Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Camry

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set a bold precedent for Nissan's design language. Its distinctive styling, featuring a "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille, was a trendsetter for other Nissan models like the Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima's aggressive front end and massive grille gave it an Art Deco locomotive appearance, especially with the blacked-out trim of the test car, which exuded a sinister vibe. The 40th Anniversary Edition added a touch of elegance with its two-tone exterior, Ruby Slate Gray Pearl paint, and black roof, complemented by model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels and red semi-aniline leather upholstery. The interior was tastefully dressed with dark-red leather seats and white gauge faces, offering a stylish yet functional cabin experience.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Camry TRD turned heads with its eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint, exclusive to the performance-tuned model. This paint was part of a few updates for the 2022 model year, alongside standard heated side mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control for most trims. The Camry offered a wide range of 13 versions, with pricing starting at just over $26,000 for the base LE and reaching nearly $37,000 for the sporty XSE. The TRD model stood out with its aerodynamic body kit, matte-black 19-inch wheels, and red accents, giving it a distinctive and aggressive look. Despite its bold styling, the Camry TRD's interior was less polarizing, featuring an unusual dashboard layout and driver-oriented center console design. However, the red gauge illumination and other red accents were considered tacky by some.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima was powered by 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 (FWD). While it wasn't a "four-door sports car," the Maxima delivered a quick and enjoyable driving experience, with the V6 engine providing a satisfying sound. The CVT was surprisingly responsive, enhancing the driving dynamics. However, the Maxima's steering lacked precision, and the front end struggled with grip, leading to torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these limitations, the Maxima remained a strong contender in its class, offering a comfortable ride and quiet cabin, thanks to active noise cancellation.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD. The Camry TRD's performance was enhanced by a Sport transmission mode, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode that adjusted throttle response and steering effort. The car's track-tuned dynamics included increased torsional rigidity, stiffer suspension components, and larger brakes, providing a solid and planted feel on the road. The Camry TRD excelled in handling, with communicative suspension and excellent brake pedal feel. However, the lack of all-wheel drive (AWD) made it easy to break the front wheels loose. Despite this, the Camry TRD delivered impressive performance for its price, offering a thrilling driving experience.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front-seat comfort, offering generous headroom and legroom for the driver and front passenger. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat space, with limited headroom and the worst rear legroom among full-size sedans. The seats were positioned inboard, affecting the feeling of spaciousness, and some controls were awkwardly placed. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima's cabin was designed with the driver in mind, featuring excellent visibility and Nissan's "Zero Gravity" front seats, which provided comfort and support. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the smallest in its class.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD's front seats, while lacking additional bolstering, provided a comfortable and sporty driving position. The back seat accommodated two adults comfortably, but the TRD model sacrificed the 60/40-split folding back seat for improved structural rigidity, resulting in a fixed rear seatback. The trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than the Maxima's but still on the smaller side for its segment. However, the Camry made up for this with generous in-cabin storage, including a large center armrest bin and ample stash space throughout the vehicle.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima's technology showed its age, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a newly standard WiFi hotspot. While the system covered basic features, its functionality was lacking, with dated graphics and small icons making navigation difficult. The Maxima also offered an 11-speaker Bose audio system, but the overall infotainment experience was marred by unpleasant notification sounds. Despite these shortcomings, the Maxima provided analog controls for climate and audio, reducing reliance on the touchscreen.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system included Safety Connect and WiFi Connect subscription services, with optional upgrades to a 9-inch touchscreen and a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system. While the JBL system was bass-heavy, it offered decent sound quality for the price. The Camry TRD lacked dynamic connected navigation and voice recognition technology, but drivers could use Siri or Google Assistant via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Other Camry models offered additional features like a head-up display and surround-view monitoring, but these were not available on the TRD.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received top safety ratings, earning an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. However, the Maxima did not offer the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.

The 2022 Toyota Camry came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and more. The Camry TRD included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as standard. While the lane-departure warning system could issue false alerts, the Camry's safety features provided a comprehensive package. The Camry also received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, ensuring excellent protection for occupants.