The Maxima and Altima are two of Nissan's best-selling models. While they look extremely similar, there are important differences between the two.
The Maxima comes standard with a 3.5 liter, V6, 290 horsepower engine. The Altima comes with a fuel efficient 4 cylinder, 3.5 liter, 175 horsepower engine.
The Altima gets 20 city mpg and 27 highway mpg. The Maxima gets 19 city mpg and 26 highway mpg. So while the Maxima is technically more fuel efficient than the Altima, there is not much difference.
A standard four-door Maxima will have a net cost of about $34,146. The standard Altima has a net cost of about $29,378. The Altima is the most economical choice in the sense of cost and gas.
One major difference between the Maxima and Altima is the fact that the Alitma is available in a hybrid model, while the Maxima is not. The Altima hybrid offers 35 mpg and comes with a 15-year warranty on all emissions control parts.
Both the Maxima and Altima are available with different interior options such as premium, sport and basic. The Maxima offers a dual moon roof while the Alitma does not. The Maxima also has more leg, head and storage room than the Altima.
