2020 Lexus ES vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Lexus ES had evolved significantly from its earlier iterations, shedding its "boring" label with a more aggressive design. The large spindle grille, which had been growing since 2016, was even more prominent in the 2020 model, fitting well with the car's larger proportions. The rear design was more subdued, featuring thin taillamps and a pronounced kink at the back of the side windows. Inside, the ES offered a luxurious cabin with soft-touch materials and a large infotainment screen integrated into the dash. The interior was second only to Mercedes-Benz in terms of execution.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Maxima set a bold tone with its steeply-angled front end and massive grille, resembling an Art Deco locomotive. The 40th Anniversary Edition featured a two-tone exterior, black trim, and red semi-aniline leather upholstery, giving it a sinister yet stylish look. The interior was dressed up with dark-red leather seats and white gauge faces, adding a touch of 1980s vibe. The Maxima's design was clearly aimed at making a statement, both inside and out.

The 2020 Lexus ES came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 131 mph. The ES provided confident acceleration and a comfortable, refined ride, thanks to its Dynamic Control Shocks. The F Sport trim offered an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with adjustable dampers and additional drive modes, including Sport+. This setup allowed for more spirited driving, although the ES was not a high-performance machine.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima also featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The Maxima felt quick and the V6 engine sounded great, but the CVT was surprisingly responsive. While the Maxima was agile for a big sedan, its steering lacked precision and feel, and it suffered from torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima was comfortable for highway cruising, thanks to its quiet cabin and active noise cancellation.

The 2020 Lexus ES offered a spacious cabin with ample head- and legroom in both rows. The front doors had deep pockets, and the center console featured multiple retractable panels for storage. The ES had 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which was mid-pack for the midsize luxury segment. However, the rear seats did not fold down, limiting cargo flexibility.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima provided generous front headroom and legroom, but at the expense of rear-seat passengers. The rear headroom and legroom were among the worst in its class. The seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the generous front space. The Maxima featured Nissan's "Zero Gravity" front seats, which were comfortable but lacked thigh bolstering. The Maxima had 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least among its competitors, and its conventional trunk design limited cargo loading and unloading.

The 2020 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlling either an 8-inch or 12.3-inch display. While not a touchscreen, the Remote Touch pad was intuitive once presets were set. The system gained standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for 2020, enhancing its usability. The ES also offered a 10-speaker premium audio system, with an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo and a head-up display.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was also available. However, the infotainment system's graphics looked dated, and small icons made navigation difficult. The Maxima did include plenty of analog controls, but the notification sounds were jarring and unavoidable.

The 2020 Lexus ES came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and lane-tracing assist for limited semi-autonomous driving. Additional safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. However, the Maxima did not include Nissan's ProPilot Assist system.