Toyota Prius vs Nissan Maxima
Overview | |
MSRP$27,450 | MSRP$37,090 |
Average price$15,477 | Average price$18,560 |
Listings5787 | Listings3202 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.5 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.3 out of 10 |
Pros
| Pros
|
Reviews SummaryAfter decades of being the frumpy leader of the fuel-efficiency movement, the Prius emerges as one of the better-looking new cars to hit the market recently. This fifth-generation revelation in looks is then backed up by a huge jump in power without sacrificing any of the fuel-sipping ways of the earlier model. Add in impressive standard safety features and a reasonable suite of interior tech and comfort goodies, and you have an impressive hatchback that just now happens to be a hybrid. | |
Reviews SummaryThe 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. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.0L 194 hp I4 Hybrid | Engine3.5L 300 hp V6 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower | Horsepower300 hp @ 6400 rpm |
EV Battery Capacity0.9 kWh | EV Battery Capacity |
MPG City57 | MPG City20 |
MPG Highway56 | MPG Highway30 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.0L 194 hp I4 Hybrid | Engine Name3.5L 300 hp V6 |
Torque | Torque261 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm |
Horsepower | Horsepower300 hp @ 6400 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
EV Battery Capacity0.9 kWh | EV Battery Capacity |
MPG City57 | MPG City20 |
MPG Highway56 | MPG Highway30 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Key Features | |
Navigation System | Navigation SystemStandard |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space23.8 cu ft | Cargo Space14.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight3097 lbs | Curb Weight3612 lbs |
Height55.9 in | Height56.5 in |
Length181.1 in | Length192.8 in |
Width70.2 in | Width73.2 in |
Wheelbase108.3 in | Wheelbase109.3 in |
Maximum Payload860 lbs | Maximum Payload1073 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $27,450 | $37,090 |
Average price | $15,477 | $18,560 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.5 | 4.4 |
Expert reviews | 7.5 out of 10Read full review | 7.3 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| Pros
|
Summary | After decades of being the frumpy leader of the fuel-efficiency movement, the Prius emerges as one of the better-looking new cars to hit the market recently. This fifth-generation revelation in looks is then backed up by a huge jump in power without sacrificing any of the fuel-sipping ways of the earlier model. Add in impressive standard safety features and a reasonable suite of interior tech and comfort goodies, and you have an impressive hatchback that just now happens to be a hybrid. | 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. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.0L 194 hp I4 Hybrid | 3.5L 300 hp V6 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 300 hp @ 6400 rpm | |
EV Battery Capacity | 0.9 kWh | |
MPG City | 57 | 20 |
MPG Highway | 56 | 30 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.0L 194 hp I4 Hybrid | 3.5L 300 hp V6 |
Torque | 261 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | |
Horsepower | 300 hp @ 6400 rpm | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
EV Battery Capacity | 0.9 kWh | |
MPG City | 57 | 20 |
MPG Highway | 56 | 30 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Key Features | ||
Navigation System | Standard | |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 23.8 cu ft | 14.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3097 lbs | 3612 lbs |
Height | 55.9 in | 56.5 in |
Length | 181.1 in | 192.8 in |
Width | 70.2 in | 73.2 in |
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 109.3 in |
Maximum Payload | 860 lbs | 1073 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.