Nissan Altima

Nissan Altima

If you look back on past Best New Cars lists, you'll see that toeing the line does not generally earn a spot here -- but the Altima is the exception. On paper, there is nothing remarkable about the all-new Altima; in fact, with its rather conventional choice of four-cylinder and V6 engines, it seems like a bit of a throwback. But what sets the Altima apart is how well it covers the details. Nissan concentrated on the basics: Comfy seats, easy-to-operate controls, a roomy cabin, and lots of equipment for a very reasonable price. As with many things, the whole is more than the sum of its parts: The Altima is a viscerially satisfying car, one that fills its owner with the assurance that he or she made an intelligent choice. If more manufacturers followed Nissan's lead of perfecting rather than re-inventing, the Altima would be facing much tougher competition.