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Differences That Matter
Comparing hybrid sedans is a little like pitting Rush Limbaugh against Al Gore in a Thunderdome-style death match. The fight itself might put you to sleep, but the results, which speak volumes about the commitment of the combatants, will have everyone taking notice.
Despite the politics, now is a good time to compare hybrids. Environmental factors, ever-increasing fuel costs and the simple need for social responsibility are creating a market ripe for the hybrid. Manufacturers are responding with midsize sedans — the most popular car segment in the largest car market in the world.
We've assembled the three big players in this segment: Nissan's 2007 Altima Hybrid, Saturn's 2007 Aura Green Line and Toyota's 2007 Camry Hybrid. We left out Honda's Accord Hybrid since it's been discontinued for the 2008 model year. We're simply looking for the best car by factoring in fuel economy, performance, price and usability in an all-out slugfest of green.
Who's Who?
Toyota is a dominant player in the American hybrid market with its Prius, now in its second generation, which has set the standard for efficient operation and distinctly dorky styling. But it's the Camry that has been the best-selling car in the U.S. for eight of the last nine years, so producing a hybrid version that incorporates the efficiency of the Prius with mainstream usability and styling only makes sense.
Just like the standard Camry, the hybrid version comes loaded with features like dual-zone climate control and Toyota's Smart Key system with push-button start. Our test car also has plenty of options, including the $1,300 Leather Package and $1,200 voice-activated DVD-based navigation and audio system (with satellite radio). The $940 Moonroof Package, $470 Comfort and Convenience Package and $277 Preferred Accessory Package brought the total to $30,667, including the $580 destination fee.
At $30,535 as tested, Nissan's Altima Hybrid undercuts the Camry by only $132. Its $5,250 Connection Package with XM includes heated leather seats, a power-sliding moonroof, Bluetooth capability, a Bose six-disc CD changer with XM Satellite Radio and nine speakers, and many other amenities. The Altima also includes $270 in floor mats and aluminum sill plates.
Saturn's Aura is far less expensive at only $23,070. It has only one option — the $375 Preferred Package, which adds eight-way power adjustment to the driver seat, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and heated power-adjustable outside mirrors.
All three cars come standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, head curtain and side airbags, traction control and stability control. Regenerative braking, which turns kinetic energy from braking into electrical energy to charge the hybrid system's batteries, is a key feature in most hybrids and all three cars utilize it. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are also standard for all three cars.
The Routine
Testing three hybrid sedans might not produce the same thrill as our last 500-horsepower coupe shoot-out, but there is something refreshing about exceeding 40 miles per gallon during your homeward commute. Some editors even thought of the Camry's fuel economy display as a personal challenge to their driving skill.
For two weeks we drove all three cars in every environment they would ordinarily see as family sedans. We loaded them with people and cargo, observed their strengths and shortcomings and took them to the test track to measure their performance. We bickered about the couchlike ride quality of the Camry and were in awe of the directness of the Altima's steering. And we all liked the reasonable price of the Aura.
We skewed our scoring criteria to focus on the priorities of the hybrid buyer. Fuel economy contributed a major amount to each car's overall score, while performance was scaled back accordingly. Feature content and our 28-point evaluation that covers everything from powertrain performance to cupholders have been weighted 15 and 20 percent, respectively. As-tested price, the most heavily weighted category, accounts for 30 percent of each car's total score.
All Hybrids Are Not Created Equal
Understanding the differences between the two types of hybrids tested here is critical to both making an informed purchase decision and reconciling the differences in each car's performance and efficiency. Both the Camry and Altima use Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. (Although Nissan doesn't use the Synergy Drive nomenclature, it has licensed the technology as a stopgap until its own system is ready by 2010.)
The Camry Hybrid comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 147 hp and 138 pound-feet of torque that augments its 30-kilowatt electric motor. Nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries are capable of delivering 30 kilowatts of power. Drive is sent through a unique continuously variable transmission (CVT) that utilizes two planetary gearsets instead of the bands and clutches typical of most CVTs. The same components are used in the Altima, where they're coupled to a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. Nissan also calibrates the system to suit the Altima's sporting identity — a difference we could actually feel.
Toyota's design is elegant and effective for several reasons. First, it allows the car to be propelled entirely on electric power under many conditions and many speeds, and this saves fuel. Its unique CVT allows power to come from either the gas engine or electric motor, providing the ability to blend power sources for optimal efficiency.
GM's hybrid system combines the base Aura's 2.4-liter four-cylinder power plant with an electric motor-generator. This generator produces 4 kilowatts of power, enough to spin the crankshaft pulley via a heavy-duty Kevlar ribbed belt. The Aura's NiMH battery pack produces 10 kilowatts of power.
The Aura's electric motor is used to start the gasoline engine and can add small amounts of power under high-load conditions. Both the electric motor and gasoline engine, which are coupled in a fixed ratio, drive a conventional four-speed automatic transmission. Like the Camry and Altima, the gasoline engine shuts off under certain conditions and the electric motor restarts it. But with far less electric power than the Toyota and Nissan, the Saturn offers full electric propulsion only up to about 3 mph. Consequently, the gasoline engine is forced to do most of the work.
The Camry and Altima are each certified as Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (AT-PZEV). This means the tailpipe emissions are 90 percent cleaner than the average new vehicle, the fuel system has zero evaporative emissions and the powertrain carries a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty. Meanwhile, the Aura is certified as a Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV).
Full Article (long!):
2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test
Now you guys can see more into the silly hybrid craze that is sweeping the U.S.
M
