AZCentral.com's view

The second generation Nissan Altima is a refreshed compact sedan targeted at the big, broad mainstream of American drivers.

Compared with its predecessor, the 1998 Altima is roomier, more refined and $1,500 cheaper for a base model with better equipment. Styled in California, built in Tennessee and powered by a U.S.-made engine, Altima has the most domestic content of any Nissan.

All of which should be highly attractive to that broad American mainstream.

Still, something about the original Altima was lost in the transition. When the curvaceous Altima first appeared in 1993, it took the wedge-weary nation by storm. The car’s sloping, retro shape stood out from the crowd, an appealing original that recalled European sedans from the ’50s and Nissan’s own Infiniti J30.

But the old Altima was ready for a makeover, its ubiquitous presence on the highway and its role as a rental-car mainstay dimming its original luster.

The new model, though attractive, breaks no new ground stylistically, relying instead on the latest angles and curves sweeping the industry. What it gained in value and practicality, it lost in personality.

This shouldn’t matter to the target group, those people whose main interest is finding an affordable family car, an alternative to Toyota Camry, Honda Accord or Ford Taurus. A car that’s roomy, comfortable and runs well.

The Altima is all these things, and it performs its tasks with a quiet refinement that makes it easy to forget the moderate price or the four-banger under the hood. Build quality feels solid as a vault, the interior is nicely designed and well-finished, and the ride is good.

Though based on the same platform with the same track and wheelbase as its parent, the new Altima’s body is three inches longer and two inches wider. This translates into more space for knees and hips, with more legroom behind the wheel and more room for all parts in the back seat.

The engine, putting out a respectable 150 horsepower, runs quietly and unobtrusively. This is not an inherently smooth engine, but vibration-absorbing motor mounts and lots of sound insulation serve to tame its rowdy behavior.

Although Altima lacks a V-6 option, its mill is stronger than the standard fours offered by Camry or Accord, with enough power for freeway merging and hill climbing.

But although pull is strong off the line, in midrange, the acceleration turns flat. It picks up again when the rpms get up there, and the engine sings happily to its 6,500 rpm redline.

With an automatic transmission, this equates to dull acceleration out of a turn. With stickshift, it means downshifting to a lower gear just to get at some power.

Two Altimas were tested recently, a GXE with automatic, which is designed to be the volume model, and a sportier, stickshift SE, with a firmer suspension, alloy wheels and other sport-oriented features. There’s also a base-model XE and an upper-end GLE, all basically the same car with the sam e engine and running gear but varying levels of trim and accessories.

The GXE is the value version, offering a well-equipped sedan for just more than $17,000.The GXE proved comfortable and competent but generally nondescript. The automatic transmission, lifted from Maxima, was responsive, but acceleration suffered from that flat spot in engine power.

Naturally, being a car guy, I prefer the SE. Stickshift made the Altima feel much livelier, and the slightly stiffer suspension made the whole thing seem more together without subjecting the passengers to undo harshness.

Handling is balanced and predictable, though lacking the precision of cars built by the Germans or Swedes. Steering is responsive with good feedback, and the shifter is quick and direct.

Leather seating in the SE pushed up the cost considerably ($1,300) and fried everyone’s behind in the desert heat. A powersunroof cost a pricey $850 in both cars.

Relative to its competition, the Altima delivers a lot of car for the money. Though less interesting than the original Altima, the new one promises to be a top contender in this huge mainstream segment.

1998 Nissan Altima

Vehicle type: Four-passenger, four-door sedan, front-wheel-drive. Base price: $17,190 ($18,490). Price as tested: $20,466 ($21,716). Engine: 2.4-liter inline four, 150 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 145 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic (Five-speed stick shift). Curb weight: 2,989 (2,921) pounds. Length: 183.5 inches. Wheelbase: 103.1 inches. Safety features: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes (optional on both models). EPA fuel economy: 22 (24) mpg city, 30 (31)mpg highway. Highs: Value priced. Quality build. Decent ride, handling. Lows: Generic styling. Flat midrange power. Expensive options.