Compare the2023 Genesis G70VS 2022 Nissan Maxima

The G70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Maxima doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G70 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Maxima doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the G70 and the Maxima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the G70 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Maxima is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The G70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The Maxima’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G70 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Maxima. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Maxima ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The G70’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Maxima’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G70 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Maxima.

The battery on the G70 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the G70’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Maxima’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G70 second among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Maxima isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The G70 3.3T’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 65 more horsepower (365 vs. 300) and 115 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the G70 3.3T 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Nissan Maxima:

On the EPA test cycle the G70 2.0T RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Maxima (21 city/31 hwy vs. 20 city/30 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the G70 2.0T’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip with its optional disable switch. The Maxima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Genesis G70 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Maxima requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The G70’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Maxima doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the G70 3.3T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Maxima:

The G70 stops much shorter than the Maxima:

For better traction and acceleration, the G70 has larger rear tires than the Maxima (255/35R19 vs. 245/45R18).

The G70’s 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Maxima SV’s standard 45 series tires. The G70’s tires are lower profile than the Maxima SR/Platinum’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Maxima SV.

The G70 has standard front gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Maxima’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The G70 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Maxima’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G70’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Maxima (111.6 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G70 is .4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Maxima.

The G70’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Maxima’s (60.9% to 39.1%). This gives the G70 more stable handling and braking.

The G70 handles at .94 G’s, while the Maxima Platinum pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The G70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Maxima Platinum (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the G70’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (36.3 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The G70 AWD’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The G70 is 8.4 inches shorter than the Maxima, making the G70 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Genesis G70 amounts to more than styling. The G70 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Maxima (.29 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the G70 get better fuel mileage.

The G70 has .4 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .6 inches more rear legroom than the Maxima.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the G70’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The G70 Advanced/3.3T Sport Prestige also has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Maxima doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The engine in the G70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Maxima. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The G70 3.3T Sport Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Maxima doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The G70’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Maxima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the G70 and the Maxima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the G70 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Maxima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The G70’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Maxima’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The G70’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Maxima’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the G70 3.3T Elite/Prestige/Sport has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Maxima doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis G70 Advance/Sport Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Maxima doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Genesis G70 and the Nissan Maxima, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The G70 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2019. The Maxima has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the G70 as their 2019 Car of the Year. The Maxima has never been chosen.