Forgotten Cars: Nissan Altima Hybrid

"LJ909" (lj909) 04/09/2018 at 10:44 • Filed to: None

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Remember when Nissan developed a Altima Hybrid using Toyota tech and then it just disappeared? Not many people do because it sold poorly. The Altima Hybrid was based on the 4th gen Altima and was introduced in ‘07 at the Orange County Auto Show (because of course they would introduce it in the OC).

Nissan licensed Toyota’s hybrid tech from them saying that hybrid models after this would have tech developed in house. Using Nissan’s familiar 2.5 I4, the total combined output was 198 horses (they couldn’t have squeezed out the 2 extra horses for a full 200?). Power of course was routed through the terrible, terrible CVT transmission Nissan is so frustratingly fond of. Fuel economy ratings were 41 city/36 highway.

Inside it was standard boring Altima fair, with an econ meter replace the standard tach. There was nothing to get excited about although the interior was (and still is) roomy. So where did it go? To automotive heaven due to slow sales. It was produced from ‘07 to ‘11 and was initially only available for sale in 10 states: California, Oregon, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. That could have had something to do with its low sales. Its said 35,000 were built over its 4 years of production, but that’s hard to believe considering that you really cant find them for sale used if you look. The NYPD even used some as patrol cars just before its death.

There’s nothing really special about it enough for me to recommend it being a good used buy. That’s even if you can find one like I mentioned. But with this Altima Hybrid, Nissan does have a tendency to make hybrid models and not keep them around long (Murano Hybrid, Pathfinder Hybrid) which is strange...

hike > LJ909 04/09/2018 at 11:38

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This made me curious as to the availability and resale value on these compared to the Camry Hybrid. There’s a 43k mile Altima Hybrid for sale in Georgia for as whopping $11k. Most of the other ones are between $5k and $7k. The Camry Hybrid from that same time period is between $7k and $12k. So this is a pretty decent value for a midsize hybrid sedan! Interestingly, the Hybrid Altima is also the same price as the regular one, probably due to the likely increased repair cost with the electrical system.

LJ909 > hike 04/09/2018 at 11:42

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Thats pretty good considering the tech is sourced from Toyota so there is that reliability component. But Nissan’s (most Japanese cars in general), mainly Altimas from this generation have terrible paint quality and begin to fade badly or rust on the roof and hoods. I cant tell you how many of this gen I see on a daily basis with messed up paint.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > LJ909 04/09/2018 at 11:48

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Ways to show you’re not from around here #19: Call it “the OC”.

LJ909 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/09/2018 at 12:01

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Ha. Yea that’s what its known as locally.

MINIGTI > LJ909 04/09/2018 at 13:42

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There’s a cab company here in Chicago with a huge fleet of these.

LJ909 > MINIGTI 04/09/2018 at 15:20

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That’s..weird.

nj959 > LJ909 04/09/2018 at 15:52

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I had forgotten about these. Well, next time I see an Altima weaving through traffic on i-287 with its shitty four cylinder banging off the rev limiter I’ll check to see if it’s a hybrid.

ranwhenparked > LJ909 04/09/2018 at 18:07

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Ah, yes, I remember, the days before the Altima was vomit inducingly hideous.

Also,

LJ909 > nj959 04/09/2018 at 20:53

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They always have the shittiest drivers.

pjhusa > LJ909 05/10/2018 at 21:51

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These were pretty popular in NYC as taxis though...