2019 Nissan Maxima vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI had a stealthy, unassuming appearance that appealed to those who preferred not to draw attention. Despite its conservative styling, the GTI featured distinctive elements like a honeycomb grille, red accents, and twin exhaust outlets, hinting at its performance capabilities. The Rabbit Edition trim, priced at $28,895, included unique gloss black finishes and exclusive colors like Urano Gray and Cornflower Blue. Inside, the GTI's straightforward dashboard design, quality materials, and whimsical Clark Plaid cloth upholstery in the S and Rabbit Edition trims added to its charm.

In contrast, the 2019 Nissan Maxima showcased a more refined version of Nissan’s V-shaped design, with updated LED headlights, an edgier grille, and tinted taillights. The Maxima retained its stylish concave front fascia, wavy side creases, and floating roof design. Inside, the Maxima featured upgraded materials, contrast stitching, and minimal use of hard plastics. The SV trim, tested here, offered a comfortable all-black interior with ample padding and upscale textures, though it lacked the luxurious touches of the top-tier Platinum Reserve trim.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI delivered an exhilarating driving experience with its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The VAQ limited-slip differential, standard on all trims, enhanced traction and handling, making the GTI a joy to drive on twisty roads. The 6-speed manual gearbox provided smooth shifts, and the car's progressive steering and adaptive damping suspension (available on higher trims) further improved its dynamic performance. The GTI's fuel economy was rated at 27 mpg combined, though real-world driving yielded 25.1 mpg.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, offered a smooth and immediate thrust thanks to its CVT. The Maxima's traction control effectively mitigated torque steer, providing a stable driving experience. However, the soft brake pedal and numb steering detracted from the overall driving pleasure. The Maxima's suspension struck a balance between ride quality and nimble response, though it lacked the sporty edge of the GTI. Fuel economy was decent at 24 mpg combined, matching real-world results over 545 miles.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI excelled in practicality, with height-adjustable front seats, ample storage, and a user-friendly dashboard layout. The backseat offered acceptable comfort, though legroom was tight. The GTI's trunk, with a claimed 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, seemed optimistic, but folding the rear seats expanded the capacity to 52.7 cubic feet. The car's versatility made it suitable for both family duties and spirited drives.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a single 8-inch touchscreen display, offering quick response times and easy operation via touch or knob. The front seats, developed with Zero Gravity technology, provided exceptional comfort for long drives. However, the Maxima's thick pillars compromised sightlines, and the trunk's 14.3 cubic feet of space was smaller than competitors. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima offered sufficient passenger room and a driver-focused seating position.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI's infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto on the S and Rabbit Edition trims. Higher trims offered an 8-inch display, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a Fender premium sound system. The Rabbit Edition's basic system sufficed for most needs, though the Fender system provided superior sound quality. Adaptive LED front lighting and a semi-autonomous parking assistant were available on higher trims.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured an updated navigation system (except on the base S trim), Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a high-speed USB-C port. The Maxima was compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering remote services like engine start and door unlock. The instrument panel screen displayed multiple readouts simultaneously, and the Bose stereo, though adequate, lacked the immersive experience of some competitors. Notably, the Maxima did not offer Nissan's ProPilot Assist semi-automated driving functions.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring as standard on the Rabbit Edition. Higher trims included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and an active blind-spot monitoring system. The GTI's automatic post-collision braking system was a standout feature, enhancing occupant safety. The GTI received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and high marks from the IIHS, though it had an Acceptable rating for front passenger protection in the small overlap frontal impact test.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima came standard with forward-emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and reverse emergency braking. The Maxima earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in all crash tests and a Superior rating for its emergency braking system.