Nissan Altima.(Family Sedans)

With its first major redesign, the Altima has been transformed from a reliable but bland and uninteresting also-ran into a car that competes with the best in this class. It now boasts generous accommodations, a punchy and refined powertrain, fairly nimble and secure handling, a pleasant ride, and a quiet cabin. Compared with the others in this group, however, some of the interior plastics look and feel cheap. Overall, the Altima is a good choice that scored very close to the Accord.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The Altima rides well but lacks the superb isolation of the Passat and Camry; a full load can improve the ride slightly. The cabin is reasonably quiet, but too much wind and road noise intrudes.

Cornering is fairly nimble with little body lean. Steering feels a bit light and vague when you're going straight, and a wide turning circle hampers parking maneuvers. The Altima handles predictably and securely at its limits, but it managed only a modest speed through our avoidance maneuver.

The new 2.5-liter, 175-hp Four runs smoothly and responsively. Expect 22 mpg in mixed driving--slightly lower than the others. The uplevel engine is a sprightly 240-hp, 3.5-liter V6. The four-speed automatic shifts smoothly; a five-speed manual is standard on both engines. Braking was very good overall.

INSIDE THE CABIN

The roomy interior is stylish, but much of the hard-plastic trim feels relatively cheap. A fully powered driver's seat and a steering wheel that telescopes and tilts help nearly anyone find a good driving position. Firm front seats are comfortable and supportive. The rear offers plenty of leg room, but the low bench is much better for two passengers than three.