2021 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Kia K5

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set a bold design tone for other Nissan models. Its distinctive styling elements, such as the “floating” roofline and “V-Motion” grille, were later adopted by smaller sedans like the Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima stood out with its steeply-angled front end and massive grille, resembling an Art Deco locomotive. The 40th Anniversary Edition featured a two-tone exterior, Ruby Slate Gray Pearl paint, black roof, and model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels. Inside, it boasted red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white gauge faces, and heated rear seats, giving it a stylish and functional vibe.

The 2022 Kia K5, available in multiple trims, offered a sleek and luxurious appearance. Our test car, a K5 EX with front-wheel drive, featured Glacial White Pearl paint and an Ash Blue synthetic leather interior with matte-finish fake wood trim and polished metallic accents. The K5’s design suggested a luxury sports sedan rather than a practical family car. The interior exuded quality, with solid controls and a refined sense of motion. The automatic transmission shifter, door release handles, and steering wheel stalks all conveyed a sense of care in construction, making the K5 feel like a bargain-priced yet high-quality vehicle.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came 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 it wasn’t a “four-door sports car,” the Maxima felt quick and the V6 engine sounded great. The CVT was responsive, meting out power effectively. The Maxima was agile for a big sedan, but its steering lacked feel and precision, and it suffered from torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these issues, the Maxima felt rock-solid during highway cruising, with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, even on 19-inch wheels.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque in the GT trim, and a standard turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Our test car, a K5 EX, featured the 1.6-liter engine, which provided linear power delivery with little low-end lag. The K5 EX’s fuel economy was decent, returning 29.1 mpg in combined driving. However, the car allowed too much road noise into the cabin, and the suspension struggled with small road imperfections. The K5 EX’s steering feel was so-so, and while it was reasonably capable, it wasn’t as fun to drive as some competitors.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima offered generous front headroom and legroom, but rear-seat passengers had less space, with rear headroom near the bottom of the class and the worst rear legroom among full-size sedans. The seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the generous front space. The Maxima’s “Zero Gravity” front seats were comfortable, with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. However, the Maxima had the least cargo space in its class, with a 14.3 cubic-foot trunk.

The 2022 Kia K5 provided comfort with dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and rear air conditioning vents. The panoramic glass sunroof added natural light to the interior. While getting in and out of the low-slung K5 was harder on the knees and back, the front seats were comfortable, and the rear seats offered plenty of room. The K5 had a 16 cubic-foot trunk, expandable by lowering the 60/40-split folding back seat. Storage space was generous, with various bins and trays for convenience.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima’s technology showed its age. It came with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and both USB-A and USB-C ports. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was available. However, the touchscreen’s graphics looked dated, and small icons made it difficult to navigate menus while driving. The notification sounds were also jarring. Despite plenty of analog controls, the Maxima’s infotainment system was unpleasant to use.

The 2022 Kia K5 offered two infotainment systems. The standard system for LX and LXS trims included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen but required a cable for smartphone integration. The K5 also offered satellite radio, Kia Connect subscription services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a navigation system, and Sounds of Nature ambient noise tracks. A wireless smartphone charger and a 12-speaker Bose audio system were available. However, the K5’s voice recognition technology was poor, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto more reliable options.

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 didn’t have the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.

The 2022 Kia K5 excelled in safety with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-following assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safe Exit Assist. The EX Premium package added cyclist detection, Junction Turning Assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, a surround-view monitoring system, and power rear child locks. The K5 achieved the highest safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA.