2018 Nissan Maxima vs. 2018 Toyota Avalon

When examining the Nissan Maxima vs. Toyota Avalon, safety comes first! Taking a good look at the two, both vehicles share a number of standard protective features. Both models offer advanced airbags, rear view cameras, antilock brakes, daytime running lights, and many more amenities. However, the Maxima fared much better during official testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). During the front crash test, the Maxima earned a perfect five-star rating overall. The Avalon only earned four stars. If you dig deeper into the data, the Avalon lost points in the driver safety category due to the potential risk of neck stress and excess leg force in an accident. However, the Maxima maintained its five-star score in the category. Overall, the Maxima is just the safer choice.

So the Nissan Maxima may be safer, but does that mean it delivers the meeker performance? Not so! The Maxima has a standard 3.5L V6 engine that roars with 300 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. In fact, Nissan borrowed some of its state-of-the-art technology from the Nissan GT-R to create a truly unforgettable performance. Meanwhile, the Toyota Avalon has a 3.5L V6 of its own, but it can’t hold a candle to the Maxima. On the base model, the Avalon tops out at 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque.

Between the two vehicles, which has the better components? Our pick is the Nissan Maxima. The Maxima is built with a standard continuously variable transmission, which optimizes your fuel economy and horsepower automatically. The Avalon doesn’t offer this option at all. The Maxima also has larger brake rotors and nearly 10 percent more swept area, which leads to greater braking power. When tested by Car and Driver, the Maxima stopped 10 feet shorter than the Avalon when slowing from 70 to 0 mpg.