Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Article Comments - 2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test 
44 messages, Last post on Mar 18, 2008 at 2:34 PM
You are in the Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hybrids Host for directions! discussion.
Article comments for 2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test - 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. (more)
|
Take a look at our comparison of Toyota Camry Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Saturn Aura Green Line. Tell us what you think here. 2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: KarenS (Jul 23, 2007 9:55 am) The current tax credits are $2350 for the Altima, $1300 for the Aura and $650 for the Camry (only until 9/30). The national base price for the three cars, per TMV, is MSRP for the Aura, ~$600 below MSRP for the Altima and ~$1200 below MSRP for the Camry. Combining the two factors and ignoring tax issues (both the possibility of AMT issues and the effect on sales tax), it means that the Altima "sells" for $2950 less than MSRP, the Camry $1850 below and the Aura $1300 below. These would change as higher trim levels are added, obviously. The TMV of a top-of-the-line model, less tax credit and exclusive of regional/color adjustments, for the Aura is $22,570; the Altima is $29,379 and the Camry $29,130. For what it's worth, the effective price of the top-of-the-line Altima I just bought is more like $28,700 and I would wager that you could find a Camry for an effective price less than $29,000 as well. Considering that almost every other factor seems to favor the Altima (the article states that the Camry won because of slightly better MPG and better pricing), could this be enough to change the final answer? I'm certainly biased in my response since I bought an Altima, but I looked carefully at both the Altima and the Camry; the Aura was barely even a consideration. The Altima was, obviously, the winner in my book. As a side note, it's misleading to say "[j]ust 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." The dual-zone climate control is standard and the Smart Key system an option only on the top-of-the-line XLE model; neither are available on lesser models. To contrast, dual-zone climate control is available on all but the base Altima (standard on the top-of-the-line 3.5 SL and the hybrid) and the Smart Key system is standard to all Altimas. The Aura does not appear to offer either option.
|
|
|
Replying to: bcp01scu05 (Jul 23, 2007 11:19 am) No matter how much you want to factor AMT and TMV into the equation, those values depending on where you are in the country and your individual tax situation, so, again, factoring them into the article would not be useful. There are also state benefits that can vary by model, and of course, by state. It sure would have been nice if there were more hybrid sedans available to compare! As it is, the Altima is only officially available in 8 states anyway. In a couple of years, a 2010 Hybrid Sedan Comparison will be much more interesting.
|
|
|
All the editors liked it the most and it comes in second place? Seems like an odd scoring system. Either way, the TCH or NAH are a good choice. Not so much the SAH.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: talmy1 (Jul 23, 2007 11:51 am) As to state credits, per here, a quick read tells me that the only enacted state credit which might have a significant impact on the decision is Colorado's; it's currently impossible to measure as they haven't released a credit for the NAH (presumably because it's not sold there). South Carolina has one also; the difference is a whopping $50 in favor of the TCH. All other credits are for HOV lanes, reduced parking fees or sales/excise tax, or other such things which have no net effect on the calculation. I echo the poster above--if the ratings are mostly subjective, and every single one of the editors chose the NAH... |
|
|
|
| It is by no means the bottom line, but if the Nissan is as good a car as Nissan claims, how come the Nissan warranty lags behind its competitors so much? Nissan needs to step up to the plate, and put a better warranty in place. | |
|
|
While I agree that, as a hybrid, the Saturn is not as technologically advanced and produced the worst overall score -- but its at least $6,000 cheaper. Think about that. Even if the car burns through 136 extra gallons of fuel a year, think about all of the fossil fuel used to produce the larger, more expensive hybrid systems in the other two cars, not to mention the environmentally-unfriendly huge battery packs. If buying a hybrid isn't an economic consideration, then why are people flocking to hybrids now that gas prices are high? Obviously, it IS an economic consideration for people, and at least they THINK they are saving money by buying a hybrid. The Saturn isn't really in the same class as the Toyota and Nissan; its purpose is to actually save the user money, as opposed to having the most ridiculous gee-whiz technology that will never recoup the cost.
|
|
|
Replying to: masospaghetti (Jul 23, 2007 2:41 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: masospaghetti (Jul 23, 2007 2:41 pm) electric drive ONLY up to 3 mph!!? mediocre mileage, that doesn't even compare to a cheaper, non-hybrid Camry or Altima? WHAT IS THE POINT of this vehicle? only gm loyalists would even consider it. it's just a joke to everyone else. (like gm's "hybrid" pickups.) |
|
|
Replying to: gagrice (Jul 23, 2007 3:19 pm) When they visited us a couple of weeks ago, my kids commented on "look how wide that trunk is" so I got my tape measure out. The trunk in my TCH is wider than the Aura trunk. The Aura trunk is deeper into the car, but that cuts into the passenger room. The average passenger leg/head.shoulder space in the two cars: TCH: 47.44 SAH: 46.46 So the passengers have an average of an extra inch in every direction in the Camry. Most people would pick passenger relaxation room over trunk space if given the choice. ( Especially you Gary, who thinks the legroom in a Prius is too small to be a cab. ) I've packed about half a room of stuff into my TCH trunk. The TCH trunk is smaller than most cars it's size, but with a little forethought and logistical planning, that trunk will hold everything a family needs to carry. I've taken several long trips and we managed to get everything we needed to fit without leaving anything behind.
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Article Comments - 2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
2009 Saturn Aura
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
