2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2020 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Nissan Maxima had a design that closely mirrored other models in Nissan’s lineup, featuring the signature V-Motion grille, jewel-like LED headlights, and daytime running lights. Its floating-roof design, accented by a heavy beltline, led to the rear where quad-tip exhaust finishers rested. The Maxima SR models also sported a rear spoiler. The Maxima was the pioneer of this design era for Nissan sedans, influencing the Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima Platinum, as tested, came with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Goodyear all-season tires, while the interior boasted premium materials, semi-aniline leather, and a spacious cabin segmented by a thick center console.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Impreza adopted a more conservative design compared to its predecessors. Both the sedan and hatchback versions featured sleek headlights and taillights, a tapered front end, and subtle scalloping on the body sides. The Impreza Sport models had specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Impreza shared its underpinnings with models like the Legacy, Outback, and Forester, contributing to its overall refinement. The interior, though not exciting, was functional with model-specific touches in the Sport and Limited trims, such as contrast stitching and leather upholstery.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. Despite being marketed as a "four-door sports car," the Maxima was more of a comfortable cruiser. Its Sport drive mode and paddle shifters in the SR trim added some engagement, but the car excelled in absorbing road imperfections and maintaining a quiet cabin thanks to active noise cancellation and enhancement technologies. 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 Subaru Impreza featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, delivering 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Most models came with a CVT, though a five-speed manual was available on the base sedan and hatchback, and the Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also had specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for the AWD system. The Impreza provided a solid and refined ride, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport’s suspension offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the engine’s power and noncommunicative steering limited its appeal as a driver’s car.

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

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least among compact sedans, but the hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Impreza hatchback offered more cargo space than the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, and all hatch trims except the base model had standard roof rails. Higher trims included features like heated seats, a heated windshield, and a power moonroof, enhancing comfort and convenience.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 7-inch driver information display, though these were not the most modern. 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 Subaru Impreza’s base and Premium trims had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth, while higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim could be upgraded with TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant. The Impreza’s infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and easy access to important functions.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, 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 but the base model, with lane intervention available on SR and Platinum trims. The Maxima performed well in IIHS and NHTSA safety tests, earning top ratings in front crash prevention.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. A rear-seat reminder was also standard, with optional blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights.