2019 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2019 Nissan Maxima

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale and dramatic appearance compared to its predecessor. It was slightly longer and wider, with a wheelbase that extended a bit more, maintaining the same height. The new design featured a wide, angular grille inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, which added to its upscale presence. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and attractive, with a premium feel despite not all surfaces being soft-touch. The seats were notably comfortable, suitable for long drives, and the base S trim came well-equipped with features like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima maintained its stylish appeal with a refined V-shaped design, featuring new LED headlights, an edgier grille, and tinted taillights. The Maxima's interior was upgraded with softer materials, and even the SV trim, which was not the top-tier, showcased quality with contrast stitching and polished black console trim. The Maxima offered a comfortable and upscale experience, with its Zero Gravity seats designed to reduce muscle fatigue. Despite its stylish design, the Maxima's trunk space was slightly smaller at 14.3 cubic feet, but it provided ample passenger room, especially in the front seats, which were geared towards driver comfort.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having 3 fewer horsepower than the previous model, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission, which replaced the older 6-speed. This setup allowed the Jetta to handle both city and highway driving efficiently, with no hidden weaknesses at low or high speeds. The steering was well-weighted and precise, offering a blend of smooth and sporty handling. The Jetta's ride quality was refined, managing to be soft over rough roads without feeling floaty. Both manual and automatic transmissions returned an impressive fuel economy of 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Maxima's powertrain provided immediate and smooth thrust, effectively mitigating torque steer. However, the driving experience was slightly marred by a mushy brake pedal and over-boosted steering, which lacked road feel. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima's suspension offered a near-perfect balance of ride quality and nimble response. The Maxima's fuel economy was decent for its size, with an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 30 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats, even on long trips, with adequate rear-seat space despite a slight reduction in legroom. The trunk space decreased to 14.1 cubic feet from the previous 15.7, but it remained average for the class. VW improved the cabin's functionality by repositioning the touchscreen above the climate vents and moving the shifter back, enhancing usability. The Jetta's layout emphasized practicality, with a blend of touchscreen functions and real buttons and dials, making it one of the most function-forward vehicles in its class.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a single 8-inch display integrated into the dash, offering quick response times and easy operation via touch or knob. The Maxima's interior was designed with driver comfort in mind, featuring Zero Gravity seats that reduced muscle fatigue. However, the thick pillars and slim D-pillar slightly compromised sightlines. The trunk space was 14.3 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors, but the passenger room was sufficient, especially in the front seats, which were comfortable for long drives.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. The SEL and SEL Premium trims included Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable full-color digital display that could project navigation and other information directly onto a 10.25-inch screen.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima offered an updated navigation system on all trims except the base S. The infotainment system was customizable, with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a high-speed USB-C port. The Maxima was compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering remote services through NissanConnect. However, it lacked ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s suite of semi-automated driving functions, which was a notable omission for a 2019 model.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was equipped with front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also featured an automatic post-collision braking system. Driver-assist systems like blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision avoidance were standard on higher trims and optional on the base S. The SEL and SEL Premium trims included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima came with standard safety features like forward-emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims added features such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and reverse emergency braking. The Maxima received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, scoring top ratings in crash tests and for its emergency braking system.