Compare the2023 Nissan MaximaVS 2023 Toyota Camry

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The Maxima has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Camry’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Maxima has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Camry.

The Maxima’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Camry doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Maxima is safer than the Toyota Camry:

	Maxima	Camry
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	359/238 lbs.	432/527 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	290	335
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	136 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Maxima is safer than the Toyota Camry:

	Maxima	Camry
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	119	134
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	242	289
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	349 lbs.	752 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	480 lbs.	622 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 98 more horsepower (300 vs. 202) and 79 lbs.-ft. more torque (261 vs. 182) than the Camry AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 97 more horsepower (300 vs. 203) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (261 vs. 184) than the Camry’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 95 more horsepower (300 vs. 205) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (261 vs. 185) than the Camry XSE AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Maxima is faster than the Toyota Camry 4 cyl.:

	Maxima	Camry
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	7.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.1 sec	20.5 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6 sec	8.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101 MPH	90 MPH
Top Speed	135 MPH	133 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Maxima has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Camry AWD’s standard fuel tank (18 vs. 14.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Maxima has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Camry FWD’s standard fuel tank (18 vs. 15.8 gallons).

Transmission

The Maxima has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Camry doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Maxima’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Camry:

	Maxima	Camry
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.13 inches	11.06 inches

The Maxima’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Camry are solid, not vented.

The Maxima stops shorter than the Camry:

	Maxima	Camry
70 to 0 MPH	168 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Maxima has larger tires than the Camry (245/45R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Maxima SV’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Camry (245/45R18 vs. 235/45R18).

The Maxima SV’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Camry LE’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Maxima SV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Camry LE.

The Maxima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Camry doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Maxima offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Camry; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Maxima has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Camry doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Maxima SR handles at .86 G’s, while the Camry XLE pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Maxima SR executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Camry SE (26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The Maxima SR/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Camry doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Maxima has 1.1 inches more front headroom and 2.9 inches more front legroom than the Camry.

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Maxima’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Camry’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Maxima’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Maxima offers cargo security. The Camry’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Maxima SR/Platinum, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle. The Camry doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Maxima Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Camry doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Maxima’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Camry does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Maxima Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Camry’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the Maxima Platinum to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Camry doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Maxima’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Camry and aren’t offered on the Camry Nightshade/TRD.

When the Maxima SR/Platinum is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Camry’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Maxima’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Camry offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Maxima has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Camry, and aren’t available on the Camry Nightshade/TRD. The Maxima Platinum also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Camry.

The Maxima has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Maxima has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is not available on the Camry TRD.

Both the Maxima and the Camry offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Maxima has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Camry doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Maxima owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Maxima with a number “1” insurance rate while the Camry is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Maxima is less expensive to operate than the Camry because it costs $37 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Maxima than the Camry, including $48 less for a water pump, $18 less for front brake pads, $158 less for a starter, $39 less for fuel injection, $20 less for a fuel pump, $89 less for front struts, $626 less for a timing belt/chain and $202 less for a power steering pump.