2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2021 Nissan Altima presented a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, which was tastefully adorned with the Nissan logo. The grille varied between chrome and dark chrome depending on the trim level, adding a touch of elegance. The Altima's overall design was sleek and aerodynamic, featuring a sloping "coupe-like" roofline. Its body had more folds than curves, giving it a taut and trim essence. However, the Altima's stance was somewhat ungainly due to its short dash-to-axle distance and the amount of car extending beyond the wheels. Despite this, modern features like LED lighting and alloy wheels kept its look contemporary. The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. It offered six exterior colours in Canada, each with unique names and some requiring an additional cost.

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display positioned for safety and convenience. The instrument panel was designed to minimize glare, enhancing visibility. While the base model felt a bit stripped-down, higher trims offered improved interior materials, including stitching on the dash and seats. This progression in quality exemplified the adage of getting what you pay for.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling elements, including a "floating" roofline and the V-Motion grille. The Maxima distinguished itself with a steeply-angled front end and a massive grille, reminiscent of an Art Deco locomotive. The 40th Anniversary Edition trim, although not available in Canada, shared certain elements with the SR grade, such as 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels and black exterior trim. The Maxima's design was bold and distinctive, setting it apart from other Nissan sedans.

The 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT, providing a smooth driving experience. Notably, the Altima offered standard all-wheel drive (AWD), a feature that set it apart from many mid-size sedans in Canada, which typically had front-wheel drive (FWD). The AWD system was front-wheel biased but could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel consumption ratings for the base model were 9.1 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined, with slightly higher ratings for the SR and Platinum grades. The Altima featured a four-wheel independent suspension and electric-powered steering, offering decent feedback and feel.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. It came with a CVT and FWD. While the Maxima wasn't a "four-door sports car," it offered a quick and enjoyable driving experience, with the V6 engine providing a satisfying sound. The CVT was responsive, meting out power effectively. The Maxima's handling was agile for a large sedan, but its steering lacked precision and feel, leading to some torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these limitations, the Maxima was designed to be sporty, with a stiff suspension that maintained comfort over most road imperfections. The cabin was quiet, thanks to active noise cancellation, and the car felt solid during highway cruising.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan's praised Zero Gravity front seats, providing comfort and support on long drives. Power adjustment and front seat heating were standard, with additional features like position memory and leather appointments available on higher trims. The Altima's front cabin offered ample storage, including a large glovebox, centre console storage bin, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy, accommodating two adults comfortably, and the second row folded flat in a 60/40 split for trunk access. The trunk had a capacity of 436 litres.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front passenger space, offering generous headroom and legroom. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat passengers, who experienced cramped conditions. The seats were positioned inboard, affecting the feeling of spaciousness. Despite this, the Maxima provided an expansive view of the road for the driver, with excellent side visibility. The Maxima's Zero Gravity front seats offered power adjustment and comfort, though more thigh bolstering would have been appreciated. The Maxima's trunk had a capacity of 405 litres, the smallest in its class.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came equipped with a range of standard tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key keyless entry, pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. All models featured an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system, a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display, and multiple USB ports. SiriusXM satellite radio was standard on all but the base model, and a Bose audio system was included on the Platinum trim. Higher trims also offered Nissan Door to Door Navigation and NissanConnect Services with various trial packages.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima's technology showed its age, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. A built-in WiFi hotspot was newly standard for 2021, along with USB-A and USB-C ports. The Maxima featured an 11-speaker Bose audio system. However, the infotainment system's graphics looked dated, and small icons made navigation challenging. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima provided analog controls for climate and audio, reducing reliance on the touchscreen.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of active and passive safety features, standard on all models. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. The Platinum grade offered ProPilot Assist, enhancing highway driving safety with features like intelligent forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and more. The Maxima lacked the ProPilot Assist system available in the Altima, but it offered a 360-degree camera system on higher trims.