Every full line carmaker offers a mid-size family sedan, which inevitably, is compared to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Now some have tried to beat the segment leaders with sharper styling, while others have packed in more performance and features. Well, the latest design looking to upset the status quo is the 5th generation Nissan Altima. Already popular, let’s see if the all-new Altima is ready to make a run for the gold.

When the 2013 Nissan Altima was unveiled at this year’s New York Auto Show it didn’t exactly wow anyone, including us. And, we weren’t really sure how serious Nissan was in taking on Camry and Accord. But, truth be told, the outgoing Altima sold very well, and that’s mostly because people recognize that compared to Accord and Camry, the Altima was a great value. Well, after spending some quality time with the all-new Altima, early indicators are that Nissan has indeed done a lot to challenge Camry and Accord, and done it well. 

For starters, the Altima is a real joy to drive. The ride is impressively solid with an athletic feel, very similar to the larger Maxima, and more nimble than its size would indicate. Standard Active Understeer control brakes the inside front wheel during cornering to quicken turn-ins. Now, you won’t forget that this is still a mid-size family sedan, but it’s one that now falls on the sporty side of things. Steering is precise, braking is direct. And consider us now impressed. 

We’ve had our quibbles with CVT transmissions over the years but Nissan’s latest Xtronic is by far one of the best. It still makes for lots of engine roar when you really get it cranking, but it remains smooth. And, that’s critical since the interior of the new Altima gains the biggest upgrade. There’s far less hard plastic, though it hasn’t gone away entirely. And we appreciate the piano black trim adorning our SL test car’s center stack. It’s a first rate upgrade overall, lavish, but not opulent. Gauges are clear and easy to scan, but some icons and words in the center info screen, which includes readouts for the available driver assist systems, could be a little bigger. 

The Nav. screen is also small compared to many rivals, but there are some nice big knobs for controlling our car’s optional 9-speaker Bose stereo. With more front legroom than Camry, the Altima’s “Zero-gravity” front seats are pleasant for trips both short and long, and came trimmed with charcoal leather in our SL. Rear legroom is more than adequate, although here Altima trails Camry. Fold the split rear seats for identical trunk room, 15.4 cubic feet. The trunk has a nice, big opening but the finish is a little bit disappointing. Blind spots and lane departure warnings are just a few of many available safety features that complement the standard VDC and Traction Control. Standard power comes from an updated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 182-horsepower and 180 pound feet of torque. That’s only 7-horsepower more than before, but with the updated CVT, and over a hundred pounds less weight than last year, it feels much peppier. 

And, at the track, there’s good punch off the line. Once your speed catches up to the high RPM buzz of the CVT, things do quiet down in more ways than one. Still, 7.9-seconds to reach 60, and 16.1-seconds and 89 miles per hour for the quarter mile, are very decent results for a mid-size 4-banger. If even more speed is your need, Nissan’s familiar 3.5-liter V6 is still available. 

As for the styling, the new Altima is more of an evolution than revolution. It is sleeker, with dynamically flared headlights, and definitely more substantial. Yet while more modern, it is still rather conservative looking. So the targets are clearly Camry and Accord, not Sonata and Fusion. Or, maybe the new Altima is actually aiming a bit higher. As your eyes walk to the back there are definite Infiniti cues in the green house, trunk lid, and rear facia.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings sound great at 27-City and 38-Highway. But, we averaged on the low end of that range with 30.6 miles-per-gallon of Regular. When it comes to pricing, Altima is available in a staggering 7-models, beginning slightly below Camry at $22,280 and topping out at $30,860, while our 2.5 SL falls at $28,830. The price competition for mid-size family sedans is intense so it’s no surprise that the Altima has a few things that seem like they were built to a price. So, while we don’t think it garners the gold, it is still a very solid effort, and one that easily out handles and is more fun to drive than its main rivals. That makes it a very appealing family four-door to us, and judging by how well the outgoing car sold, we think the 2013 Nissan Altima will be an even bigger success.

Is the brand new one sharper? Yes. Are they both insanely sharp? Yes again.