Nissan Maxima vs Nissan Versa

The 2020 Nissan Versa had moved away from its previous "big car" styling details, which included oversized headlights reminiscent of full-size cars. The new design was more refined and took cues from its larger siblings, the Maxima and Altima, without directly copying their larger components. The result was a relatively handsome subcompact sedan that stood out in its segment. Inside, the cabin was straightforward but stylish, featuring a two-tone theme with dark charcoal and grayish cream colors. The seats had a neat design, and the overall interior was livened up with a bit of flair, making it more appealing than typical economy-car cabins.

In contrast, 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 a massive grille, giving it a striking presence on the road. 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, the dark-red leather seats and white gauge faces added a touch of 1980s vibe, making the interior both stylish and functional.

The 2020 Nissan Versa was powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, which had been revised to produce 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, an improvement over the previous generation. This engine sent power to the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The S trim came standard with the manual transmission, while the CVT was standard on the SV and SR trims. The Versa's acceleration had improved, making it more capable of getting up to highway speeds. The CVT managed power well, and the Sport mode added a bit of liveliness. Fuel economy was decent, with the manual transmission returning 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the CVT offered 32/40/35.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The Maxima felt as quick as its 300 hp suggested, and the V6 engine sounded great. The CVT was one of the better examples, responding quickly and meting out power efficiently. While the Maxima was agile for a big sedan, its steering lacked precision and feel, and the front end lacked grip, leading to some torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these issues, the Maxima was still enjoyable to drive, especially at a more relaxed pace, where it felt rock-solid during highway cruising.

The 2020 Nissan Versa retained the previous generation's trunk size, offering 15 cubic feet of space, one of the largest in its class. However, it lost 6 inches of rear legroom, making the backseat less spacious for adult passengers. The front seats, on the other hand, had plenty of legroom, even for taller drivers. The Versa was a practical choice for a personal commuter car, but less ideal for carpooling or ridesharing due to the reduced rear legroom.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima provided generous space for the driver and front passenger, with the highest front headroom and legroom among its competitors. However, rear headroom and legroom were near the bottom of the class, making the backseat less comfortable for passengers. The seats were positioned far inboard, which affected the feeling of spaciousness. Despite this, the Maxima's cabin was designed around the driver, offering an expansive view of the road and excellent side visibility. The "Zero Gravity" front seats were very comfortable, with multiple adjustments and extra bolstering. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the least among its competitors.

The 2020 Nissan Versa stepped up its game with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Siri Eyes Free, and a hands-free text-messaging assistant as standard features. The SV trim added the upgraded NissanConnect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an upgraded instrument panel with a helpful digital screen. This screen allowed drivers to access safety alerts, Bluetooth streaming audio, and fuel-economy stats, making it a highly functional and user-friendly system.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was also available. However, the infotainment system's graphics looked dated, and small icons made it difficult to navigate menus while driving. The notification sounds were also unpleasant, resembling emergency warnings. Despite these issues, the Maxima provided plenty of analog controls, including shortcut buttons for most touchscreen menus and knobs for climate control and audio volume/tuning.

The 2020 Nissan Versa added a host of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Other standard safety features included a reversing camera, a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, and Nissan's Easy Fill Tire Alert.

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 did not include the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.