2021 Nissan Altima or 2021 Nissan Maxima: Battle of Nissan Sedans

There is a certain part of the crowd which has been a fan of the Accords, the Avalons, and the Camrys. Then there are people who gravitate towards Nissan, opting for the Maxima and Altima, both these sedans are no just great alternatives but on their own have faithfully served customers for decades. But what about the person who is confused between the 2021 Nissan Altima and 2021 Nissan Maxima, what they need to know that these two otherwise identical in length cars are more different than one might think.

It is not so rare nowadays where we see these rivalries of cars in the same segment within the brand itself. For years people who have been fans of the interiors have chosen the Maxima while the other half was happy with the Altima. The 2021 Nissan Altima has now seen a handful of changes while the 2021 Nissan Maxima is the same as before with two trims being phased out in order to make way for the special 40th Anniversary Edition model.

2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima: Engine and Drivetrain Options

Not everyone cares about power and performance in this segment as most of them would happily trade a powerful setup for an upscale riding experience. The 2021 Altima breaks out of that trend, you can have all-wheel-drive in each of its trims. Then there is the 2.0 SR trim in the 2021 Altima lineup which has a more powerful turbo-four under the hood. The 2021 Nissan Maxima comes with a V-6 and front-wheel drive and that’s about it for the options. The Altima wins the round in terms of engine options and configurations.

2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima: Ride and Handling

Neither of the cars is sporty, and neither of them is expected to be. The difference between the two lies in the lightness of the steering feel. The Maxima steers heavily at lower speeds while it feels quite vague at higher speeds. The Nissan Altima is not exactly sporty, like some of its rivals like the Accord and the Mazda 6, but it is light. Not only does this make it easy to drive in everyday situations but it is also acceptably enjoyable to drive. The Altima wins the point.

2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima: Fuel Efficiency

This is easily among the more important aspects people look into when buying a car in this segment. Both the cars come in various states of tune, but it is the Altima with its all four-cylinder line-up and lighter bodyweight which is more efficient than the Maxima. The EPA ratings for the Maxima are at 20/30 mpg city/highway. You get 25/34 mpg in the Altima in VC-Turbo upgraded engine and 28/39 mpg for the base engine with front-wheel drive. The Altima takes the lead here.

2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima: Interior

Albeit it is with the higher trims, but that does not take away from the fact that the Maxima feels more upscale on the outside compared to the Altima. Yes, the Maxima costs significantly more than the Altima, but you get its worth in the diamond-quilted seating inserts and Alcantara trim. While you are inside, just take a moment to appreciate just how soft the seats are. The Maxima takes the lead here.

2021 Nissan Altima Cabin

2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima: Infotainment

How the infotainment is put together goes a long way in making things easier while driving. The difference between the infotainment systems of the two cars do not make-or-break any deal, both have similarly sized screens. It’s just that the Altima’s display is placed on the top of the dash which certainly makes it feel more modern. Not just that, the cabin is much more intuitive as all the controls are laid within the reach of the driver; the ergonomics are well thought out. The 2021 Nissan Altima wins another point.

2021 Nissan Maxima Cabin

2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima: Exterior touches

In length, width, and height, both the cars are very similar, but it does not take a trained eye to tell them apart. You don’t even need to look at the badges, the A-pillar for example in the Maxima is blacked out; which is actually quite impressive to look at. The Altima also has a larger "V-Motion" grille than the Maxima, but the size can be polarizing and someone who wants a more subtle styling would rather go for the blacked-out A-pillar. The 2021 Nissan Maxima wins this round.

Features galore

Nissan places Maxima as their premium offering. And that means a power rear-glass sunshade and a dual-panel moonroof on the top-most trim. Other options also include ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Remember the point in the previous segment about having a higher price? The Maxima sets you back by thousands more but that is because it simply offers more than the Altima; it is here to offer a premium sedan experience without a premium badge. The Maxima wins this point.

Here is a summary of the differences between the 2021 Nissan Altima and the 2021 Nissan Maxima:

Which one to buy 2021 Altima or 2021 Maxima?

If a Nissan fan goes to the showroom today and sees these two cars standing in front of him, they have to realize that these are two different cars. Both of these cars earn excellent safety scores, but that’s about it with the similarities apart from the dimensions.

It makes more sense to go for an Altima if you are looking at the base model of the Maxima (i.e the SV). It is certainly more tempting for someone with deeper pockets to go for the less common, more premium, and bolder Maxima, especially the higher trims. But is a bit tight, you should save those thousands to get a fully loaded Altima which also offers you advantages with the efficiency and the steering feel.