Nissan Maxima vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
$114,500MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Maxima
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
$114,500MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced

1994-Present

Years produced

1980-2014

MSRP

$114,500

MSRP

$37,090

Average price

$66,386

Average price

$19,312

Listings

256

Listings

161

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.5 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.3 out of 10
Pros
  • Impressive technology
  • Premium interior materials
  • Impressive electric range
Cons
  • Doesn’t qualify for federal tax rebate
  • Very expensive

Reviews Summary

When it comes to good design, even better luxury, and stellar performance, it’s tough to beat the three-pointed star. The S-Class is a few years into its latest generation, but Mercedes trotted out a new powertrain for 2023. It’s not a full battery-electric vehicle—for that you’ll want the EQS—but for many consumers the plug-in hybrid can be a convenient stop-gap for those not ready to commit to leaving the gas station behind for good.

Reviews Summary

The 2021 Nissan Maxima celebrates 40 years on sale, making it one of the oldest Japanese automotive nameplates in continuous use. While it’s impressive for any model to survive four decades, the Maxima has spent most of its history mired in mediocrity.

The Nissan Maxima name first appeared in 1981 as a rebranding of the Datsun 810 sedan. The original Maxima/810 was a true enthusiast’s car, boasting rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a sporty character that led Nissan to declare it a “four-door sports car.” However, that only lasted for a few years.

With its first redesign for the 1985 model year, the Maxima switched to front-wheel drive (FWD) and was positioned as Nissan’s flagship sedan. It’s been that way ever since. Nissan has continued to gesture in the direction of that original RWD model, but for most of its 40 years, the Maxima has been a slightly sportier alternative to full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon, rather than a BMW beater.

So it is with the current, eighth-generation, Maxima, which debuted for the 2016 model year. It enters the 2021 model year with few changes. We drove the Nissan Maxima Platinum trim level for this review.

No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.0L 429 hp I6

Engine

3.5L 300 hp V6

Drive Train

AWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

429 hp @ 6100 rpm

Horsepower

300 hp @ 6400 rpm

MPG City

20

MPG City

20

MPG Highway

28

MPG Highway

30
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
$114,500MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Maxima
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
$114,500MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Maxima
$37,090MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced
1994-Present
1980-2014
MSRP
$114,500
$37,090
Average price
$66,386
$19,312
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.7
4.4
Expert reviews

8.5 out of 10

Read full review

7.3 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Impressive technology
  • Premium interior materials
  • Impressive electric range
Cons
  • Doesn’t qualify for federal tax rebate
  • Very expensive
Summary
When it comes to good design, even better luxury, and stellar performance, it’s tough to beat the three-pointed star. The S-Class is a few years into its latest generation, but Mercedes trotted out a new powertrain for 2023. It’s not a full battery-electric vehicle—for that you’ll want the EQS—but for many consumers the plug-in hybrid can be a convenient stop-gap for those not ready to commit to leaving the gas station behind for good.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima celebrates 40 years on sale, making it one of the oldest Japanese automotive nameplates in continuous use. While it’s impressive for any model to survive four decades, the Maxima has spent most of its history mired in mediocrity.

The Nissan Maxima name first appeared in 1981 as a rebranding of the Datsun 810 sedan. The original Maxima/810 was a true enthusiast’s car, boasting rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a sporty character that led Nissan to declare it a “four-door sports car.” However, that only lasted for a few years.

With its first redesign for the 1985 model year, the Maxima switched to front-wheel drive (FWD) and was positioned as Nissan’s flagship sedan. It’s been that way ever since. Nissan has continued to gesture in the direction of that original RWD model, but for most of its 40 years, the Maxima has been a slightly sportier alternative to full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon, rather than a BMW beater.

So it is with the current, eighth-generation, Maxima, which debuted for the 2016 model year. It enters the 2021 model year with few changes. We drove the Nissan Maxima Platinum trim level for this review.

Video
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.0L 429 hp I6
3.5L 300 hp V6
Drive Train
AWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
429 hp @ 6100 rpm
300 hp @ 6400 rpm
MPG City
20
20
MPG Highway
28
30
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2023 Acura Integra vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2023 Acura Integra vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Kia K5 vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Kia K52023 Acura Integra vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Honda Civic vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Kia K5 vs 2023 Nissan Maxima2023 Subaru Impreza vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback2023 Subaru Impreza vs 2023 Nissan Maxima2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Nissan Maxima2023 Honda Civic vs 2023 Nissan Maxima2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Subaru Impreza2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Honda Civic2023 Nissan Maxima vs 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 MINI Cooper2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Audi A42022 Kia K5 vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Chevrolet Malibu2022 Honda Accord vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2022 Nissan Maxima vs 2023 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Nissan Maxima2022 Kia K5 vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2021 Audi A4 vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Honda Civic2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 BMW 5 Series2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Subaru Impreza2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Chevrolet Malibu2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2021 Nissan Maxima vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback2021 Audi A4 vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2021 Honda Accord vs 2022 Nissan Maxima2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback2021 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Honda Accord vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 BMW 5 Series vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2021 BMW 5 Series2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2021 Honda Civic2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Subaru Impreza vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2021 Toyota Prius2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Nissan Maxima2020 MINI Cooper vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Toyota Prius vs 2021 Nissan Maxima2020 Nissan Maxima vs 2020 Honda Civic