2021 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was available in standard, EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels, with prices ranging from $26,370 to $36,240. The hybrid powertrain added a $1,600 premium, except for the Touring trim, where it offered a $460 saving. The Accord Hybrid was not available in Sport trim. The car was praised for its excellent design, showcasing a balance of proportion, stance, style, and detailing. Minor front styling updates included a new grille, revised bumper, and new headlights. The Touring trim featured new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. The test vehicle, an Accord Touring in Lunar Silver, was noted for its dark undertone, avoiding the typical brightness of silver metallic paint. The interior, regardless of color, was upscale, with simulated matte-finish wood trim, robust controls, and polished metallic accents. The controls were logically arranged, and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display included both a volume and tuning knob, enhancing usability.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling, including a "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille. The Maxima distinguished itself with a steeply-angled front end and massive grille, giving it an Art Deco locomotive appearance. The 40th Anniversary Edition featured a two-tone exterior, Ruby Slate Gray Pearl paint, black roof, model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, and black exterior trim. The interior was dressed up with red semi-aniline leather upholstery and white gauge faces, adding a stylish and functional touch. The Maxima's design was bold, but subsequent models saw a toned-down approach. The interior was noted for its dark-red leather seats, which had an 80s vibe, and the white gauge faces were both stylish and functional.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, with torque available immediately and constant up to 2,000 rpm. The Accord Hybrid accelerated to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and achieved 48 mpg in combined driving, except for the Touring trim, which earned a 43-mpg rating due to larger wheels. The powertrain operated in three modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive, with additional driver-selectable modes like EV Mode, Econ Mode, and Sport Mode. The 2021 model saw improvements in throttle response and sound, with the Touring trim averaging 42.8 mpg. The car's handling was athletic, with a compliant ride and excellent brake-by-wire regenerative braking system.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima was equipped with 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. While not a "four-door sports car," the Maxima was quick, with a great-sounding V6 engine. The CVT was responsive, meting out power effectively. The Maxima was agile in corners, but the steering lacked feel and precision, and the front end lacked grip, leading to torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these limitations, the Maxima was designed to be sporty, unlike competitors like the Toyota Avalon TRD and Volkswagen Arteon, which emphasized comfort. The Maxima excelled in highway cruising, with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, despite its stiff suspension and 19-inch wheels.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid offered impressive interior space, competing as a midsize sedan but providing full-size sedan roominess. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and spacious back seat were highlights, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Touring trim added heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin, a covered compartment with a wireless smartphone charger, and large door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid's trunk was a standout feature, offering 16.7 cubic feet of space, larger than any competitor in the segment, and accommodating full-size suitcases on their sides.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima provided generous front headroom and legroom, but rear-seat passengers had limited space, with rear headroom near the bottom of the class and rear legroom the worst among full-size sedans. The seats were positioned far inboard, affecting the feeling of spaciousness. The center console was close to the driver, making some controls difficult to reach. The Maxima featured Nissan's "Zero Gravity" front seats, designed for optimum support, with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the least in its competitive set, with competitors like the Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon offering more space due to their hatchback designs.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. EX trim and higher offered wireless connectivity for these platforms, improved USB port access, and standard 2.5-amp quick-charge USB ports for rear-seat passengers. Wireless smartphone charging was also standard from EX trim up. EX-L trim added a premium sound system, while Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot. The system required specific prompts for voice commands, and the navigation system struggled with certain tasks, like locating the nearest hospital.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima's technology showed its age, with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. A built-in WiFi hotspot was newly standard, and USB-A and USB-C ports were included. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was available. The infotainment system's graphics looked dated, with small icons making navigation difficult. Notification sounds were also dated and confusing. The Maxima provided analog controls, including shortcut buttons for touchscreen menus and knobs for climate control and audio, but the notification sounds were unavoidable.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid aimed to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS by redesigning its LED headlights and making them standard. The car included a rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder system, with the Touring model gaining low-speed braking control. The Honda Sensing suite of ADAS featured refinements to adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, though the system's operation was still noticeable. The low-speed automatic braking system required recalibration, as it was overly sensitive with a full payload.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the 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. The Maxima did not include the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.