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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
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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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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... |
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| 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. | |
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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.
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Replying to: masospaghetti (Jul 23, 2007 2:41 pm)
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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.) |
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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.
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Replying to: larsb (Jul 24, 2007 5:15 am) |
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Frankly, as good or bad as the Altima is, the fact that its not even available to the vast majority of car buyers really renders the whole thing moot. I can't imagine why Nissan wouldn't want to sell it in the nation's #2 hybrid market, the greater Washington DC area. The Altima would certainly qualify for HOV lane access here. Haven't never driven the Altima (for obvious reasons), it sounds like a fine vehicle, but I would note that the TCH scores higher when it comes to ride, interior layout, passenger space, etc. Of course it all depends on what you want the car for, but my TCH is a commuter car--72 miles a day back and forth to work. So for me, personally, I'm looking for a more luxurious feel as opposed to a performance feel. That being said, the TCH is hardly slow and its performance is surprisingly good. I would note that the Edmunds 0-60 time is well above the Road and Track, Motor Trend, and CD testing times, which were all sub 8. As far as economics, a fair way to evaluate all these cars is how much of a premium you pay over a similarly equppied 'standard." model. In the case of the TCH, considering the level of equipment (which is considerably more than an LE, and closer to an XLE), fuel savings would make up the difference. The equation of course varies on how much you drive. I put 24k a year on my car, so...its different for me. |
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Replying to: mfletou1 (Jul 24, 2007 6:30 am)  This makes the price difference between the NAH and TCH larger. OTOH, the 2008 TCH drops the MSRP by $1000 by removing $2000 in options, which makes the base model more affordable but increases the premium of the TCH over the TC (it will be closer to the LE level than XLE).
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Replying to: larsb (Jul 23, 2007 12:19 pm) This doesn't happen very often, but it makes sense here. One of the hardest (and most necessary) skills for any product evaluator to learn is to set aside his or her own personal bias and examine the product with its market segment in mind. A comparison test editor's pick is a gut-reaction sort of thing. "I like that one." We drive a lot of cars through a year, and so tend to gravitate, on a personal level, to something with more engaging dynamics. Josh did indeed give a deserved nod to the Altima in this respect. But of course there is more to any car than steering, handling and a good zero-to-sixty. This is especially true of hybrids. The winner is determined by careful consideration of all of the factors likely to be important to shoppers in a given segment. Eight-state availability hurt the Altima here. Outside of work, I'm always finding myself in situations where the car I'd like for myself is different from what I'd recommend to my brother or the guy down the street. Aren't you? |
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