I first noticed this “similarity thing” back in the 1990’s with the predecessor to the Altima, the Stanza, and the Maxima. Familial resembalence is not a bad thing – think of some of the GM intermediate and full-sized cars of the 1960’s, any era of BMW or Mercedes-Benz – but these two look too much alike considering the price difference. Well, at least that is what the potential Maxima buyer might think, I suppose.
…these two look too much alike considering the price difference.
Ayup. Nissan may be thinking the customer will think “hey, I can get this cheap car and people will think I have the expensive one”, but what often happens is people think ” i can’t see the extra money in the expensive one, it looks just like the cheap one”
Studebaker used to have a good rep as a mid market product, equal to Buick or Olds. After the war, the large models looked just like the cheap Champion. You couldn’t tell them apart without a tape measure. The premium reputation was destroyed until, by 56, the supposedly upmarket Commander and President models were just trim and engine options on the same body as the Champion.
Say….AMC week was such as success, when are we going to have a Studebaker or Packard week?
The Maxima is one of those cars that surprises me when I find out that it’s still available, I hardly ever see an ad for one, I had thought that it had been discontinued. As far as the styling goes, this is the new trend, same sausage different lengths….
I’ll admit that I stared at the picture for a while trying to figure out what was up…2 Altimas? So what? Then I realized that they weren’t both Altimas.
Like the Taurus but without the latter’s high-visibility police fleet sales. Or the fact the Taurus doesn’t look much like a Fusion (old or new) at all.
Try going by a Buick dealer with Veranos, Regals and LaCrosses all lined up in a row. The fronts all look the same. I usually have to look at the A pillar to tell which is which. Never remember that being the case before the last few years.
When the district’s principals gather there is one brand new Altima in coco brown with the V6 and all the toys. There is also one gently used Maxima in that same shade of brown. I have to check the trunk to fully tell them apart.
I still argue that at this point the Maxima should just be a Nissimo variant of the Altima with some sort of supercharger or turbocharger for the V6 and a standard 6 speed manual. That would make the Maxima relevant again.
Even when I worked for Nissan, I would have to look twice to tell the difference. Easy to see the reason the Altima sells so well, the Maxima, not so much. Maybe Nissan keeps the Maxima around so the salesperson can say, Look at the great value this V6 Altima is compared to this V6 Maxima. But today, if not for the huge emblems, it’s hard to tell the make of a lot of cars. As far as comparing Nissan to the 3 stooges, yeah, right.
It pains me to know both of those sedans have nice V6s straddled to CVT only! I absolutely get a 6MT in either is not going to be a big seller, but c’mon Nissan. You know it’s so easily possible. Make it special order and charge me for it!
Great idea! I’m shocked that Nissan hasn’t thought of that!
After they divide the EPA certification costs by the number they’ll actually sell, that manual transmission option should only cost an additional $10,000 to $15.000 or so, which I’m sure many would gladly pay…
Like Camry and Avalon, Altima and Maxima share platforms. The larger car has the stretched and widened version. While the cars appear quite similar, the difference is most apparent when seated in the back seat. The larger cars are much more spacious back there.
–Several years ago I was seeking a trailer hitch for my 2003 Maxima (one of the last 6-sp manual full sizers from Japan), I was unable to find such a hitch. One sharp enthusiast on an online forum recommend I try fitting the Altima hitch to the Maxima. Bingo, perfect fit!
Rented a new base Maxima for 10 days in Reno/S. Lake Tahoe a couple of months ago….very boring car! Didn’t seem like it had close to 300 hp either although my first experience with a CVT seemed OK. Was glad to get back home to my 13 Golf TDI.
Two years ago at an auto show, I found the difference – inside. The Altima is much more spacious and better laid out, despite sharing the same platform. The Stanza is roomier in back then the Maxima. Minima would be more accurate – a poorly designed car that is utterly pointless. And, sales reflect that.
This shot is a great example of what I have faced on the National car rental lot. They are usually long on Altimas and Maximas. I’ve rented both, and *cough* I prefer the Altima. Better instrument panel with a newer design and I can’t tell much difference in performance. Plus the Altimas get better mileage. Sadly, both are forgettable overall. I miss some of the earlier Maximas, which were truly distinct cars. Today, not so much. It’ll be interesting to see if the spy shots of the next generation are accurate, and it is able to become more unique again.
This isn’t even close to the most derivative car company out there. If you can tell the difference between one Aston Martin and another on sight you’re a better car guy than I. For the prices they charge you’d think that they might make the higher end ones stand out more. Then again, they’re all stunning and one presumes they know their customers, so maybe they’re doing it right.
Talk about familial resemblance!
Throw a new Sentra in the mix, and you would have Huey, Dewey, and Louie. However, they would behave more like Moe, Larry, and Curly.
True…
“Oh a wise guy, huh? Nyuk nyuk nyuk!”
I first noticed this “similarity thing” back in the 1990’s with the predecessor to the Altima, the Stanza, and the Maxima. Familial resembalence is not a bad thing – think of some of the GM intermediate and full-sized cars of the 1960’s, any era of BMW or Mercedes-Benz – but these two look too much alike considering the price difference. Well, at least that is what the potential Maxima buyer might think, I suppose.
Agreed, fj, although to my naked eye it seemed like the Stanza was reflective of the prior generation of Maxima’s.
…these two look too much alike considering the price difference.
Ayup. Nissan may be thinking the customer will think “hey, I can get this cheap car and people will think I have the expensive one”, but what often happens is people think ” i can’t see the extra money in the expensive one, it looks just like the cheap one”
Studebaker used to have a good rep as a mid market product, equal to Buick or Olds. After the war, the large models looked just like the cheap Champion. You couldn’t tell them apart without a tape measure. The premium reputation was destroyed until, by 56, the supposedly upmarket Commander and President models were just trim and engine options on the same body as the Champion.
Say….AMC week was such as success, when are we going to have a Studebaker or Packard week?
The Maxima is one of those cars that surprises me when I find out that it’s still available, I hardly ever see an ad for one, I had thought that it had been discontinued. As far as the styling goes, this is the new trend, same sausage different lengths….
I’ll admit that I stared at the picture for a while trying to figure out what was up…2 Altimas? So what? Then I realized that they weren’t both Altimas.
Like the Taurus but without the latter’s high-visibility police fleet sales. Or the fact the Taurus doesn’t look much like a Fusion (old or new) at all.
Try going by a Buick dealer with Veranos, Regals and LaCrosses all lined up in a row. The fronts all look the same. I usually have to look at the A pillar to tell which is which. Never remember that being the case before the last few years.
We’ve been foisted back into the 1930s. Same car, different lengths and the only way to tell companies apart are the giant grilles.
http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice
When the district’s principals gather there is one brand new Altima in coco brown with the V6 and all the toys. There is also one gently used Maxima in that same shade of brown. I have to check the trunk to fully tell them apart.
I still argue that at this point the Maxima should just be a Nissimo variant of the Altima with some sort of supercharger or turbocharger for the V6 and a standard 6 speed manual. That would make the Maxima relevant again.
1986 GM all over again…
Even when I worked for Nissan, I would have to look twice to tell the difference. Easy to see the reason the Altima sells so well, the Maxima, not so much. Maybe Nissan keeps the Maxima around so the salesperson can say, Look at the great value this V6 Altima is compared to this V6 Maxima. But today, if not for the huge emblems, it’s hard to tell the make of a lot of cars. As far as comparing Nissan to the 3 stooges, yeah, right.
It pains me to know both of those sedans have nice V6s straddled to CVT only! I absolutely get a 6MT in either is not going to be a big seller, but c’mon Nissan. You know it’s so easily possible. Make it special order and charge me for it!
Great idea! I’m shocked that Nissan hasn’t thought of that!
After they divide the EPA certification costs by the number they’ll actually sell, that manual transmission option should only cost an additional $10,000 to $15.000 or so, which I’m sure many would gladly pay…
Like Camry and Avalon, Altima and Maxima share platforms. The larger car has the stretched and widened version. While the cars appear quite similar, the difference is most apparent when seated in the back seat. The larger cars are much more spacious back there.
–Several years ago I was seeking a trailer hitch for my 2003 Maxima (one of the last 6-sp manual full sizers from Japan), I was unable to find such a hitch. One sharp enthusiast on an online forum recommend I try fitting the Altima hitch to the Maxima. Bingo, perfect fit!
Rented a new base Maxima for 10 days in Reno/S. Lake Tahoe a couple of months ago….very boring car! Didn’t seem like it had close to 300 hp either although my first experience with a CVT seemed OK. Was glad to get back home to my 13 Golf TDI.
Two years ago at an auto show, I found the difference – inside. The Altima is much more spacious and better laid out, despite sharing the same platform. The Stanza is roomier in back then the Maxima. Minima would be more accurate – a poorly designed car that is utterly pointless. And, sales reflect that.
Confirms my feeling that there’s no reason to shell out the extra cash for a Maxima.
This shot is a great example of what I have faced on the National car rental lot. They are usually long on Altimas and Maximas. I’ve rented both, and *cough* I prefer the Altima. Better instrument panel with a newer design and I can’t tell much difference in performance. Plus the Altimas get better mileage. Sadly, both are forgettable overall. I miss some of the earlier Maximas, which were truly distinct cars. Today, not so much. It’ll be interesting to see if the spy shots of the next generation are accurate, and it is able to become more unique again.
This isn’t even close to the most derivative car company out there. If you can tell the difference between one Aston Martin and another on sight you’re a better car guy than I. For the prices they charge you’d think that they might make the higher end ones stand out more. Then again, they’re all stunning and one presumes they know their customers, so maybe they’re doing it right.
+1
Nissan has become a discount brand.
HUGE discounts on both models. Works for the Altima volume-wise, Maxima, not at all.