Article Comments - 2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test - READ ONLY

44 messages, Last post on Mar 18, 2008 at 2:34 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Saturn Aura, Hybrid Cars, Sedan

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)

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#25 of 44 Re: Altima [mfletou1] by maximafan Jul 26, 2007 (8:06 pm)
Replying to: mfletou1 (Jul 24, 2007 6:30 am) I tell you what though: If the Altima truly is that fun of a car to drive and also being a hybrid that gets great gas mileage, well, then Nissan had better sign me up. I would love to have the NAH! It seems to have the things that I would really like in a car, plus great gas mileage. I've always been a fan of Nissan products. Nissan, I hope you're listening and will produce more NAH's for the the rest of the country!!
#26 of 44 Re: Camry #1 in Styling. [veliger] by coldcar Jul 28, 2007 (11:26 pm)
Replying to: veliger (Jul 24, 2007 9:02 am) along with many others, i agree it is veliger who is out touch with what is attractive. and/or, he must just prefer ugly cars himself. styling IS subjective, but also influenced by what one sees a lot of and considers attractive and unattractive, from prior prejudices. eventually actual appreciation can follow. after decades living in Africa, Albert Schwitzer said he considered Black people to be beautiful. the few Whites he saw, he thought looked pasty and unhealthy looking. and NOT attractive at all (from his point of view, at that particular time in his life).
#27 of 44 Re: Article Comments - 2007 Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test [KarenS] by saabgeorge Jul 29, 2007 (3:39 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Jul 23, 2007 9:55 am) You downgraded the Altima because of it's smaller trunk size - you listed it at 9.1 cu/ft compared to the Camry's 10.6 cu/ft. I don't know where you obtained the measurements but the Nissan site lists the trunk size for the Altima HYbrid at 10.1 cu/ft. - not that big of a difference. Replies to this message: actualsize (Jul 31, 2007 11:49 am) saabgeorge (Jul 31, 2007 1:50 pm)
#28 of 44 Re: Altima [mfletou1] by hiwayman Jul 29, 2007 (11:19 am)
Replying to: mfletou1 (Jul 24, 2007 6:30 am) Without going into discussions about which one is better (TCH or NAH), when you get a chance, go sit in an Altima (the interior on the Altima is identical to the interior on the NAH, with the exception of the gauge cluster and the NAV system displays). I've sat in both cars, driven both, and was a Toyota enthusiast until I learned more about the NAH.... I've bought the NAH.
#29 of 44 KW Gauge "baffling"? by hiwayman Jul 29, 2007 (11:27 am)
I was a bit surprised to see the testers describe the KW gauge in the NAH as "baffling". Makes me wonder just how much research these guys do when they test the cars. It's actually very straight forward. The blue section of the gauge indicates that power is being generated (pushed into the hybrid battery). You'll note as you drive the NAH that when that gauge is in the blue range, the battery charge indicator increases over time. When the KW gauge is in the white, the battery is being drawn upon, and the electric motor is running, either in EV mode, or to assist the ICE on acceleration or hills.... Hmmmm....maybe should get a job as a car evaluator...... IMHO the discussion over which is better will never have a clear winner. Each car has its pluses (ome car h as fewer pluses than the other two, but I won't go there, GM). Each car has its minuses. What it comes down to, numbers and statistics aside is whether or not the car is the one you want. If you want staid and solid performance and reputation, the Camry is probably the car for you. If you want something a little sportier (with losses in the MPG department), but maybe not quite as roomy, it would seem that the Altima is the car for you. If you don't have a lot of money, and want to get into the hybrid game, maybe the Aura is your car....
#30 of 44 Maybe not "baffling" but questionable by saabgeorge Jul 30, 2007 (4:57 am)
I find the power meter to be of little use. The only use I can see for it is to "feather" the brake pedal to maximize the regenerative braking without wasting energy to heat. The blue side of the meter only shows the regenerative braking but doesn't show any charge to the battery by the generator - like when you're stopped with the engine running. The plus side of the meter is so vague. There are only two numbers - 50kW and 150kW that don't really line up with any tick marks. The spacing for the tick marks is also inconsistent so you never really know how much power is in the system. The meter is a combination of both the electric motor and the ICE but you never really know how much of each unless your only in the EV mode and then it barely registers a reading. As far as I can tell the harder you push the accelerator the higher the reading on the meter - something that you really don't need a meter to tell you. I think it's only there to take the place of the tach that isn't of much use either with the eCVT. Replies to this message: langjie (Jul 30, 2007 5:29 am) saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 6:48 am) langjie (Jul 30, 2007 7:31 am) and 1 more...
#31 of 44 Re: Maybe not "baffling" but questionable [saabgeorge] by langjie Jul 30, 2007 (5:29 am)
Replying to: saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 4:57 am) so you're trying to say maximizing the regenerative braking on a hybrid is of little use? Replies to this message: saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 6:48 am) langjie (Jul 30, 2007 7:31 am) saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 7:53 am)
#32 of 44 Re: Maybe not "baffling" but questionable [langjie] by saabgeorge Jul 30, 2007 (6:48 am)
Replying to: langjie (Jul 30, 2007 5:29 am) No - I'm saying that's the only use for the meter. I said that up front in the post. "The only use I can see for it is to "feather" the brake pedal to maximize the regenerative braking without wasting energy to heat." The meter is mostly devoted to the "white" side which I'm saying is of little use. They should have devoted the whole meter to the regenerative braking and perhaps show when and how much the battery is being charged by the MG2 (generator) as well. Edit - Or maybe the "white" side should just be devoted to power coming out of the battery and not include the ICE at all. Replies to this message: langjie (Jul 30, 2007 7:31 am) saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 7:53 am)
#33 of 44 Re: Maybe not "baffling" but questionable [saabgeorge] by langjie Jul 30, 2007 (7:31 am)
Replying to: saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 6:48 am) ok, i see your point more now. i think this is the exact same meter as the prius though which is still better than the camry's. the only gauge that i've found so far that might interest you is on the ford escape. i think that for only getting 1 gauge, it's the smartest one to have (because i highly doubt nissan would be developing another gauge cluster just for the hybrid they never wanted to build) yes, they could have executed it better, but when you get used to it, i think that the regenerative braking is not the only useful thing. the gauge also tells me how much power i'm using, and it keeps me in check when i'm using too much power (relative to how much power i know i should be using when driving a certain speed) Replies to this message: saabgeorge (Jul 30, 2007 7:53 am)
#34 of 44 Re: Maybe not "baffling" but questionable [langjie] by saabgeorge Jul 30, 2007 (7:53 am)
Replying to: langjie (Jul 30, 2007 7:31 am) Yes, I doubt there will be any rework of the meter. But as for measuring the amount of power you're asking the system to produce they could have accomplished the same thing with an old fashion vacuum gauge off the ICE's intake manifold just like I installed in a 1964 Fairlane.