The 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid Review
For 15 years now Nissan has been selling the Altima, a 5 passenger family sedan that still appeals to auto enthusiasts. In 2008, Nissan has added the Nissan Altima Hybrid to the Altima family. Currently the Nissan Altima Hybrid is only available in California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Maine. It has been certified by the IRS, and the EPA designated it an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions vehicle.
For those unaware of how a hybrid vehicle works, the car is able to turn the force of deceleration that occurs during braking into energy that is used to recharge a battery. The battery then runs the car, only using the gas powered engine when there is not enough charge left in the battery. As well as being technically advanced and environmentally friendly, perhaps the most noticeable advantage to drivers is that the Nissan Altima Hybrid is able to provide a whopping 35 mpg in the city, and 33 mpg on the highway.
This also means that unlike a traditional gas powered car, the Altima Hybrid is actually more efficient in the city than on the highway as the starting and stopping of city driving keeps the battery charged and the engine is used less often.
While being ecologically friendly, make no mistake: this is still a Nissan Altima. Drivers can expect the same exhilarating experience from the Altima Hybrid as the have come to expect from the Nissan Altima. It comes with a four cylinder 2.5 liter engine with 198 horsepower. Power is transferred from the gas powered engine and electric motor using an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, which makes for a very smooth and comfortable ride.
Stability and traction control are also included for safety, as well as Nissan’s advanced airbag system and anti-lock brakes. And while the Altima Hybrid is transferring braking power into storable energy for the battery, there is no interference with the feeling of the brakes.
For technophiles, the Nissan Altima Hybrid with the technology package option offers more technology than just the hybrid engine. An extremely user-friendly Bluetooth system allows hands-free calling with an LCD touch screen display for setup. The package also includes a 9 speaker Bose audio system with a 6 CD changer and MP3 compatibility, Radio Data System (RDS), and speed sensitive volume control that automatically adjusts the volume according to the speed of the vehicle. It also includes satellite radio and a GPS system with XM NavTraffic.
Filed Under: Nissan Cars
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