Lexus IS vs Nissan Maxima: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lexus IS burns about $2,900 of fuel annually against $3,050 for the Nissan Maxima. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 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 versus highway split: the Nissan Maxima is the stronger commuter at 22 mpg city, while the Lexus IS pulls ahead on the interstate at 32 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Lexus IS is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI), the Nissan Maxima with 1 (3.5). Across 52 recorded Lexus IS 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 Lexus IS is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-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 Compact 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 Lexus IS emits 345 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.