2020 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2020 Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Avalon
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2020 Toyota Avalon is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,788 a year to fuel (26 MPG), versus $2,469 for the 2020 Nissan Maxima (24 MPG). That's roughly $680 a year, or about $3,401 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
- Nissan Maxima
- Toyota Avalon
Side by side
| Nissan Maxima | Toyota Avalon | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,469 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,788 |
| 24 MPG | Combined efficiency | 26 MPG |
| 20 MPG | City | 22 MPG |
| 30 MPG | Highway | 32 MPG |
| 98 cu ft | Passenger volume | 103 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 378 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 341 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Engine / motor | 3.5L 6-cyl |
| CVT | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| 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.
Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Avalon across model years
- Nissan Maxima
- Toyota Avalon
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 Toyota Avalon has more passenger space (103 vs. 98 cu ft); the Toyota Avalon has more cargo space (16 vs. 14 cu ft).
Among 64 2020 midsize cars, the Nissan Maxima ranks 52nd and the Toyota Avalon 34th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2020 Nissan Maxima or the 2020 Toyota Avalon?
Measured by cost to drive, the Toyota Avalon. The Nissan Maxima is rated 24 MPG combined and the Toyota Avalon 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2020 Nissan Maxima vs. the Toyota Avalon per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $2,469 for the Nissan Maxima and $1,788 for the Toyota Avalon.
Which has more cargo space?
The Toyota Avalon, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 14 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Avalon in other years
More 2020 comparisons
Nissan Maxima vs…
Or compare the 2020 Nissan Maxima with anything else: