2022 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

In terms of design, the 2021 Nissan Maxima stood out as the flagship sedan that set the tone for other Nissan models. Its distinctive styling elements, including the “floating” roofline and “V-Motion” grille, debuted with the Maxima and trickled down to other Nissan sedans like the Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima’s bold look, characterized by a steeply-angled front end and massive grille, gave it an Art Deco locomotive appearance on the road. With blacked-out trim, the Maxima presented a sinister vibe in our tests—perhaps a bit too aggressive for subsequent models.

Nissan commemorated the Maxima with a 40th Anniversary Edition, featuring a two-tone exterior in Ruby Slate Gray Pearl paint coupled with a black roof. This edition also boasted 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, black exterior trim, red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white speedometer and tachometer faces, and heated rear seats, adding a nostalgic yet refined touch to the interior.

The 2022 Nissan Altima, meanwhile, evolved through six generations since its 1993 debut. Initially unremarkable, the Altima’s styling transformed drastically by the third generation in 2002. The sixth-generation 2022 model maintained this sportier look while incorporating Nissan’s V-Motion grille and floating roofline, akin to the Maxima. However, the floating roof design felt more like a redundant styling cue rather than a practical feature.

Our test unit, an SR trim with a Midnight Edition package, included gloss-black painted sports grille, 19-inch wheels, and a moonroof, among other features, giving it an edge in sportiness. Painted in Gun Metallic, this edition's overall dark, sleek aesthetic enhanced the Altima’s appeal.

Inside, the Altima provided a more practical and comfortable environment compared to the Maxima. The Zero Gravity front seats offered superior comfort, and the well-organized instrument panel and center stack, alongside high-quality materials, lent a premium feel to the Altima.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). Though the Maxima's CVT typically would be a detractor, it performed admirably, meting out power efficiently and contributing to an equally spirited driving experience as its 300 hp suggested. Despite its "four-door sports car" marketing, the Maxima was not especially thrilling to drive but remained competent.

The Maxima's agility belied its size, though its steering lacked precision, and front-wheel drive introduced torque steer, compromising its driving enjoyment on twisty roads. Alternative models like the Kia Stinger offered a more authentic sporty feel with rear-wheel drive. Nevertheless, the Maxima excelled in highway cruising, boasting a quiet and stable ride due to active noise cancellation and a well-tuned suspension.

The 2022 Nissan Altima offered two engine choices: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, or a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) making 248 hp and 273 pound-feet. Both engines were direct-injected and paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT. The VC-Turbo engine's ability to adjust its compression ratio between 8:1 for performance and 14:1 for efficiency set it apart in terms of technology, although AWD was only available with the base engine.

Our test car, equipped with the base engine and all-wheel drive, provided satisfactory but unremarkable acceleration. The 2022 Altima fell short in terms of acceleration compared to the Maxima, but it made up for it with a smoother, quieter ride and refined handling, amplified by Nissan’s Active Ride Control.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front-seat comfort, offering exceptional front headroom and legroom within its class, but at the expense of rear-seat space. Rear headroom was among the lowest in its segment, and rear legroom was the worst. The front seats, equipped with Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” technology, provided excellent comfort with extensive adjustability, although the positioned seats felt somewhat cramped due to the center console's proximity.

Comparatively, the 2022 Nissan Altima was designed to serve as a commuter car and family hauler. It comfortably seated four adults while accommodating five on shorter journeys. Although not the largest in its class, with trunk space at 15.4 cubic feet, the Altima offered a balanced approach to passenger and cargo capacity. It had a larger fuel tank at 16.2 gallons, allowing for longer drives between stops. While its high rear shelf and sloping roofline compromised rear visibility, the rear camera feature mitigated this issue when reversing.

Both vehicles had limited cargo space, but the Altima edged ahead with a slightly larger trunk, making it marginally better for carrying luggage or groceries.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, along with a newly-standard WiFi hotspot for 2021. Despite covering these technology basics, the system’s dated graphics and challenging menu navigation made it less user-friendly. Shortcut physical buttons and knobs for climate and audio controls provided some relief from the cumbersome touchscreen interface.

The 2022 Nissan Altima’s base S trim came with a modest 5-inch multi-function display and a 7-inch color audio display. More equipped trims featured a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SL came with a Bose nine-speaker audio system, navigation, and additional connected services. Notable was Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system available on higher trims, providing semi-autonomous driving assists, though our test car did not feature it.

While the Altima lacked the Maxima's active noise cancellation on all but the SR VC-Turbo trim, it offered a more intuitive and tech-savvy experience, particularly in higher trims.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima excelled in safety, receiving the IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system, though it lacked Nissan’s ProPilot Assist technology.

Similarly, the 2022 Nissan Altima earned high safety accolades with five stars from NHTSA and an IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” designation. Standard driver aids across all trims included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning. Higher trims featured the full suite of Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 technologies, and ProPilot Assist was available for advanced driver assistance, distinguishing it as a strong safety contender.