2015 Acura TLX SH-AWD with Tech vs 2016 Nissan Maxima SR
I've driven both vehicles so this is my own short comparison for you guys. The Nissan Maxima belongs to my dad. I spent 5 hours in the Maxima yesterday, with 1.5 hours driving it and the rest being a passenger. I'll go through the main things. Feel free to ask me any questions.
Powertrain - Winner: Maxima
Not going to be talking numbers but rather how it feels. This is comparing both vehicles in the "Normal" driving mode.
So first off, the Maxima's VQ35 engine sounds great as always and very responsive despite having a CVT transmission. I still don't like CVTs but this is a well programmed CVT and I certainly wouldn't mind driving it on a daily basis. Very rarely you'll catch the CVT slipping but sometimes the CVT does cause the vehicle to shake in extreme cases. Throttle is very linear and definitely doesn't lag unlike the TLX where the majority of the lag is due to the ZF 9 speed automatic. Fuel efficiency on the highway is more or less equal I would say, with the Maxima being slightly worse than the TLX. With regards to engine NVH, I'd say the TLX is smoother.
Interior - Winner: Maxima
It might be I still haven't found the perfect driving position yet but the seats in the Maxima are more comfortable than the TLX. For long trips, I start to feel a bit uncomfortable in the TLX but not in the Maxima. It's bolstered well to hold me in place during spirited driving and highway ramp tackling but when cruising, you don't feel like you're being pinched and surrounded. The infotainment system is a touch screen that is very vibrant and easy to use. I didn't get to play with it but it seems there aren't nearly as much menus in the Maxima as in the TLX. Best of all, I have dedicated hardware controls in the Maxima compared to the TLX, so I can easily control the AC, temperature, how to blow the air, all that jazz without having to look at the screen. On the dash alone, the Maxima has a nice, large screen that can display tons of information which the TLX can't. Again I didn't get to play with it much but I do remember going through the menus and it's pretty slick. Did I mention that the Nissan Connect infotainment system is much more responsive than the TLX?
The Nissan Maxima also comes with heated and ventilated seats!
Styling - Winner: Maxima
The Maxima looks great compared to the TLX. Side by side, the TLX looks dull and boring.
Chassis - Winner: 50/50
From a spirited driving point of view, the Maxima wins. The SR is the sport version of the Maxima meaning it has stiffer springs and shocks. It also comes with 19" Goodyear F1 all season tires which certainly helps in that department. However the trade off is higher interior noise compared to the TLX. The TLX is supple and very quiet. For daily driving, the chassis of the TLX is not as bumpy due to the softer suspension tuning and those crappy Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires. The steering in the TLX is a lot lighter than the Maxima but you adjust fairly quickly. Steering feel goes to Nissan.
Overall - Winner: Nissan Maxima SR
The Nissan Maxima SR is the winner in my opinion. The TLX is good but the Maxima felt better. The Maxima SR is a bit of a niche. Sporty FWD sedan with the comfort to back it up (for my father and I). It's also a lot cheaper than the Acura TLX SH-AWD. This is most likely the reason why there's so much more new Nissan Maximas on the road today.
Powertrain - Winner: Maxima
Not going to be talking numbers but rather how it feels. This is comparing both vehicles in the "Normal" driving mode.
So first off, the Maxima's VQ35 engine sounds great as always and very responsive despite having a CVT transmission. I still don't like CVTs but this is a well programmed CVT and I certainly wouldn't mind driving it on a daily basis. Very rarely you'll catch the CVT slipping but sometimes the CVT does cause the vehicle to shake in extreme cases. Throttle is very linear and definitely doesn't lag unlike the TLX where the majority of the lag is due to the ZF 9 speed automatic. Fuel efficiency on the highway is more or less equal I would say, with the Maxima being slightly worse than the TLX. With regards to engine NVH, I'd say the TLX is smoother.
Interior - Winner: Maxima
It might be I still haven't found the perfect driving position yet but the seats in the Maxima are more comfortable than the TLX. For long trips, I start to feel a bit uncomfortable in the TLX but not in the Maxima. It's bolstered well to hold me in place during spirited driving and highway ramp tackling but when cruising, you don't feel like you're being pinched and surrounded. The infotainment system is a touch screen that is very vibrant and easy to use. I didn't get to play with it but it seems there aren't nearly as much menus in the Maxima as in the TLX. Best of all, I have dedicated hardware controls in the Maxima compared to the TLX, so I can easily control the AC, temperature, how to blow the air, all that jazz without having to look at the screen. On the dash alone, the Maxima has a nice, large screen that can display tons of information which the TLX can't. Again I didn't get to play with it much but I do remember going through the menus and it's pretty slick. Did I mention that the Nissan Connect infotainment system is much more responsive than the TLX?
The Nissan Maxima also comes with heated and ventilated seats!
Styling - Winner: Maxima
The Maxima looks great compared to the TLX. Side by side, the TLX looks dull and boring.
Chassis - Winner: 50/50
From a spirited driving point of view, the Maxima wins. The SR is the sport version of the Maxima meaning it has stiffer springs and shocks. It also comes with 19" Goodyear F1 all season tires which certainly helps in that department. However the trade off is higher interior noise compared to the TLX. The TLX is supple and very quiet. For daily driving, the chassis of the TLX is not as bumpy due to the softer suspension tuning and those crappy Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires. The steering in the TLX is a lot lighter than the Maxima but you adjust fairly quickly. Steering feel goes to Nissan.
Overall - Winner: Nissan Maxima SR
The Nissan Maxima SR is the winner in my opinion. The TLX is good but the Maxima felt better. The Maxima SR is a bit of a niche. Sporty FWD sedan with the comfort to back it up (for my father and I). It's also a lot cheaper than the Acura TLX SH-AWD. This is most likely the reason why there's so much more new Nissan Maximas on the road today.
