The latest from Nissan is the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid, which is an attempt to break into the hybrid car segment that is in the news lately. This particular car is a comfortable and fun-to-drive family car which is high on fuel-economy and convenience. With a sleek design and some really spacious interiors, this car is viewed as a nice buy but with limited features. Critics have been saying that this is one car with a personality. The lively car gives a smooth drive and doesn’t drain your wallet in maintenance, so think of the Nissan Altima as a good option among Hybrid cars.
The friendly engine of the 2008 Nissan Altima provides a nice fuel economy of about 35 mpg on the city roads and 33 mpg on the highway. This is one good reason to go for the car, but there is more. 2.5-liter, I4, engine is not too very powerful in design, with 158-horsepower, but still performs well. Eco-friendly though it is, the car is not so price-friendly. The main reason behind this disappointment is the sparse standard features in the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid as compared to other hybrid models.
The car offers a good mileage and cruises along most roads quite smoothly, yes. But the driveline operation is not up to the mark. Quick around the corners, this car is definitely quite sporty compared to other cars of this kind. As for the exteriors, the front-wheel driven car is what you might call cool. Though nothing out-of-the-box, the design is smart and impressive. The rear seats are pretty okay but might not be so good for tall people. Otherwise, the interiors are good, though not fully quipped with features. That option is left to the customer.
The continuously variable transmission is quite good, because the car goes smoothly up to 60 mph. the throttle response is good. The unusual regenerative brakes are quite impressive as well. The handling and brakes are also excellent. An overall score of 7 on 10 is what we would give to this 2008 hybrid.
Engine: 3 out of 5….. good engine, but we can have better expectations in the future versions.
Transmission: 3 out of 5…. Excellent continuously variable transmission.
Handling: 4 out of 5… very competent handling in the Nissan Altima.
Safety: 3 out of 5 … safety features are okay, nothing special.
Value 4 out of 5… $25,000 is okay but the car does not have too many special features as such.
Tech Specs
Body: the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid is a 4-door and 5 passenger family sedan
Engine: 2.5 Liter I4 158 HP engine
Transmission: variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard in the Nissan Hybrid.
Torque: 162 at 2800 (ft-lbs)
Power: 158 at 5200 rpm
Tires: 16 inch radial, passenger tires with front and rear disc brakes. Rack and pinion steering
Verdict: good car if you are satisfied with basic features. Lively and reliable but lacking in interiors.
For: great styling and spirited, peppy performance on all roads.
Against: too little features and sparse interiors. Limited availability. Engine gets noisy at times.
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