Nissan Maxima vs INFINITI Q50

2021 Nissan Maxima
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 INFINITI Q50
2023 INFINITI Q50
$42,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 INFINITI Q50
$42,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview

Years produced

1980-2014

Years produced

2014-Present

MSRP

$37,090

MSRP

$42,650

Average price

$18,288

Average price

$22,519

Listings

3059

Listings

3789
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.3 out of 10

Expert reviews

6.7 out of 10
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful engine
  • Premium interior materials
Cons
  • All-wheel drive not available
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Cramped back seat
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful engine
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Outdated technology
  • Poor value for money

Reviews Summary

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.

Reviews Summary

Despite the increasing popularity of crossovers and SUVs, there are still plenty of shoppers hungry for a good old fashioned sedan. For one, sedans handle better. They’re also generally less expensive and, to some eyes, far better looking. For yet another year, the 2023 Infiniti Q50 offers shoppers style and performance in an otherwise crossover-obsessed world.

The question is, considering the market trends in favor of SUVs, are style and performance enough to generate sales?

No video found
Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.5L 300 hp V6

Engine

3.0L 300 hp V6

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

RWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

300 hp @ 6400 rpm

Horsepower

300 hp @ 6400 rpm

MPG City

20

MPG City

20

MPG Highway

30

MPG Highway

29
2021 Nissan Maxima
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 INFINITI Q50
2023 INFINITI Q50
$42,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 INFINITI Q50
$42,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview
Years produced
1980-2014
2014-Present
MSRP
$37,090
$42,650
Average price
$18,288
$22,519
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.4
4.6
Expert reviews

7.3 out of 10

Read full review

6.7 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful engine
  • Premium interior materials
Cons
  • All-wheel drive not available
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Cramped back seat
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Powerful engine
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Outdated technology
  • Poor value for money
Summary

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.

Despite the increasing popularity of crossovers and SUVs, there are still plenty of shoppers hungry for a good old fashioned sedan. For one, sedans handle better. They’re also generally less expensive and, to some eyes, far better looking. For yet another year, the 2023 Infiniti Q50 offers shoppers style and performance in an otherwise crossover-obsessed world.

The question is, considering the market trends in favor of SUVs, are style and performance enough to generate sales?

Video
No video found
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
3.5L 300 hp V6
3.0L 300 hp V6
Drive Train
FWD
RWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
300 hp @ 6400 rpm
300 hp @ 6400 rpm
MPG City
20
20
MPG Highway
30
29
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.