Car shoppers looking to buy a car in the large car segment will quickly realize the segment is pretty small. It’s dominated by a few models, including some sports cars. One of the cars competing in the segment is the 2023 Nissan Maxima. It has some advantages over its rivals. Here’s a look at the three advantages the 2023 Nissan Maxima has over the 2023 Volkswagen Arteon.

1. The 2023 Nissan Maxima is a more affordable car

According to Edmunds, the Maxima has a starting MSRP of about $38,000 right now, making it one of the most affordable options in the segment. That said, Nissan will be discontinuing the Maxima in 2023, so the Maxima will only continue to get cheaper, at least until Nissan revives the nameplate for an EV. The Arteon, however, is still kicking, and unfortunately, it’s getting even more expensive in the 2023 model year.

A 2023 Arteon will start at about $42,500 MSRP, which is $2,000 more expensive than the 2022 model year. At that price, the Arteon is about $4,500 more expensive than the Maxima. This also means that Nissan customers can equip their Maxima with more options or a higher trim, and they will still come out ahead compared to someone who bought the Arteon instead.

The top trim for the Maxima, the Platinum trim, starts at about $43,000 for the 2022 model year of the car. That trim for the 2023 version may be more expensive, but Nissan hasn’t released pricing details yet. However, folks who want to buy the top trim for the Arteon will have to pay even more as it starts at almost $50,000. 

2. The 2023 Nissan Maxima has slightly more ground clearance

While neither the Maxima nor the Arteon is meant to go off-road, more ground clearance can still be good. This is an area where Nissan has a slight advantage over Volkswagen. According to Edmunds, the Maxima has 5.3 inches of ground clearance, while the Arteon has about 5.1 inches. Both cars can come with all-wheel drive, so the ground clearance difference may pay for some owners who take their cars off-road.

3. Nissan gave the Maxima more payload capacity

The last advantage the Maxima has over the Arteon is payload capacity. Neither are trucks, so folks shouldn’t expect to carry too much with their car, but the Nissan has a noticeable advantage over the Volkswagen. According to Edmunds, the Maxima has a max payload capacity of 1,073 pounds, while the Arteon has a max payload capacity of 915 pounds. That is a difference of about 158 pounds.

This is different from cargo capacity, however. The Maxima is a more traditional sedan design, while the Arteon has a hatchback design. This means that Volkswagen will have an edge in terms of cargo capacities. The Nissan only has a cargo capacity of 14.3 cu-ft with the seats in place, while the Arteon gets 27.2 cu-ft. With the seats folded, the Arteon tops out with a max cargo capacity of about 56.2 cu-ft. 

That means the Arteon can physically hold more stuff, but that stuff can’t be too heavy. This is good for groceries, but it’s not good for heavier purchases that some folks may make at home improvement stores. Meanwhile, the Maxima will be able to handle groceries and some heavier stuff.