The Sacramento Bee's view

It is the motorist’s classic dilemma. You long for the practicality, reliability and affordability you get from a mid-size sedan with an established reputation … a Nissan Altima, for example.

But you also want something extra – a little flash and a little dash in that otherwise vanilla-looking passenger car.

That flash and dash comes with the 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE-R, the most expensive of six trim levels in the Altima lineup – starting at just short of $30,000.

Wow, you say! Thirty-grand for a midsize sedan. What extras do I get for that fairly hefty price? Performance, for one. The SE-R comes with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with a maximum horsepower output of 260. With just a little more than 3,000 pounds of car to propel, the engine is indeed capable of delivering a rip-roaring ride.

And it’s not your garden variety, noisy blaster. The SE-R seriously performs, with its sport-tuned suspension sitting down and push-me-back-in-my-seat power rolling out in waves.

Yes, you can power out of trouble with a tap on the accelerator. And, yes, you can match muscle with some of the more expensive, sporty hardware on the roadways. Is that enough to justify the $13,000 you will be spending above the starting price of a baseline Altima?

That probably depends on the driver. But wait, there are more tangible extras on the SE-R.

There are forged 18-inch wheels, a three-gauge center instrument cluster that looks race-car-like, a rear spoiler, painted brake calipers, large-diameter dual exhausts and black-and-red leather seats.

In other words, the SE-R acts sporty and is dressed the same. The big knock on the vehicle from other auto-reviewing colleagues is that a hot engine and sporty attire do not a sports car make. Critics have pasted the SE-R as a midsize family sedan pretending to be something it’s not.

I agree. But at the risk of splitting hairs, the sheep-in-wolf’s-clothing argument doesn’t quite add up.

Nissan Motor Co. has not really marketed the SE-R as a sports car. Instead, the automaker has touted the car’s sporty touches as dessert on top of the sedan’s main course of sensible transportation. And the Altima is not the only Nissan car to get such treatment.

“Until now, our SE-R editions have been limited to the Sentra line. With the new Altima, the SE-R not only grows up, it reaches a wider audience,” said Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America Inc. “The Altima SE-R hits a critical position between the tuner-style Sentra SE-R and the sporty Maxima SE, which offers more refinement.

“The Altima SE-R is more aggressive, yet it has all the core attributes and affordability of an Altima,” McNabb said. “It’s the sports sedan for enthusiasts who’ve grown up – but not too much.”

Simply put, this is a niche car. And the niche is the practical car buyer who does not mind spending a little extra cash for some extra zip in an otherwise pedestrian model.

A dedicated sports car buyer is not going to look twice at the Altima SE-R. That’s OK. Nissan builds sports cars such as the 350Z for folks like that.

But for those who fit the SE-R niche and are contemplating buying one, there are some cautions to consider.

For starters, the back seat area is fairly cramped, and three adults are going to be grouchy wedging themselves inside. But that’s nothing compared with how grumpy they are likely going to become when the SE-R digs in on a twisting highway. The body sway generated by the car’s comparatively light weight and high horsepower bounces back-seat riders around like lottery balls on drawing night.

Drivers get a taste of this, as well. Handling is not silky smooth when you mash the accelerator. You get power, but you also get jostled.

Otherwise, the interior is a picture of comfort and convenience. The center stack of controls is easily operated, and the standard, six-CD, eight-speaker Bose audio system on the tester was a terrific plus.

In the final analysis, be sure of what you’re looking for when pondering the SE-R.

You want a sedan that can sprint away from the crowd when asked but still take your spouse and children to the movies in comfort? The SE-R will work for you.

You want a car that’s undeniably a sports car, one the neighbors will whistle at on first glance? If that’s the case, you might want to cross the SE-R off your list.

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Nissan Altima SE-R at a glance Make/model: 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE-R. Vehicle type: Front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, four-door, midsize sport sedan.

Base price: $29,200 (as tested, $30,680).

EPA fuel economy: 20 miles per gallon city; 30 mpg highway.

Transmission: Five-speed automatic with overdrive and clutchless manual shifting feature.

Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion.

Brakes: Power four-wheel discs with anti-lock.

Suspension: Independent, strut-type with coil springs on front; independent multi-link on rear.

Cargo volume: 15.6 cubic feet.

Passenger volume: 102.8 cubic feet.

Fuel tank: 20 gallons.

Curb weight: 3,316 pounds.

Track: 61 inches on front; 61.2 inches on rear.

Height: 57.4 inches.

Length: 192.5 inches.

Wheelbase: 110.2 inches.

Width: 70.4 inches.

Tires: P225/45R18 performance tires.

Assembly site: Smyrna, Tenn.

About the writer: The Bee’s Mark Glover can be reached at (916) 321-1184 or mglover@sacbee.com.