Compare the2023 Nissan MaximaVS 2023 Tesla Model 3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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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 Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Maxima SR/Platinum has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Maxima’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Maxima has standard NissanConnect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Maxima and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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 and driver alert 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 Tesla Model 3:

	Maxima	Model 3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	42 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	359/238 lbs.	333/455 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	31%	33%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	190 lbs.
Neck Compression	91 lbs.	101 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 Tesla Model 3:

	Maxima	Model 3
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	349 lbs.	556 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	275	384
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	480 lbs.	557 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 7 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Maxima’s warranty.

Reliability

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 12 points higher than the Model 3.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 4 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Engine

The Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 29 more horsepower (300 vs. 271) than the Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive’s standard electric motor.

Brakes and Stopping

The Maxima stops shorter than the Model 3:

	Maxima	Model 3
70 to 0 MPH	168 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Maxima has larger tires than the Model 3 (245/45R18 vs. 235/45R18).

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 Model 3 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 Model 3; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Maxima has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Maxima flat and controlled during cornering. The Model 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Maxima SR handles at .87 G’s, while the Model 3 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Nissan Maxima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Tesla Model 3.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Maxima has 2.3 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Maxima offers cargo security. The Model 3’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Maxima to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

Ergonomics

The Maxima’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Maxima has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the Maxima Platinum to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Maxima SR/Platinum keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 Model 3 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 Model 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Maxima than the Model 3, including $490 less for a water pump, $17 less for front brake pads, $44 less for front struts and $412 less for a power steering pump.