2019 Nissan Maxima vs 2019 Toyota Prius

The 2019 Toyota Prius was never known for its looks. Its design, which evolved from the second-generation model's boomerang-shaped profile, aimed to make a statement. However, by 2019, the fourth-generation Prius's extroverted design seemed to hurt its sales more than help. Despite its unconventional exterior, the Prius offered a practical solution for daily driving with a range of trim levels and optional all-wheel-drive (AWD-e) system. The interior, while unusual, centralized all controls and featured a mix of gloss black trim that attracted dust.

In contrast, the 2019 Nissan Maxima's design had become more refined over the years. For 2019, it featured updated LED headlights, an edgier grille, and new bumper designs. The Maxima retained its stylish concave front fascia, wavy side creases, and floating roof design. Inside, the Maxima boasted upgraded materials, contrast stitching, and minimal use of hard plastics. The SV trim, in particular, showcased a high-quality all-black interior with comfortable seating and upscale textures, making it a more visually appealing option.

The 2019 Toyota Prius combined a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor to produce 121 horsepower. The optional AWD-e system added a 5-kilowatt rear electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery. This system powered the rear wheels up to 6 mph and provided extra traction up to 43 mph. The AWD-e system resulted in slightly lower fuel economy, with the AWD-e model achieving 50 mpg compared to the standard front-drive Prius's 52 mpg. The Prius featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered a smooth, quiet ride, especially in urban environments. It also had an EV driving mode for speeds under 25 mph and blended regenerative brakes for energy recuperation.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima, on the other hand, was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a CVT, sending power to the front wheels. Despite being a powerful front-wheel-drive car, the Maxima managed to mitigate torque steer effectively. The Maxima's CVT simulated gear ratios well, providing smooth and immediate thrust. However, the Maxima's mushy brake pedal and numb steering detracted from the driving experience. The Maxima offered a decent fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 30 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2019 Toyota Prius offered comfortable seating for four adults, with manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and heated front seats. Rear passengers enjoyed good thigh support and decent legroom, though the lack of air conditioning vents in the second row was a drawback. The Prius's trunk provided up to 27.4 cubic feet of luggage space, expandable to 65.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The AWD-e model had slightly less cargo space. The Prius's hatchback design made it a practical choice for those needing extra storage.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a single 8-inch touchscreen display, which was easy to use and responsive. The Maxima's interior had thick pillars and a slim D-pillar, which compromised sightlines slightly. The trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, smaller than some competitors. However, the Maxima's front seats were exceptionally comfortable, designed to reduce muscle fatigue. The seating position was driver-oriented, with a flat-bottom steering wheel and a canted center stack.

The 2019 Toyota Prius's most impressive infotainment system was limited to the Limited trim level, featuring an 11.6-inch split-screen display, navigation, and a premium JBL sound system. The standard infotainment setup included a 6.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and a CD player. The Prius's instrumentation was housed in a horizontal strip below the windshield, with some displays looking outdated. The Advanced Technology Package added a head-up display and adaptive headlights but was underwhelming overall. Notably, the Prius lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima offered an updated navigation system on all trims except the base S. The infotainment system featured a customizable home screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a high-speed USB-C port. The Maxima was compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering remote services through NissanConnect. The instrument panel screen was wide and rich in color, displaying multiple readouts simultaneously. However, the Maxima did not offer ProPilot Assist, a suite of semi-automated driving functions available on other Nissan models.

The 2019 Toyota Prius offered the Safety Connect service on the Limited trim, providing automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, and more. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assist. The Prius received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima came with standard forward-emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, while the SR trim included pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. The Platinum trim featured reverse emergency braking. The Maxima received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.