The Nissan Altima looks quite stylish, especially for a mid-size car. The body was given a makeover for 2007, bringing a number of pleasing changes.

The Altima has enough Nissan design cues that, from the rear, you can see some 350Z in it. The deck is distinctively short, yet trunk space remains a useful 15.3 cubic feet. The fender flares are edgy and pronounced, allowing the rest of the body to be narrower and slip through the wind with less frontal area. The gap between the tires and flares was tightened. Altima presents a slippery 0.31 drag coefficient, thanks to many things, including the steeply sloped windshield.

The headlamps and taillamps are elaborate and appear almost exotic. The halogen headlamps are vertical irregular trapezoids with soft edges, with four bulbs inside for the high beam, low beam, turn signal and parking lights. Nissan calls the headlamp arrangement a multi-parabola, which means its coverage is all over the place. As for the taillamps, Nissan says they cost nearly as much as the headlamps, so don't back into anything, and they definitely do look expensive. They're covered with clear plastic like the headlamps, and contain a silver ray-gun looking cylinder with the red lamp, plus a round white beam for the backup light, and a big orange piece for the parking lamp and turn signal.

Interior Features

The Nissan Altima features a roomy, comfortable cabin. We've been in many luxury cars that didn't feel this classy inside. The available leather feels rich. Soft materials are used for touches like padded armrests, and the overall level of refinement is higher than in pre-2007 models. The four-spoke steering wheel has an original artistic design, with two spokes flowing vertically downward.

The seats are relatively large. They feel firm and longer and higher than in the previous models. They also have optional power lumbar support and elevate higher, something that most cars do nowadays, as people need a better view of the road, with all the SUVs out there blocking visibility. The gauges are arranged in the practical tripod design, with speedometer in center, tachometer on left, and fuel gauge and water temperature on right. The lettering is sharp, white on black, with red needles.

The center stack is neatly designed, with three HVAC (heating-air conditioning) vents at the top, audio controls in the center. Below, big, handy knobs handle HVAC functions. Usable storage slots are interspersed. The CVT shift lever is located in an ergonomically awkward position for using the manual mode.

The glovebox is huge; Nissan says its capacity is 0.46 cubic feet (or 13 liters, should you ever want to fill it up with Diet Coke). It locks, so you can store a laptop computer in there. Eight cup holders are provided.

The Intelligent Key that comes on all Altima models enables the car to be started with the keys in your purse or pocket. Many owners find these systems convenient, but you can wind up with a dead battery if you inadvertently press the ignition button two times instead of once to shut down the car. That leaves the system in the accessories mode, and drains the juice. We prefer traditional keys.

The touch-screen, voice-command DVD navigation system offers real time traffic information. Without the owner's manual we would not have been able to begin to figure out how to make it work. Not even with a passenger totally devoted to the challenge while we were stuck in traffic. So pay attention during the post-sale walkaround and study your owner's manual. Navigation systems are relatively new for Nissan.

We found the Bose nine-speaker system delivers rich sound.

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