Both cars sacrifice about one third of their trunk space to the battery pack; the Nissan's carrying capacity is slightly smaller at 10.1 cubic feet. Passengers fare better, particularly since Nissan has given the Altima's cabin a comprehensive upgrade in the last few years. Armrests are deeply cushioned, door panels are nicely upholstered, and the black cloth is a high-quality microfiber-like material (an interior treatment, by the way, that has trickled up from the bargain-priced but surprisingly plush Versa).
Overall, the Altima has a pleasant, real-car quality to it, whereas some hybrids can feel a bit like a science-fair project. At the same time, its fuel economy benefits are substantial, unlike "mild hybrids" such as GM's Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura. Whether those fuel economy gains make it worth spending significantly more for a hybrid depends of course on where and how much you drive (check out the annual fuel cost calculator at the EPA's web site, fueleconomy.gov) and whether you place any value in driving an environmentally cleaner vehicle. But here again, the Nissan has an edge over the Toyota. Not only is its sticker price lower ($25,695 versus $26,150 for the Camry) but, because of the federal government's arcane rules regarding tax subsidies, the Altima buyer could qualify for tax credits of $2350 whereas the Camry buyer would not.
Nissan might not be a hybrid pioneer, but they've still fielded a very competitive offering. What they really ought to do is field it in all fifty states. ...next page >>