2018 Nissan Altima Vs Nissan Maxima

Performance

The Maxima emphasizes performance a bit more than the Altima and comes equipped with a standard 300-horsepower V6 engine that achieves up to 30 mpg on the highway.¹ It also comes with a Sport Mode Selector to take your driving experience to the next level.

It also comes with standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 179 horsepower and boasts up to 38 mpg on the highway, making it more efficient than the Maxima.² If you’d like to make your Altima a little more powerful, you can opt for the available 270-horsepower V6 engine.

Technology

The Maxima is more luxurious than the Altima and features a premium interior and cockpit. It also offers smart connectivity technology, like standard Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility, and an array of state-of-the-art active safety features. Both the Altima and Maxima offer available Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, and Forward Emergency Braking.

Price

Of the two, the Altima is the more affordable option. The Altima has a starting MSRP of $23,140. The Maxima, on the other hand, has a starting MSRP of $33,020. If you max out the Altima by choosing the top 3.5 SL model, you’ll be paying $33,410, so slightly more than the base model of the Maxima.³