The Nissan Altima has been on sale for more than 15 years and has now settled into the rare role of a practical five-passenger family sedan with handling and performance that appeals to the enthusiast. There have been four generations of Altimas, with the newest one introduced in 2007 and on sale now. The sedan has more recently been aimed at traditional segment leaders, and as such it has quickly matured in terms of features, finesse and power.

he 2010 Nissan Altima ranks 10 out of 21 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 81 published reviews and test drives of the Nissan Altima, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Nissan Altima is as practical and functional as the top midsize family sedans, but adds a dose of fun most of them lack. It’s no match for sports cars, but its crisp handling and lively acceleration make for entertaining commuting. However, Nissan’s complex options lists might frustrate shoppers.

You’re never going to beat a V8 Mustang in a drag race driving the family car, or out-corner a Mazda Miata on a winding road in something that can keep the four adults in your carpool comfortable in a traffic jam. Family sedan buyers understand that.

Still, some would like a daily driver that they can occasionally enjoy driving — not necessarily something that’s capable of illegal things, but something that makes the sort of legal, around-town driving that must of us have to do every day a little more fun.

Nissan builds the Altima with those people in mind. Sure, it’s a reliable transportation device. But, Popular Mechanics notes, “More important, at least to enthusiasts, is that the Altima is in some ways the sportier choice compared to the best-selling Toyota [Camry] and Honda [Accord]. Nissan estimates that 65 percent of Altima buyers are male (as opposed to roughly the same proportion of female buyers for the Toyota Camry), and its bolder styling and more subdued interior reflects an adherence to its somewhat masculine personality.”