2007 Hybrid Altima Goes For The Green

Environmentally-conscious car shoppers in eight states can now purchase a fuel-thrifty, gasoline/electric hybrid car with Toyota's well-known hybrid technology.

Big surprise: It's not a Toyota.

Nissan has incorporated Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system into the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid. The resultand vehicle is the most fuel-efficient Altima ever, with fuel economy ratings of 42 miles per gallon in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.

The five-passenger Altima Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient Nissan ever, surpassing even the smaller Nissan Versa car in judiciously sipping gasoline. The Altima Hybrid is offered only at Nissan dealerships in California and seven other states that have adopted California's strict vehicle-emissions rules. Those states are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Distribution is limited because Nissan needs to meet the states' zero-emission vehicle mandates

With a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $25,025 — or $4,100 more than a gasoline-only, four-cylinder Altima with automatic transmission — the Altima Hybrid has some standard features not normally found in mainstream sedans. These include dual-zone climate control and electronic, no-key entry system with push-button ignition, both in the base Altima Hybrid.

Nissan hasn't taken any shortcuts when it comes to safety: All safety equipment is standard, including six air bags, front-seat active head restraints to reduce whiplash injuries, as well as stability control and traction control.

Electric power is generated on an ongoing basis and stored in a nickel metal hydride battery as the vehicle travels. But this sizable battery reduces trunk space to 9.1 cubic feet.

The Altima Hybrid has more horsepower (198 compared with the Camry Hybrid's 187 horses and the Prius' 110), thanks to Nissan's larger and more powerful four cylinder, and the easy acceleration and power makes the Altima feel like it's got a V-6 under the hood.