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Nissan Altima Hybrid
Unfortunately, the Nissan Altima hybrid is being discontinued in 2012.
Anyway, the Nissan Altima
Hybrid car, much like the Ford
Escape Hybrid SUV, borrows Toyota's
gasoline-electric hybrid system. Eventually, however,
Nissan will replace the Toyota hybrid drive with a
proprietary hybrid drive.
Nonetheless, the Altima hybrid isn't just a Toyota hybrid in Nissan clothes. Compared to the Toyota Camry hybrid, for example, the Altima hybrid offers a more performance-orientated drive. The Altima hybrid is almost a sporty hybrid.
Essentially, the Altima
hybrid will run on a QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, but should
achieve the power and torque of a 6-cylinder engine while still achieving the fuel
efficiency of a 4-cylinder vehicle. Currently, the EPA rates the
198 horsepower Altima
hybrid at 42 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
Read about
real fuel economy from Altima drivers by checking out
our Nissan
Altima hybrid testimonials.
Some Altima hybrid owners have reported slightly lower than EPA fuel economy, but most have been happy with the combination of Altima fuel economy and performance. If there has been an issue of discontent, some have complained that the Altima hybrid's engine revs abonormally.
Nevertheless, Consumer Reports has found the Altima hybrid to be very reliable.
Like the Prius and Camry hybrids, the
Altima hybrid is also a full hybrid, meaning it can be powered
purely by electricity at low speeds. Regenerative breaking and
variable transmission will help keep the battery pack
powered.
As the most popular
Nissan model, the Altima hybrid will offer all of the
same features that the newly designed 2011 Altima
offers.
Some of
those new features include "16-inch alloy wheels,
Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, power
windows/door locks, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD system with
auxiliary audio input jack, Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control
System (TCS) and dual-zone automatic temperature control
that includes an Altima Hybrid-specific electrically
powered A/C that continues to provide cooling when the
gasoline engine is stopped".
Additionally,
the Altima hybrid will come in three different
packages; Convenience Package, Connection Package
(with either Sirius(TM) or XM® satellite radio) and
Technology Package.
If the Toyota
Prius is way too boring and the Camry hybrid just isn't the right fit, check out the Nissan Altima hybrid
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