Nissan Maxima vs Volkswagen GLI: Specs Compared
Also searched as Volkswagen GLI vs Nissan Maxima specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Volkswagen GLI is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Nissan Maxima, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $1,000 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Volkswagen GLI leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2022–2027
Volkswagen GLI
Compact Cars · 11 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Nissan Maxima | Volkswagen GLI |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 25 mpg | 30 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 22 mpg | 26 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 30 mpg | 37 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $3,050 | $2,050 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 363 g/mi | 297 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | 3.5 | SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AV-S7) | Automatic (AM-S7), Manual 6-spd |
| Drivetrains | Front-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars | Compact Cars |
| Years covered | 2016–2023 | 2022–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 8 | 11 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Nissan Maxima vs Volkswagen GLI: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Volkswagen GLI burns about $2,050 of fuel annually against $3,050 for the Nissan Maxima. That $1,000 yearly gap compounds to roughly $5,000 over five years and $8,000 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 Volkswagen GLI leads in both cycles — 26 mpg city and 37 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 Nissan Maxima is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (3.5), the Volkswagen GLI with 1 (SIDI). Across 8 recorded Nissan Maxima configurations and 11 for the Volkswagen GLI, 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 Nissan Maxima is offered with Front-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen GLI 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 Midsize Cars and Compact 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 Volkswagen GLI emits 297 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.
Maxima vs GLI: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Nissan Maxima or the Volkswagen GLI?
The Volkswagen GLI is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Nissan Maxima, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $1,000 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Volkswagen GLI runs about $2,050 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,050 for the Nissan Maxima — a difference of roughly $1,000 per year.
What engines do the Maxima and GLI offer?
Nissan Maxima: 3.5. Volkswagen GLI: SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Nissan Maxima as Midsize Cars and the Volkswagen GLI as Compact Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Maxima comparisons
More GLI comparisons
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