BMW 2 Series vs Nissan Maxima: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW 2 Series burns about $2,450 of fuel annually against $3,050 for the Nissan Maxima. That $600 yearly gap compounds to roughly $3,000 over five years and $4,800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the BMW 2 Series leads in both cycles — 27 mpg city and 39 mpg highway against 22 and 30 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the BMW 2 Series is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI & PFI), the Nissan Maxima with 1 (3.5). Across 93 recorded BMW 2 Series configurations and 8 for the Nissan Maxima, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW 2 Series is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Nissan Maxima with Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW 2 Series emits 279 g/mile of CO2 versus 363 g/mile for the Nissan Maxima. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.