Family sedans: the redesigned Nissan Altima accelerates to the top of our ratings.(LEAPING AHEAD)(Product/service evaluation)

The best family sedans provide agile handling and quick performance, and get decent fuel economy. And for years, the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Passat dominated our Ratings. But the redesigned Nissan Altima, perennially an also-ran, now ranks near the top of this segment.

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For this test, we gathered basic and uplevel versions of five family sedans. Our selections include the four- and six-cylinder versions of the redesigned Nissan Altima, Kia Optima, and Chrysler Sebring. We also tested two versions of the new for 2007 Saturn Aura with different V6 engines, and four- and six-cylinder versions of the slightly revised Pontiac G6. Prices ranged from $20,785 for the base G6 to $31,995 for the V6 Altima 3.5 SE.

Lack of reliability data keeps us from recommending some new vehicles, including the top-scoring Altima. We can recommend only the G6 GT, as it performed adequately and has shown average reliability in our subscriber survey.

The Altima 3.5 SE virtually ties with the Honda Accord V6, our top-rated family sedan. The four-cylinder Altima 2.5 S is relatively refined. Both are coupled to a smooth continuously variable transmission, which helps them attain commendable fuel economy. (A hybrid model has just gone on sale.) The Altima had good ride and handling, although the sportier 3.5 SE was stiff. At $31,995, our 3.5 SE had options such as heated leather seats, a backup camera, bi-xenon headlights, and a navigation system. Despite its hefty price, our tested car didn't have optional stability control. At $22,705, our 2.5 S came with antilock brakes and a power driver's seat as options.

An obvious virtue of the Optima is its low price, but it is also a pleasant sedan. We tested it in both four- and six-cylinder engine configurations. Both performed well overall. The Optima's cabin is well crafted, and it has a comfortable rear seat. While its ride is supple, suspension noise was pronounced. Our EX V6 cost $23,900 with options such as ABS, stability control, and leather seats. Instead of getting the base-level four-cylinder Optima, we had to purchase a $22,795 Optima EX with options such as leather seats, stability control, and sunroof to get antilock brakes. We have insufficient data to predict reliability.

The Aura shares underpinnings with the Pontiac G6 and is more capable than its corporate cousin, but it still doesn't rank with the better vehicles in the group. The 3.6-liter V6 XR is quick, while getting the same fuel economy as the less expensive XE with a 3.5-liter V6. The interior is better than those on previous Saturns but still needs smoothing out of some rough edges. The XR, which comes with standard stability control, has a stiff ride. The XE has a better balance of ride and handling. Our $26,820 XR came with options such as a power sunroof, power passenger seat, and leather seats. The major option on our $21,070 XE is a power driver's seat. Reliability is as yet unknown.