Compare 2010 Nissan Maxima vs 2003 Volkswagen Passat

2010 Nissan Maxima
2003 Volkswagen Passat
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4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 S
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Maxima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 S 19 26 $28,113 $30,690
Maxima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SV 19 26 $30,600 $33,410
Maxima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SV w/Premium Pkg 19 26 $30,600 $33,410
Maxima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SV w/Sport Pkg 19 26 $30,600 $33,410
Select style
4-Door Sedan GL Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Passat 4-Door Sedan GL Automatic 21 30 $20,863 $22,825
Passat 4-Door Sedan GL Manual 22 31 $19,790 $21,750
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS Automatic 21 30 $21,889 $23,960
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS Manual 22 31 $20,816 $22,885
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS V6 Automatic 19 27 $24,147 $26,460
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLS V6 Manual 20 28 $23,074 $25,385
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLX V6 4MOTION Automatic 19 26 $29,016 $31,575
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLX V6 Automatic 19 27 $27,187 $29,825
Passat 4-Door Sedan GLX V6 Manual 20 28 $26,114 $28,750
Passat 4-Door Sedan W8 4MOTION 6-spd Manual 17 24 $35,984 $39,400
Passat 4-Door Sedan W8 4MOTION Automatic 18 25 $34,729 $37,900
Passat 4-Door Wgn GL Automatic 21 30 $21,586 $23,625
Passat 4-Door Wgn GL Manual 22 31 $20,513 $22,550
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS Automatic 21 30 $22,611 $24,760
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS Manual 22 31 $21,538 $23,685
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS V6 Automatic 19 27 $24,870 $27,260
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLS V6 Manual 20 28 $23,797 $26,185
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLX V6 4MOTION Automatic 19 26 $29,739 $32,375
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLX V6 Automatic 19 27 $27,910 $30,625
Passat 4-Door Wgn GLX V6 Manual 20 28 $26,837 $29,550
Passat 4-Door Wgn W8 4MOTION 6-spd Manual 17 24 $36,706 $40,200
Passat 4-Door Wgn W8 4MOTION Automatic 18 25 $35,452 $38,700

Pricing

Invoice Price
$28,113
$20,863

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$30,690
$22,825

Monthly Payment Estimate
$512 / month
$380 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
8.0

TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2010 Nissan Maxima might look like a sport sedan, but it lacks the edgy, high-performance feel necessary to complete the package.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
19 mpg 21 mpg

Highway
26 mpg 30 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
Mid-Size Mid-Size

Interior Dimensions

Second Hip Room (in)
53.9 56.7

Front Shoulder Room (in)
56.3 55.8

Passenger Volume (ft³)
95.8 95

Second Head Room (in)
36.4 37.8

Second Shoulder Room (in)
55.1 54.6

Front Leg Room (in)
43.8 41.5

Passenger Capacity
5 5

Front Hip Room (in)
53.4 57.7

Second Leg Room (in)
34.6 35.3

Front Head Room (in)
38.5 39.7

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)
62.4 59.6

Min Ground Clearance (in)
5.6 5.8

Length, Overall (in)
190.6 185.2

Height, Overall (in)
57.8 57.6

Track Width, Rear (in)
62.4 59.6

Wheelbase (in)
109.3 106.4

Liftover Height (in)
27.2 - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
73.2 68.7

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
14.2 15

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
12.13 x 0.63 9.6 x 0.39

Brake Type
Pwr Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
12.60 x 1.10 11.3 x 0.98

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
20.0 16.4

Steering

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
15.2 14.3

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
37.4 37.4

Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
2.6 2.8

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
40.0 - TBD -

Tires

Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA

Front Tire Size
P245/45VR18 P195/65HR15

Spare Tire Size
T145/80D17 P195/65HR15

Front Tire Order Code
NA NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA

Rear Tire Size
P245/45VR18 P195/65HR15

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
100 N/A

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA N/A

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
1000 N/A

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA N/A

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3540 3322

Wheels

Front Wheel Size (in)
18 x 8.0 15 x 6

Spare Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 15 x 6

Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Steel

Rear Wheel Size (in)
18 x 8.0 15 x 6

Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Steel

Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
9.6 7.1

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
550 - TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
130 90

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
261 @ 4400 166 @ 1950

Engine Order Code
NA NA

Displacement
3.5L/- TBD - 1.8L/109

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
290 @ 6400 170 @ 5900

Engine Type
Gas V6 Gas I4

Fuel System
SMPI SMPI

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
26 30

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
19 21

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
22 -

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)
NA NA

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 1.41

Trans Type
1 5

Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 0.74

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA w/Tiptronic

Reverse Ratio (:1)
1.77 4.10

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 2.00

Trans Order Code
NA NA

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
5.17 3.73

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 1.00

Trans Description Cont.
Continuously Variable Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA

First Gear Ratio (:1)
- TBD - 3.67

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- NA

Summary

Vehicle Name
Nissan Maxima Volkswagen Passat

Body Style
4 Door Sedan 4 Door Sdn

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - - TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
1.00 - TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-link Independent

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
w/coil springs Torsion Beam

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front
Independent strut Four-link

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.83 - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
w/coil springs NA

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
6 -

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
8.5 -

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