Nissan Maxima vs Acura Integra

Arguably positioned between the Civic and Accord in the Honda/Acura universe, but serving as an alternative to the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and Mercedes-Benz CLA, the 2026 Integra blends comfort, utility, and driving satisfaction in an appealing five-door liftback configuration. For the 2026 model year, subtle styling updates and an improved standard infotainment system keep the Integra fresh, and with the cancellation of the TLX, it serves as Acura’s only car model.

Verdict: Thanks to its liftback design and appealing price point, the Acura Integra has no direct rivals. However, it faces significant in-house competition from the Acura ADX crossover SUV and the Honda Civic Hatchback. They render the Integra obsolete, which is a shame because it is a genuinely stylish, practical, and fun car.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima celebrates 40 years on sale, making it one of the oldest Japanese automotive nameplates in continuous use. While it’s impressive for any model to survive four decades, the Maxima has spent most of its history mired in mediocrity.

The Nissan Maxima name first appeared in 1981 as a rebranding of the Datsun 810 sedan. The original Maxima/810 was a true enthusiast’s car, boasting rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a sporty character that led Nissan to declare it a “four-door sports car.” However, that only lasted for a few years.

With its first redesign for the 1985 model year, the Maxima switched to front-wheel drive (FWD) and was positioned as Nissan’s flagship sedan. It’s been that way ever since. Nissan has continued to gesture in the direction of that original RWD model, but for most of its 40 years, the Maxima has been a slightly sportier alternative to full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon, rather than a BMW beater.

So it is with the current, eighth-generation, Maxima, which debuted for the 2016 model year. It enters the 2021 model year with few changes, the most significant being a 40th Anniversary Edition option package for the top Platinum trim level, which sits above the base SV and mid-range SR trim levels. That’s what we test drove for this review.