Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews
Nissan Altima
$483
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Nissan Maxima
$540
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Overall Reliability Rating
4
Above Average
The Nissan Altima Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 11th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $483 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Altima.
3
1
2
Above Average
The Nissan Maxima Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 12 for fullsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $540 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. While repairs tend to be more severe than average, these issues occur less often, so major repairs are infrequent for the Maxima.
“funny the people complaining, every car has problems at some stage. they dont go forever if you dont look after them. Iv had my maxima a year now and loving it its a 1990 model an only minor...”
“funny the people complaining, every car has problems at some stage. they dont go forever if you...”
The Nissan Maxima and the Nissan Altima are Nissan’s full-size and midsize sedans. They’re both built on the same platform, sharing the same wheelbase and measuring within an inch or two in their other dimensions. Both are front-wheel drive, four-door sedans.
The Maxima is more of a luxury or performance sedan. It has a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine with 300 horsepower. It has edgier, more aggressive styling that people will notice. The interior is more upscale.
The Altima is more of a mainstream midsize sedan. It has a standard four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower, with no V6 option since 2015. There is an upscale trim level, but it’s nowhere near as swanky as the Maxima’s interior.
There is also a major price difference. A new Altima starts at $23,140, while the entry-level Maxima comes in at $33,020. Your decision may come down to how posh you want your car to feel — and how much you’re willing to pay for it.