2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid: $24.4k Minus Tax Credit

The price of the new 2007 Nissan Altima hybrid has finally been announced, and the car starts at $24,400. It should be available in the 8 states that have followed California with stricter emission regulations: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. We hope that Nissan will release it everywhere else too (that's a possibility if they reach their goals). The Altima hybrid's "EPA fuel economy is estimated at 42 mpg City [5.6 liters per 100 kilometers] and 36 mpg Highway [6.5 liters per 100 kilometers]. It is rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and emits almost no evaporative emissions." That's slightly better in the city than the Toyota Camry hybrid which gets an EPA rating of 40 mpg [5.9 liters per 100 kilometers], but slightly worse on the highway than the Camry hybrid's 38 mpg [6.2 liters per 100 kilometers]). "The Altima Hybrid has been certified by the Internal Revenue Service as meeting the requirements for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, thereby qualifying for a tax credit of $2,350." ::Nissan Prices the Altima Hybrid. See also: ::Nissan Will Build Altima Hybrid in Tennessee, ::Nissan to Develop Own Hybrid Technology

Standard car article advice: Walk, cycle, carpool, take public transit, car-share, telecommute. Try to live close to the things you need and to where you work. But if you have to own a car, get the most efficient model that fills your needs, drive sanely, combine trips, keep it in good mechanical condition and keep your tires properly inflated.