2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2020 Nissan Maxima had a design that closely mirrored other models in Nissan’s lineup. It featured the brand’s signature V-Motion grille, standard jewel-like LED headlights, and distinctive daytime running lights. The floating-roof design, accented by a heavy beltline, led to the rear where quad-tip exhaust finishers were positioned. The Maxima SR models also included a sporty rear spoiler. The Maxima was the pioneer of this design era for Nissan sedans, influencing the Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima was available in S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum trims, with the Platinum trim featuring 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Goodyear all-season tires.

Inside, the Maxima’s cabin was filled with materials typical of Nissan’s standard, with the Platinum trim veering into premium territory. The SR trim had unique styling elements like a patterned seat insert and charcoal headliner. The Platinum Reserve Package added semi-aniline leather appointments and Satin Bronze interior finishers. The thick center console created a segmented front row experience, but the cabin was spacious. Standard features included an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a host of other modern conveniences.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design compared to other BMW sedans. It received a minor styling refresh for the model year, giving it a sleeker look with streamlined LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. The 5 Series also featured trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and updated front and rear bumpers for the M Sport Package. The car was 1.2 inches longer than before, maintaining a good drag coefficient of 0.27.

The interior design remained familiar, with specific BMW styling cues like the positioning of the touchscreen and the unusual-looking shifter. Lower trim levels had standard SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather. The 540i xDrive test car featured Nappa leather and aluminum trim, adding to the high-end feel. However, the standard leather-wrapped “sport” steering wheel felt out of place due to its size and the minimal effort required by the electric power steering.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), generating 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. While marketed as a "four-door sports car," the Maxima was more comfortable as a cruiser. The Sport drive mode and paddle shifters in the SR trim made the drive more engaging, but the car excelled in comfort, absorbing road imperfections well. Active noise cancellation in SL and higher trims, and noise enhancement in the SR, kept the cabin quiet. The Maxima had front-wheel drive and an 18-gallon fuel tank, achieving an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrains. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive. The M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp, while the M5 boasted 617 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima offered spacious seating, a large trunk, and comfortable seats. The thick center console limited the feeling of spaciousness, but the cabin was otherwise roomy. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though the Maxima lagged behind competitors in legroom and cargo space. It had 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space and 98.5 cubic feet of passenger space, less than the Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Sonata, and Honda Accord. Despite this, the Maxima handled daily cargo and seating needs well, with front in-door bottle holders accommodating 20-ounce bottles.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, available only as a four-door sedan in the U.S., felt spacious with competitive front-seat space and ample rear-seat room. The 540i had 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, more than the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench for longer items. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with heating, ventilation, and driver memory. Forward visibility was poor due to the long hood, but a surround-view camera system helped with parking.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 7-inch driver information display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with NissanConnect Services available on the Platinum trim. An optional Bose Premium Audio system with 11 speakers was available. The Maxima also offered an Around View Monitor camera system, power rear sunshade, keyless entry, and USB-A and USB-C ports in the front and rear.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with iDrive 7 and a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The infotainment screen’s location atop the dashboard made it easy to read, though the instrument cluster layout could have been better. The rotary knob for infotainment functions provided a tactile feel, and voice control and gesture controls were also available.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking, and a driver alertness monitor. Traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control were standard on all trims except the base model. The Maxima performed well in IIHS and NHTSA safety tests, with top "superior" ratings for front crash prevention.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received a “Top Safety Pick+” award. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist. BMW’s driver-assist tech was sophisticated and smooth, with traffic-jam assist allowing for stop-and-go driving on highways.