The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Everybody loves getting more for less.

The Nissan Altima was like that when it first appeared. It looked like a little luxury sedan. The design aesthetic endowed the otherwise mundane compact with a panache rare for the price. But the panache was skin deep. It was fun enough, but lets face it, with a sticker price of under $20,000, there wasn’t heaps of luxury to be found.

But great design and a willing, economical 2.4-litre 150 horsepower 4-cylinder engine made this compact easy to love.

The problem was, as popular as it was in America, this little star failed to shine very brightly back in Japan.

So for the redesigned 1998 model, Nissan had to play a delicate balancing act. It works well enough, but the design hearkens back to the Nissan Stanza, or the current Nissan Sentra, more than the adorable elegance of its first generation Altima brethren. This is especially true when viewed from the side. The front works well enough, owing mostly to its Maxima-like grille. The truncated rear will garner little enthusiasm as a work of beauty, especially when compared against the rounded rump of its predecessor.

Inside, the elegance has been banished, replaced by a stark functionality that works well enough, but has little character. There are some improvements. The car is longer and the interior space is much better, especially up front. The cupholders have now been moved to the center console, away from the stereo and climate controls. The stereo is mounted low, but still easily accessible. The seats are comfortable over the long haul, despite their somewhat flat shape.

There are complaints. In an effort to save money, there are no front map lights. If you think this is a minor concern, try fumbling for the dome light switch in the dark some evening. The button that turns on the cruise control is dash mounted, yet the rest of the cruise-control buttons are mounted on the steering wheel. Finally, what’s the use of having keyless entry if the key fob can’t pop the trunk? When your arms are loaded with groceries, that’s when you need it most.

Despite these concerns, the attributes of Nissan’s compact car remain intact. The power plant remains unchanged. That’s good, for its fine blend of power and economy make it a good motivator for this vehicle. Handling is good, almost sporty. With its short length and good mid-range punch, this car is ideal for the cut and thrust of city driving. Handling gets better this year due to the decrease in body lean, but the steering is very numb, despite its quick feel.

Transmission behavior is much improved. Previous Altima’s had a rubbery feel, yet this one shifted smoothly under all conditions. There is some engine noise, but not enough to bother most people. This car also seems much quieter than previous versions, something that lets you enjoy the excellent 100- watt, 6-speaker AM/FM-cassette-CD audio system.

Fuel economy was excellen t, producing 22 mpg over mostly city driving.

Prices start at $14,990 for the base XE with five-speed manual transmission. The popular GXE with 4-speed automatic Lists for $17,990. Opting for the five-speed will save you $800.

The test vehicle was the sporty SE model with four-speed automatic ($19,290). This model adds a firmer suspension along with good-looking 15-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, fog lamps and blacked-out trim. Some selected options include anti-lock brakes ($499), power glass sunroof ($849), leather package ($1,299) and a rear spoiler ($409), among others.

So Altima’s good points remain intact, except for its exceptional styling, which has become remarkably bland. How bland?

Despite the fact that you can’t find one on a dealer lot, this car’s all-new styling failed to turn a single head. But the compact class is full of conservative, forgettable styling. So the Altima has now joined the crowd.

Too bad.