2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid Sedan Review

Nissan Altima Hybrid

In North America, the most popular (and high profile) approach has been hybrids.

In theory, the 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid is an ideal hybrid sedan. Second, the Altima Hybrid has great fuel economy ratings if you compare it to gasoline cars. However, once you look at competing hybrids like the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Toyota Prius, the Altima ratings aren’t impressive. While it’s not as fuel-efficient or well like at the Prius or the Fusion Hybrid, the Toyota Camry Hybrid deserves to be mentioned because Nissan borrowed the Camry Hybrid’s Synergy Drive technology -- a hybrid powertrain -- to build the Altima Hybrid. With fuel economy ratings of 31/35 mpg city/highway, the Camry Hybrid’s ratings pale in comparison to the Fusion Hybrid and Prius, but are on par with the Altima Hybrid’s 33/33 mpg city/highway.

Nissan has been somewhat hobbled by the fact that its mid-size Altima hybrid sedan utilizes many hybrid parts courtesy of Toyota, which have so far restricted the car’s availability and also profitability.

That said, the Hybrid version appears somewhat out of place compared to its sportier siblings, the Altima sedan and coupe. The Altima Hybrid comes with a standard 6.5-inch centrally mounted touch screen and hard drive navigation system as part of the Technology Package.

Unlike Honda’s hybrids, but like the Toyota Prius, the Altima is a true hybrid – the torque produced from the electric motor at zero rpm gives sufficient thrust to move the car at low speeds without assistance of the gasoline engine. Nissan claims that the Altima Hybrid can go around 600 miles between fill ups and EPA fuel economy ratings are 33-mpg city and 35-mpg highway. Standard Vehicle Stability Control also helps. The Altima Hybrid sports four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS and features regenerative braking, a feature common to other hybrid cars. For 2011 the Altima Hybrid’s price remains unchanged at $26,780 for a single, decently equipped model.

Through a licensing agreement with Toyota, the 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid shares a number of components with Toyota's Camry Hybrid. The Altima Hybrid's other EPA estimates -- 35 mpg city/33 highway -- also outshine its conventional gas-engine sibling's 23 mpg city/32 highway achievements. That said, the hybrid model adds a nearly $5,000 premium compared to a well-equipped Altima S. Tack on one or more of the tiered options packages and the Altima Hybrid quickly loses its price advantage to the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Camry Hybrid.

Overall, the Altima Hybrid is still a solid pick for a hybrid, but realistically its appeal is limited.
The 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid sedan is available in just one trim level. The EPA estimates the Altima Hybrid's fuel economy at 35 mpg city/33 mpg highway and 34 mpg in combined driving, numbers comparable to the Camry Hybrid but lower than the Fusion Hybrid. Standard safety equipment for the 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags and front-seat active head restraints.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedures. Compared to the conventional Altima 15-cubic-foot trunk capacity, the hybrid's capacity is reduced to 9 cubes. The 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid is a green car that doesn't completely suck the life out of driving.