2010 Nissan Altima - Photo Gallery

The very thickly populated field of mid-size sedans has plenty of well-qualified, well-rounded entries, and depending on your emphasis there's something for everyone.

Most shoppers in this class place some prominence on interior space, and for that the best vehicles are the Malibu, Accord, and Camry.

All three of these models have very spacious backseats and a bit of extra room.

The Accord and Malibu are very refined and have great interior appointments, while the Camry's interior is a bit bland and feels cheap in execution.

The Ford Fusion is one of the sportier-driving mid-size sedans and has great handling; it's also well-built and offers impressive fuel economy in four-cylinder form.

What's more, its Hybrid version is offered in all 50 states and boasts 41 mpg on the highway.

The Passat has a different, more European character, and its peppy four-cylinder engine performs best out of any base engines in this field, but it requires premium fuel.

For safety, the Accord stands on top (it's an IIHS Top Safety Pick).

However, against any of these models, the Altima comes across as well rounded and sporty.

Versus the 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe, the only formidable rival is the 2010 Honda Accord Coupe; comparing the two, the Accord Coupe feels less sporty—it's more of a luxurious freeway cruiser, while the Altima Coupe is a little more cramped but friskier-feeling.