2012 Nissan Altima

The 2012 Nissan Altima isn’t as roomy as the newest mid-offerings, but as a coupe or as a sedan, it’s one of the best-looking and most sporty mid-sizers.

Over the past decade, the Nissan Altima has found a niche for itself as one of the better-selling mid-size family cars. It’s not quite the sales titan that is the Toyota Camry, or the Honda Accord, but like the Ford Fusion, the Altima is a steady, strong seller in a field overcrowded with great sedans and coupes, a new one taking aim on the segment every year.

The Altima cuts a distinct profile, one of the assets it has in the win column as it reaches the midpoint of its life cycle. The four-door sedan and two-door coupe strike us as two of the better-looking mid-sizers. There’s a simplicity to its profile, and just a few well-rendered details to highlight its athletic stance. The two-door’s as close as you can get to a mock Infiniti G37, with some of the same proportions and guidelines. Both versions have an uncluttered cabin that’s easy to read and helm, even if some of the plastics look a little more drab than the ones in the Accord or the Sonata.