Expert Reviews
By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National October 25, 2010Vehicle Overview
The Altima Hybrid is Nissan's first gas/electric hybrid, using technology borrowed from Toyota. It is currently sold in 11 states, including California, New York, New Jersey, much of New England and Oregon. Nissan has announced that future hybrids will use Nissan-designed hybrid technology and be available nationwide.
The Altima Hybrid is available in one trim level and competes with other midsize hybrids like the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid.
New for 2011
Other than a few new colors, there are no changes to the Altima Hybrid.
Exterior
Except for some hybrid decal badging, the Altima Hybrid features the same silhouette as a conventional Altima. Exterior features include:
- Standard 16-inch alloy wheels
- Standard power mirrors, heated mirrors optional
- Standard dual exhaust
- Optional automatic headlamps
- Optional rear spoiler
- Optional power sunroof
Interior
Nissan installs the hybrid's battery pack in the trunk, leaving the vehicle with a modest 10.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Interior features include:
- Available cloth or leather upholstery
- Available wood or metallic trim
- Standard dual-zone automatic climate control
- Standard power windows, locks and keyless entry
- Standard cruise control
- Optional heated front seats
- Optional upgraded audio system
- Optional navigation system
Under the Hood
The four-cylinder gasoline engine shuts off when the vehicle comes to a stop to save gas. The electric motor provides some acceleration at low speeds; the gasoline engine kicks in when accelerating hard or for highway travel. The air-conditioning compressor is electric (rather than belt-driven) to save gas. This also means the air conditioner can blow in cold air even with the engine turned off. The Altima Hybrid achieves an estimated 35/33 mpg city/highway.
Mechanical features include:- 158-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 162 pounds-feet of torque
- 40-hp, 650-volt electric motor with 199 pounds-feet of torque
- Continuously variable automatic transmission
- Standard push-button start
Safety
Safety features include:
- Side-impact airbags
- Side curtain airbags
- Active front head restraints
- Antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system
- Optional backup camera
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