2016 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2016 Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,214/ year to fuel
21 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,370/ year to fuel
25 MPG

FWD · 3.5L 6-cyl · CVT · 25 MPG

The 2016 Buick LaCrosse is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,214 a year to fuel (21 MPG), versus $2,370 for the 2016 Nissan Maxima (25 MPG). That's roughly $156 a year, or about $779 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Buick LaCrosse
  • Nissan Maxima

Side by side

Buick LaCrosseNissan Maxima
$2,214 Your annual fuel cost $2,370
21 MPG Combined efficiency 25 MPG
18 MPG City 22 MPG
28 MPG Highway 30 MPG
100 cu ft Passenger volume 98 cu ft
16 cu ft Cargo volume 14 cu ft
422 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 363 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Flex-fuel Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline or E85 Fuel Premium gasoline
3.6L 6-cyl Engine / motor 3.5L 6-cyl
6-speed automatic Transmission CVT
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima across model years

  • Buick LaCrosse
  • Nissan Maxima

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Buick LaCrosse has more cargo space (16 vs. 14 cu ft).

Among 67 2016 midsize cars, the Buick LaCrosse ranks 47th and the Nissan Maxima 51st for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Buick LaCrosse is a flex-fuel model, while the Nissan Maxima is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Buick LaCrosse or the 2016 Nissan Maxima?

Measured by cost to drive, the Buick LaCrosse. The Buick LaCrosse is rated 21 MPG combined and the Nissan Maxima 25 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Buick LaCrosse vs. the Nissan Maxima per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,214 for the Buick LaCrosse and $2,370 for the Nissan Maxima.

Which has more cargo space?

The Buick LaCrosse, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 14 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima in other years

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