Motortrend compares the $30k Pontiac G8 GT against Nissan’s $30k Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV and here’s what happened:
Cut to the Quick
The Maxima’s DOHC, 24-valve V-6 makes a stirring 290 hp at 6400 rpm. The G8 GT’s pushrod V-8 churns out 361 horses at 5300. Even allowing for the G8’s greater bulk (it weighs nearly 400 lb more than the Nissan), its 71-hp advantage means straightline sprints are no contest. While the Maxima is quick-0 to 60 mph in 6.1 sec-the G8 is a full half-second quicker, gunning to 60 mph in just 5.6 sec. (The Pontiac’s numbers are well off the 5.3-sec runs we recorded with another test car-same track, same driver-in our April issue; stay tuned to motortrend.com for updates as we investigate this anomaly.) Launched fender to fender on the dragstrip, the Maxima quickly disappears in the G8’s rearview mirror. What’s more, the G8 is more viscerally thrilling, its V-8 booming with brawn and its six-speed auto cranking off quick, smooth upshifts. The Maxima’s CVT seems downright quirky in comparison.
In the other direction, braking, the G8 is stopped from 60 mph while the Maxima rolls on for another 19 ft.
Edge: G8. Not even close.
The G8 also went on to win the handling contest, out cornering the Maxima at will. And even the fuel economy isn’t far off for the large V8 Pontiac, getting 24mpg to the Maxima’s 26mpg.
And in case you’re wondering, here’s their reasoning for even comparing the two very different vehicles:
As we see it, if you’ve got around $30,000 to spend on a sport sedan, you want to know your options-and you’ve got important choices to make. At that price, Nissan’s brand-new Maxima proffers a high-output V-6, an advanced continuously variable transmission, oodles of electronic conveniences, and what’s claimed to be one of the best-performing front-drive chassis in the world. And for roughly the same money, Pontiac’s new G8 GT delivers the thunder of a big-bore V-8, a six-speed automatic, and a fat-tired rear-drive platform. Both are roomy, eye-catching four-doors. Both promise driving thrills far above the common sedan paradigm. One is a wonder of 21st-century can-do; the other radiates the iconic aura of the 20th century’s glory days. How do their behind-the-wheel experiences differ? And which one makes the more compelling case for your cash?
Full Article: 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV vs. 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
