above the base SV and mid-range SR trim levels. That’s what we test drove for this review. | |
Reviews SummaryHave you ever seen a sports or action movie in which the protagonist makes a first attempt at a goal early in the movie, fails, then embarks on a training montage, only to succeed in the end? The lesson is that sometimes the first attempt isn’t the best, but if the desire is there, it will eventually lead to victory—but only after addressing one’s shortcomings. That is the 2015 Hyundai Genesis. In 2007, Hyundai brought a concept for the Genesis to the New York International Auto Show and stunned onlookers, not for the car’s design (though it was attractive), but because of the car’s stated goal: Hyundai was getting into the luxury game. The Korean bargain brand? Building a luxury car? The automaker was building highly competent products, but it still came as a shock. Fast-forward to 2014, and the shock has worn off. The Genesis was joined by the Equus, an even higher-end product. But in this time, the Genesis started to feel dated compared to its more aggressively styled siblings. By 2014 the Genesis was feeling almost anonymous. And that all changed for the 2015 model year. | |
No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine3.5L 300 hp V6 | Engine3.8L 311 hp V6 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainRWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower300 hp @ 6400 rpm | Horsepower311 hp @ 6000 rpm |
MPG City20 | MPG City18 |
MPG Highway30 | MPG Highway29 |
Engine | |
Engine Name3.5L 300 hp V6 | Engine Name3.8L 311 hp V6 |
Torque261 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | Torque293 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm |
Horsepower300 hp @ 6400 rpm | Horsepower311 hp @ 6000 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainRWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City20 | MPG City18 |
MPG Highway30 | MPG Highway29 |
Interior | |
Leather Seats | Leather SeatsStandard |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Key Features | |
Navigation SystemStandard | Navigation SystemStandard |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space14.3 cu ft | Cargo Space15.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight3612 lbs | Curb Weight4138 lbs |
Height56.5 in | Height58.3 in |
Length192.8 in | Length196.5 in |
Width73.2 in | Width74.4 in |
Wheelbase109.3 in | Wheelbase118.5 in |
Maximum Payload1073 lbs | Maximum Payload |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $37,090 | $38,000 |
Average price | $18,615 | $12,911 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.4 | 4.6 |
Expert reviews | 7.3 out of 10Read full review | 8.5 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
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Summary | The 2021 Nissan Maxima celebrates 40 years on sale, making it one of the oldest Japanese automotive nameplates in continuous use. While it’s impressive for any model to survive four decades, the Maxima has spent most of its history mired in mediocrity. The Nissan Maxima name first appeared in 1981 as a rebranding of the Datsun 810 sedan. The original Maxima/810 was a true enthusiast’s car, boasting rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a sporty character that led Nissan to declare it a “four-door sports car.” However, that only lasted for a few years. With its first redesign for the 1985 model year, the Maxima switched to front-wheel drive (FWD) and was positioned as Nissan’s flagship sedan. It’s been that way ever since. Nissan has continued to gesture in the direction of that original RWD model, but for most of its 40 years, the Maxima has been a slightly sportier alternative to full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon, rather than a BMW beater. So it is with the current, eighth-generation, Maxima, which debuted for the 2016 model year. It enters the 2021 model year with few changes, the most significant being a 40th Anniversary Edition option package for the top Platinum trim level, which sits above the base SV and mid-range SR trim levels. That’s what we test drove for this review. | Have you ever seen a sports or action movie in which the protagonist makes a first attempt at a goal early in the movie, fails, then embarks on a training montage, only to succeed in the end? The lesson is that sometimes the first attempt isn’t the best, but if the desire is there, it will eventually lead to victory—but only after addressing one’s shortcomings. That is the 2015 Hyundai Genesis. In 2007, Hyundai brought a concept for the Genesis to the New York International Auto Show and stunned onlookers, not for the car’s design (though it was attractive), but because of the car’s stated goal: Hyundai was getting into the luxury game. The Korean bargain brand? Building a luxury car? The automaker was building highly competent products, but it still came as a shock. Fast-forward to 2014, and the shock has worn off. The Genesis was joined by the Equus, an even higher-end product. But in this time, the Genesis started to feel dated compared to its more aggressively styled siblings. By 2014 the Genesis was feeling almost anonymous. And that all changed for the 2015 model year. |
Video | No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 3.5L 300 hp V6 | 3.8L 311 hp V6 |
Drive Train | FWD | RWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 300 hp @ 6400 rpm | 311 hp @ 6000 rpm |
MPG City | 20 | 18 |
MPG Highway | 30 | 29 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 3.5L 300 hp V6 | 3.8L 311 hp V6 |
Torque | 261 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | 293 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm |
Horsepower | 300 hp @ 6400 rpm | 311 hp @ 6000 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 20 | 18 |
MPG Highway | 30 | 29 |
Interior | ||
Leather Seats | Standard | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Key Features | ||
Navigation System | Standard | Standard |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 14.3 cu ft | 15.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3612 lbs | 4138 lbs |
Height | 56.5 in | 58.3 in |
Length | 192.8 in | 196.5 in |
Width | 73.2 in | 74.4 in |
Wheelbase | 109.3 in | 118.5 in |
Maximum Payload | 1073 lbs | |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
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