2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid HEV

Pros

Fuel economy, ride and noise level, tax credits

Cons

Dealer

Purchased As New

We were very pleased for the first 7000 miles. The $4000 in tax credits after getting $7K off the MSRP made it a deal we couldn't pass up. Great MPG; around 37-39 in mixed driving. Then we encountered some problems with what we thought was the accerator and/or transmission.

After returing from a long trip, the car started to jerk or hesitate everytime I pressed on the gas peddle and the gas milage went down significantly (37 to 27). I took it to the dealer and was not treated very well as they suggested it was all about not getting the 3750 oil change at the dealer as I was to blame. Bottom line, the electronic controls were not set right and that some how caused the malfunction. They reset the electronic and told us to get a oil change from the dealer. We complied. It does seem that the MPG has gone down a couple of MPG after the dealer adjustment.

We still really like the car and the mileage. This is our first Nissan and probably our last after the dealer interaction (both the sale and service)....read morehide

Pros

fuel economy, style, handeling, performance, safety

Cons

trunk space

Purchased As New

So we bought this car just under a month ago and love it. Fits our family of 4 great, even with the kids in booster seats. It came loaded with leather, Bose sound (awesome), sunroof, and everything but navigation ($2000 extra). It drives so smooth, quiet, and handles like a regular Altima. It has the 2.5 engine in it, and all of the normal set up, so highway driving is great, and city driving is smooth. I don't even feel when it changes from battery mode to gas. Must be that great gearless transmission. The trunk is a little small, due the batteries being stored behind the rear seat, but has enough room for a trip to the store, or an extended trip with our bags. My wife and I try to compete to see who gets the better mileage out of it, (she wins usually), as it is her primary car. Lots of safety features and good ratings, and so far have averaged 32 mpg on hwy and over 35 in the city. Very comfortable and fun to drive. Quiet inside, great stereo, and looks great as well. I highly recommend this car to anyone in the market for a hybrid, economy car, new family car, etc. We downgraded from a Town and Country van which we loved as well, and had no issues with. But the over 10 mpg increase in the city is paying off already....read morehide

Pros

Smooth!

Cons

None yet

Purchased As New

was'nt looking for a hybrid when we went looking, was'nt even looking at Nissans, but test drove the Altima hybrid and was blown away by its smoothness and comfort. Surprised by the power considering it's a larger (and roomer) car.Gearless Automatic trans also a plus. Getting unheard of milage for a vehicle this size. Glad I stepped into 21st century!...read morehide

Pros

Built by Americans in Tennessee

Cons

None

Purchased As New

Just purchased the vehicle so I do not have anything to add to the other reviews. But, I wanted to point out that the Altima is built by Americans in Tennessee, gets better gas mileage so less of our money is going out of the country to people that do not like us, and seems like a regular car. So you give up nothing, while you support the American economy. Yes it does not pay for the extra expense for a long time but most people buying a new car can afford to pay an extra dollar a day without hardship....read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy, low emissions, high saftey rating and reliability, sporty engine and handling

Cons

No fog lights or ipod docking bay, small trunk

Purchased As New

I recently purchased a 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid (NAH) fitted with the technology package in Oregon. The final cost was about $24K after a fat $3,500 Nissan rebate, a $2,350 federal tax credit, along with a $1,500 state tax credit, and there is no sales tax in Oregon. The dealership experience was very good. The staff was friendly, professional and well informed. The only issue was simply availability: There was just one NAH in stock when I arrived for a test drive.

My fully appointed Altima is very comfortable, handles well on the road, accelerates strongly for a hybrid, and produces very low (AT-PZEV) emissions with good fuel economy, averaging 34 MPG so far. The car is fun to drive and has an overall sporty feel. Steering is accurate and it corners well, with very strong brakes and an overall solid feeling on the road. Noise levels in the cabin remain fairly low in nearly all paved driving conditions, except when gunning the engine all-out. The electric motor is eerily quiet as the car begins to roll, and there is a distinct growl whenever the gas engine eventually starts.

Inside the cabin, the first thing I notice is how comfortable the leather seats are, and the car?s excellent front, side and rear visibility. There are 6 air bags and most impacts zones have a 5-star safety rating. The navigation system works well, especially XM traffic monitoring and the rear-view video camera. The Bose sound system uses 9 speakers to produce strong and clear sound throughout the cabin. I trained two Bluetooth phones and downloaded both contact lists in less than 10 minutes. Communicating with others hands-free is now safe and simple: When a call arrives, the XM radio programming fades away automatically; after the call finishes, the radio quickly returns. Small misses include the lack of fog lights in the hybrid model, the lack of a full iPod docking bay, and available trunk space is limited because the main battery is stored there.

I also test drove the Toyota Camry hybrid and Prius, Honda Civic and the new Ford Fusion all on the same day. In general, the prices, warranties and incentives are approximately the same for these vehicles when similarly equipped, so my final judgment mostly depended on the test drive. For me, the Nissan Altima hybrid was the clear choice....read morehide

Pros

Uses Toyota's Hybrid Battery Technology - Great ride!

Cons

occasional recalls (but it's free to fix)

Purchased As New

I bought the Hybrid shortly after it came out - I don't trust first year models but they used Toyota's hybrid battery technology which was a smart move to improve reliability. I live the drive of Nissan's way more responsive than toyota's.. This car drives great!!! - I was super surprised Great pickup. I love their stereo systems, how fast sunroofs open, and how cool opening the door is (they have a button you can press even if you have your keys in your pocket or purse). The only problem I had was a brake rusting problem; but I think they got wet on the boat. Nissan fixed them. Then there were a few recalls, but they notify you and fix them quickly (free). (kinks of a first year release). No problems with transmission, acceleration, electronics, and I LOVE the ride and mileage! I stop 4 times every morning before work -dropping kids, and I still get great mileage. I love nissan can you tell? But even I was surprised that I loved the Altima 'cause usually I want more powerful models and bigger cars because I have 3 kids, but it's been working... groceries and all....read morehide

Pros

Fuel economy, performance, features, interior room

Cons

Rides hard around town, junk transmission, trunk space, pricey, touchy brakes

Purchased As New

This is a pretty decent car save the terrible transmission experiences I have had with it. It bucks and hesitates and whines and a few times wouldn't go into reverse. Nissan replaced the transmission and for a while it was ok. Now it is starting to hesitate and act up again but Nissan techs say it is normal this time. I am very leary. The car it'self is ok with enough room and engine power considering it's a 4 cylinder. Mileage has been around 35-37 overall which is the main reason I bought it. I would wish for a larger trunk and smoother ride around town over potholes and the over $30,000 price paid for this car wasn't cheap by any means....read morehide

Pros

altima is a good car for a medium family

Cons

ride is best on high way

Purchased As New

altima is best for traveling long distance.Altima has a model of racing car and performace is also like a sports car
but only problem is its height is too low compared to other cars

Cons

None

Purchased As New

I bought a new Altima Hybrid in May of 07. What a great car! I am a gear head and this car has pleanty of pick up. If it is on flat ground it gets over 40mpg. In the hilly area where I live it gets 35.5 in the summer on the tires it came with. In the winter I suggest getting a set a good snow tires. The tires it comes with won't take you any where if there is even a coating of snow. With the snow tires on I am getting 31.7 throughout the winter.
I drive about 15 miles to and from work evey day. Most of it is in traffic. So, I use less than a gallon of gas a day!! (About $2.00/day where I live) Again, What a great car!!...read morehide

Pros

5 star safety rating, good fuel economy, comfortable, powerful.

Cons

Small trunk

Purchased As New

I love this car. I had a Prius and thought I loved it. I was in an accident in a parking lot...hardly moving when a Mercedes sped around a blind corner (less than 20MPH) and hit me. The amount of damage was huge. The Prius crumpled and needed over $6K in repairs. I can't imagine what would happen in a real collision with some speed. The Prius is a great vehicle. The Altima is a great car! That's the difference. The Altima is a real car...with a sunroof...AND it's a Hybrid. Love it!...read morehide