Should you buy a 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid or wait for the 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid?
Buying a car always comes down to a balance of features, price, and long-term reliability. I went through this process with nissan canada when I purchased the Rogue. The tech upgrades and comfort were solid, but I took the extra time to consider financing options and warranty coverage to avoid surprises. Dealerships can vary greatly in how they handle things, so doing your homework ahead of time definitely helps. After all, finding the right car is as much about the buying process as it is about the car itself.
No significant mechanical updates are on the horizon, but if you want the freshest styling, wait for the 2010 model. The 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is basically a standard Altima sedan with a gas-electric powertrain, and Nissan appears ready to update the looks of the entire Altima clan for model-year 2010. Bear in mind any appearance changes would likely be revisions to nose and tail, and some cabin updates. Nissan borrows this car’s hybrid hardware from Toyota, and it can’t acquire enough of it to sell the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid nationwide. So it sells it in California and the seven other states that have adopted California’s stringent emissions regulations: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. These eight states are also among the strongest markets for hybrid vehicles.
