2009 Nissan Altima

Time has proven the mid-size sedan market to be a tough nut to crack. Despite the 20-plus automakers battling for attention, consumer buying patterns have largely trimmed things down to a dichotomy between the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Among the challengers, however, the Nissan Altima has come closest to re-dividing this particular pie into three even pieces.

From a standpoint of pure merit, that's the least it deserves. First, the Altima does all the important stuff as well as the class leaders. It has a thoughtful stylish interior with good front seats. Its ride is comfortable (less so on the SE model). Reliability has been strong so far -- stronger than the Camry's, by the way -- and Altimas have demonstrated that they hold their value well.

In addition to nailing the basics, Nissan outdoes the others in the details. Consider that both Altima engines, a 175-horsepower 4-cylinder and a 270-horsepower V6, are either the strongest or second-strongest in the class. Consider that the Altima's automatic transmission is a CVT (and a well-designed one at that), enabling it to top the class in both acceleration and gas mileage. Consider that it's one of only two mid-size sedans to offer a Hybrid version that achieves more than 30 MPG (the Camry being the other), and consider that the Altima's sharp handling and available 6-speed stick arguably make it the most entertaining to drive.

Finding faults is a harder task. Maybe its back seat is a little too low. Maybe some interior plastics are too cheap, and maybe Nissan's option packages are annoyingly confining (though prices are a little lower, too). But in the end, this is the one sedan that scores Good or Excellent marks in nearly every category, and it's newfound success should come as no surprise.