2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid Review
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.
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 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid ranks 13 out of 18 Affordable Midsize Cars. 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’s ratings aren’t impressive. The 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid’s main competitors are the Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid, each of which bring one or more of these strengths to the table: excellent fuel economy, value, comfort and strong performance.
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.
The powertrain consists of Nissan’s 2.5-liter QR25 four-cylinder, twin cam engine that boasts continuous variable valve timing and electronic throttle control, teamed with an electric motor and a Hybrid Vehicle Electric Control Unit (HV-ECU) that works in conjunction with a Continuously Variable Transmission to provide drive to the wheels.
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. The latter figure is reached at a relatively low 2800 rpm, providing lively mid-range acceleration. 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.
Although the Altima Hybrid doesn’t exactly scream ‘enthusiast,’ the chassis and suspension tuning are definitely biased toward the tauter side of comfort. 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. Given the high profile status that hybrids currently enjoy, the Altima Hybrid seems to have been lost in the shadows almost since the day it was introduced.
