2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid in Eight Great States
Nissan decided they weren’t going to let Toyota and Honda get all the praise for going green, so in 2007 they rolled out a hybrid version of the Altima. Interestingly, rather than spending years developing their own technology, in 2002 Nissan entered into a licensing agreement with rival Toyota to borrow a version of their patented “Hybrid Synergy Drive”. We’re guessing Toyota didn’t plan on MotorTrend ranking the Altima ahead of the Camry for best midsize hybrid.
Fortunately for Toyota (according to Green Car Congress) that agreement will likely end in the next year or so as Nissan is now in the process of developing their own hybrid system, anticipated to debut in 2010 as part of the Nissan Green Program. (For now, this might be the only way to get a federal hybrid tax credit on a vehicle that includes Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive.)
The 2007 and 2008 Nissan Altima hybrid are only sold in a limited number of states including California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut. These are the states that follow California’s emission laws, although the greener Altimas seem to be finding their way to buyers in most other states as well. If you’re considering a hybrid Altima and live in one of the other 42 states - it makes sense to first check with your local Nissan Altima dealer to make sure they are able to fully service and maintain the hybrid version. According to Nissan, all dealers are set up to handle hybrids.
The ‘07 hybrid Altima had an epa rating of 41/36 mpg and a base price of about $25,600. With the new mileage rating adjustments, the ‘08 hybrid Altima is a more realistic 35 mpg city and 33 mpg hwy. That equals an improvement of about 10 miles per gallon over the gas-only Altima, and this 198 hp ”green version” is just as quick to 60 mph (7.4 seconds). You can use the official Nissan site to compare and contrast all 5 models of the Altima (2.5 S, 2.5 SL, 3.5 SE, 3.5 SL, Hybrid).
If you’re looking for a hybrid sedan that’s larger than a Prius or hybrid Civic - and more sporty than the hybrid Camry - the Altima might be just what you need. Expect to pay $4,000 to $6,000 more than you would for a similarly equiped non-hybrid Altima, depending on whether or not you can claim the $2,350 tax credit. If you can, it should take 3-4 years to recoup the premium you’ll pay to go green, based on 15,000 miles of annual driving and $3 per gallon gas. We don’t expect many changes when the 2009 Nissan Altima hybrid becomes available, but check back for updates.
Get a quick quote on a Nissan Altima hybrid.
Other reviews and road tests for the Nissan Altima hybrid can be found at:
The Truth About Cars
MotorTrend
Altima Hybrid Video from AutoSpies on YouTube
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[…] about same price range, with as good or better mileage, potential buyers might also consider a Nissan Altima hybrid ($25,000) or a Toyota Camry hybrid ($25,200). If you are looking to stretch your dollar further as […]