Overview & Reviews

At the beginning of Prius-mania, Nissan could see itself venturing up a creek without a paddle. Or rather, into a new fuel economy-conscious market without a hybrid. As a quick fix, Nissan swallowed its pride and essentially purchased the rights to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. This marriage resulted in the Nissan Altima Hybrid, a sedan that combined the high-tech, fuel-saving benefits of Toyota's hybrid technology with the Altima's sporty looks and driving dynamics.

It was an impressive combination, and in many ways the Altima Hybrid was the most desirable hybrid sedan on the market during its time. Unfortunately, Nissan only sold it in handful of states, and annual sales numbers were pretty miniscule. As such, the Altima Hybrid will be pretty hard to find as a used car.

Most Recent Nissan Altima Hybrid
The Nissan Altima Hybrid was introduced at the same time as the regular, redesigned Altima for 2007. Unlike its non-hybrid sibling, however, it was discontinued after 2011.

The Altima's hybrid powertrain is essentially identical to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive in both design and function. It combines a modified version of the Altima's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (which makes 158 horsepower in this application) and an electric motor capable of 40 hp and 199 pound-feet of torque. Both gasoline and electric aspects operate together or one at a time, depending on driving conditions, to optimize fuel economy and power. They combine for 198 hp, with fuel economy estimated at 35 mpg city/33 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined -- on par with the contemporary Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Standard equipment was ample, with things like keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power driver seat among its standard features. Options were aplenty including a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth, navigation, a rearview camera and a Bose sound system. Unfortunately, these options were encapsulated in three pricey packages that limited customer choice and made the MSRP rise faster than Bundt cake in a broiler. As such, expect used Nissan Altima Hybrids to come with either a lot of equipment or very little.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid set itself apart from the Toyota and others by being a rare green car that didn't completely suck the life out of driving. While it was no sport sedan, it managed to keep much of the spirited acceleration and road-holding prowess of the gas-powered four-cylinder Altima. At the time, we also gave the car high marks for its precise steering, top-notch interior materials and strong crash safety scores.

During its life, changes were limited to 2010 when Nissan slightly tweaked the exterior styling, upgraded the interior fabric and added an iPod interface to the options list.

User Reviews:

• 

  The best Hybird - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Paul - June 19 - 2:50 am

  Just bought it. It is powerful, very quiet and fun to drive. Save a lot of gas and got the average 42mpg.

• 

  Very Happy Thank You - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Jane - May 1 - 11:26 am

  I gave up my 2003 Honda Camry in Jan 08 for the( in my opinion)sexy Altima Hybrid. I dont regret it. I drive 50 miles to and from work 6 days a week. I went from 3 tanks of gas a month to 3tanks of gas every 2 months. I went to San francisco from L A and drove around all week on the same tank of gas . With the camry I had to fill up when I got to San Francisco. I am Very Happy Thank You.

• 

  Altima Hybrid - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Gene - April 21 - 4:00 pm

  Just bought the Altima hybrid a few days ago.

• 

  Think twice -- hybrid? - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Mary Brennan - March 26 - 11:23 pm

  I like the car overall but am extremely disappointed with the gas mileage - 26 mpg in the city. When I took it in for the six month oil change, the service tech told me if the mileage didnt improve by the next change he would look into it. Today, a different service tech tells me that those numbers (29 to 41 mpg) are only estimates. Given that Im averaging more than 10% less than the low side of the estimate, I consider my car a gas "lemon."

• 

  Altima hybrid-performance car. - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By HEV Performance car - March 23 - 8:26 pm

  My brother had this car for a while. I drove it too. With really aggressive driving it gets about 30MPG while if you drive normally you will get like 35 combined. This car is almost as fast as 2006 Nissan 350Z, faster then Lexus 330 SUV. So far no problems, the car is reliable including some couple of thousands mountain driving.

• 

  Use This Car For What Its Intended - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Michael Tonelli - March 12 - 11:03 pm

  I bought this car because the $4.50/gal gas prices were worrying me. I assumed they would only go higher. The tax credit was a huge incentive. I chose this car because it was the "sportiest" choice of the hybrid vehicles on the market. While it can set you back in the seat, it has some quirks too. The mpg are disappointing, but not terrible. The best I can do is low 30s. The regenerative braking system feels "grabby" when rolling to a slow stop. There is something wrong with the drivers seat. It pops when your weight shifts in turns. Dealership worked on it and its better, but not completely gone. But mostly, use it for long distance commuting. I dont drive far enough to justify the price

• 

  09 Altima hybrid base model - 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Happy Owner - February 28 - 9:53 am

  Got base model for $21995 after rebate, incl destination fee. If the price hadnt been so low, the fuel benefit wouldnt have outweighed the added cost. LOVE it. The accel. is as good as my old accord, & better than my wifes civic. Poor Braking distance is non- issue; it feels like it can stop on a dime, even at 3500 lbs. The eCVT is ideal; I have never driven a continuous transmission. Has abundant safety features for my family, and I was even surprised that alloy wheels are standard (although I dont know the added benefit of alloys, just that they cost more). A small thing I love is the key. Just have it in your pocket, & you can open the trunk, unlock doors, & start the car!

• 

  6-Month Update on my Altima Hybrid - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By tjf - January 24 - 4:20 pm

  Total miles: 4,030. Avg mpg: 32.38. Total miles will easily double/triple in 2009. I came out of a 1999 V6 Toyota Camry. The Altima is nice but the Camry tracked and drove smoother. The power just flowed effortlessly and I could get up to 30 mpg hwy and 18-20 city. The premium I paid for the Altima Hybrid has yet to be of benefit so think through your driving style and driving demands. I also considered the Ford Escape Hybrid for the huge advantage of cargo space and functionality. I decided ultimately on the better gas mileage Altima (by 3 - 5 mpg) was worth more since gas was over $4/gal at the time and there was talk of going to $5/gal. The $2350 tax credit helped the decision too.

• 

  Awesome Car - 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Chester - January 19 - 9:33 pm

  Awesome car! Had it for just over a month now and have only had to fill up one time. Got about 500+ miles on first tank (I drive about 50/50 highway/city). Traded in 2006 Acura TL - when premium gas hit $3.49/gallon was glad I didnt own it anymore! Horsepower is more than sufficient - not nearly the oomph of the TL, but no problems at all passing or merging into traffic. Quiet, safe, smooth and comfortable ride. This vehicle has not disappointed. I always miss my trade in to some extent a number of weeks after getting a new car - love this car so much that I dont miss my TL at all!

• 

  Disappointing reliability and response - 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid
  By Disappointed - January 10 - 11:53 pm

  After driving the car for only 30 miles, it died on me, it would not start at all. Had it towed to nearest dealer. It took them 3 days to find out that the only thing wrong with it is its regular 12V battery that would not hold the charge. It took many calls to Nissan and the dealership and 3 weeks to get the car back. Apparently there is a national back-order on this item and finally they took the battery from another car to replace mine while they are waiting for the factory battery. But I am very apprehensive that I am going to get stuck somewhere. I should have gone with a more reputable manufacturer.