Nissan Altima Hybrid

The Nissan Altima was already a top-ranking car in its class, and Nissan has only done themselves a favor by developing a hybrid model. The 2009 Nissan Altima hybrid not only combines the sleek, stylish look of an Altima with the hybrid system, but it also ranks toward the top of affordable midsize cars. All in all, Nissan has taken an already successful vehicle and re-engineered it to keep up with the eco-friendly-demanding times.

PROS:

Even though Nissan buys its hybrid parts for the Altima from Toyota, many consumers have insisted that they prefer the Altima to Toyota’s alternatives, typically citing better handling. For one, the Altima offers a rather sporty look with a spacious interior and a lively performance. More importantly, however, the 2009 Nissan Altima hybrid offers a combined 34 mpg city/highway. Even further, Nissan’s hybrid Altima earned the highest marks in essentially all the safety ratings. Though it may not be revolutionary, Nissan’s 2009 hybrid Altima combines lustrous design with environmental efficiency to become an all-around solid product.

CONS:

Though there are some problems with the Altima when switching between the hybrid system and conventional power, this has not been the main concern of consumers. The two dominant cons associated with the 2009 Nissan Altima hybrid have been its price and its lack of availability. As far as price goes, the MSRP of the car, $26,000, is not abnormally high. Nevertheless, the base model is very bare, meaning most buyers will want to tack on more options, quickly hiking up the price. The other main concern is the availability of the 2009 hybrid Altima. It is currently only offered in eight states, meaning that people outside those states who wish to purchase it will be in for a road trip. Though Nissan has put a solid vehicle on the market, the question remains whether the Altima appeals enough to have people drive out of their state to buy one.