2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive appearance. Its broad grille and tapered tail made it instantly recognizable. The N Line version further enhanced this look with functional and stylistic changes, such as larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear featured a subtle gloss black lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a four-outlet exhaust system, giving the car a stealthy performance-oriented look. Inside, the Sonata N Line boasted sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents, along with a standard panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling elements like the “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, 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, and black exterior trim. Inside, it had red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white gauge faces, and heated rear seats, adding a touch of 1980s vibe and functionality.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 rpm to 4,000 rpm. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. Drivers could choose between Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes. The car also included an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system and a sport-tuned exhaust. The Sonata N Line had significant improvements in engine and transmission mount stiffness, faster rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. It rode on 19-inch wheels with 245/40 all-season or summer performance tires. The car proved to be a treat to drive, with responsive steering, firm underpinnings, and sticky tires. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 27 mpg combined, but real-world driving yielded 23.7 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 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. The CVT was responsive, meting out power effectively. However, the Maxima's steering lacked feel and precision, and the front end lacked grip, making it susceptible to torque steer. Despite these issues, the Maxima was agile for a big sedan and felt rock-solid during highway cruising. The cabin was quiet, thanks to active noise cancellation, and the ride was comfortable despite the stiff suspension. The Maxima's fuel economy was not specified in the text.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts, offering a balance between comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster. Rear-seat passengers had less legroom and thigh support compared to the Elantra N Line, but the Sonata offered rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The panoramic sunroof alleviated claustrophobia. Interior storage was generous, though the center console design was inelegant. The trunk had a volume of 16 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat and a Smart Trunk hands-free release feature.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima provided generous front headroom and legroom, but rear-seat passengers had limited space. The seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the generous front space. The Maxima featured Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” front seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. The trunk had a volume of 14.3 cubic feet, the smallest in its class. The Maxima's cabin was designed around the driver, offering an expansive view of the road and excellent side visibility.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose premium sound system, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, making the user experience less intuitive. The infotainment system offered Sounds of Nature for stress relief and Hyundai Digital Key for Android devices.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and both USB-A and USB-C ports. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was available. However, the infotainment system had dated graphics and small icons, making it difficult to navigate. The notification sounds were also jarring. Nissan provided plenty of analog controls, including shortcut buttons and knobs for climate control and audio volume/tuning.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The standard Sonata rated high for occupant protection, but the N Line had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of the review.

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. The Maxima did not have the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.