MotorMouths

The 2008 Nissan Altima hybrid would appear to be very much a me-too vehicle, but in many ways it’s actually more satisfying than the Camry hybrid.

The Altima Hybrid’s gasoline engine shakes too much when it automatically kicks in. Otherwise, it’s an appealing blend of exceptional fuel economy and exciting performance.

Although the hybrid components are identical to those in the Camry hybrid, the Altima Hybrid’s chassis delivers more athletic responses. The result is a hybrid sedan that’s more fun to drive than most others.

Among the few green midsize sedans on the market, the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is our favorite, with its swift acceleration, sporty (for a hybrid) handling, miserly fuel consumption, comfort and practicality.

We never thought we could have so much fun with a hybrid, but Nissan ups the performance of its 2009 Altima Hybrid with a stronger engine than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

I wasn’t expecting anything from the Altima Hybrid, but I was pleasantly surprised. It handled great in normal driving conditions and also provided to be exceptionally smooth on the freeway.

I liked the Nissan accoutrements in the Altima Hybrid. These included supportive seats, an easy-to-operate and colorful navigation system that can be tilted to reduce washout in bright sun and spacious interior.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid is at the cutting edge of hybrid technology, but we enjoy it simply because it doesn’t smack of being a hybrid first and foremost.

The Altima Hybrid shares the same basic hybrid-drive system as the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Nissan, however, decided to add a pinch of hot pepper to the recipe.

Flying under the radar in the hybrid game is the Nissan Altima Hybrid. Licensing its technology from Toyota, the Altima Hybrid is available in 8 states.

The Altima Hybrid offers a package essentially similar to the Camry Hybrid’s, with a little less space, a lot more style and fuel economy better than the Accord Hybrid.