Compare the2023 Nissan MaximaVS 2023 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Maxima are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Nissan Maxima has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Maxima has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Maxima’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Maxima has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the C-Class Sedan.

Both the Maxima and the C-Class Sedan 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Maxima 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Maxima’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Maxima’s reliability 40 points higher than the C-Class Sedan.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 9 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 45 more horsepower (300 vs. 255) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Maxima is faster than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Maxima stops shorter than the C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the Maxima has larger tires than the C-Class Sedan (245/45R18 vs. 225/45R18). The Maxima SV’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (245/45R18 vs. 225/40R19).

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 C-Class Sedan 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 C-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the C-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Nissan Maxima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan.

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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Maxima a Mid-size car, while the C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The Maxima has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (98.5 vs. 93).

The Maxima has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

The Maxima has a much larger trunk than the C-Class Sedan (14.3 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

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 C-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Both the Maxima and the C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. 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 C-Class Sedan.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Maxima, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes C-Class Sedan isn't recommended.