2009 Nissan Altima - Performance Review

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Shopping for a 2009 Nissan Altima? MSRP: $19,900 - $29,380

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The 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid takes the family-friendly package of the Nissan Altima sedan and adds greater fuel economy, thus offering the best of both worlds.

The 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid features one powertrain, which Cars.com lists as a "158-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 162 pounds-feet of torque" that combines with a "40-hp, 650-volt electric motor with 199 pounds-feet of torque." The combination "gives it a power bonus versus the standard Altima," according to Kelley Blue Book, but the "extra weight imposes some penalty on acceleration, so the actual performance differences between the two are small." Car and Driver support that, as they report "0-to-60 times for the hybrid and the 2.5S we tested in February...are identical at 7.4 seconds, although the hybrid is a couple 10ths quicker in the quarter-mile." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com favor the gas/electric combination on the Nissan Altima Hybrid, with ConsumerGuide commenting that the sedan is "generally strong" in most driving situations. The Nissan Altima Hybrid can also cruise for a while on batter power alone, as Automobile Magazine reviewers note that "slow, fluid starts and a gentle application of the accelerator pedal can keep the Altima running off electricity at speeds up to 40 mph."

The Nissan Altima's singular transmission option is a "specialized CVT," according to reviewers at Edmunds. The CVT, or continuously variable transmission, rates well with reviewers, although ConsumerGuide feels that "the CVT in this application slightly dulls passing response." Apart from that one negative comment, reviewers tend to agree with the experts at Automobile, who praise the "slick, silent, planetary-type CVT."

Like all hybrids, the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid boasts commendable fuel economy ratings. According to official EPA estimates, the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid should return 35 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway—significant improvements, especially over the base Altima's 23 mpg city rating. Cars.com states that some of the other fuel-saving measures include a feature by which "the four-cylinder engine shuts off when the vehicle comes to a stop."

While TheCarConnection.com’s editors feel that the Altima Hybrid doesn’t ride and handle as well as the standard version, other reviewers deem it just as enjoyable. Those at Kelley Blue Book report that "the athletic responses and braking performance that distinguish the [conventional] Altima among its contemporaries" are very much alive and well on the Nissan Altima Hybrid. Automobile Magazine contends that the Altima Hybrid is "one of the most enjoyable hybrid sedans on the market" and "feels no less sporty" than the conventional Altima. Edmunds calls the Nissan Altima Hybrid "an excellent choice for drivers who want a little fun between point A and point B" thanks to its "swift acceleration [and] sporty (for a hybrid) handling." ConsumerGuide says the ride is adequately comfortable, noting that the Altima Hybrid is "poised and comfortable," while Kelley Blue Book lauds the Nissan Altima Hybrid's "excellent braking."