Except for a few minor cosmetic changes, as well as a few additions to options packages, the 2010 Nissan Altima is a carryover from 2009. This front-wheel-drive, five-passenger sedan has long been considered one of the most stylish midsize automobiles in its price range, while ride and handling characteristics, not to mention a safety record second to none, have made the Altima a significant force in the family sedan market. Available in five trims, the base 2.5, 2.5 S, 2.5 SL, 3.5 SR, and Hybrid, the 2010 Altima sedans all boast a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT), Nissan apparently having decided that complaints warranted dropping the troublesome six-speed manual transmission for this model year.

As their monikers imply, the 2010 Nissan Altima 2.5 trim levels each pack a 2.5-liter variable-valve-timed inline four-cylinder (I4) engine and the now-ubiquitous CVT to produce 175 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy with the 2.5-liter I4 is estimated at 23/32 mpg. The 3.5 SR boasts a 3.5-liter V6 engine, again with the standard CVT, that produces 270 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Mileage is estimated to be 20/27. The Altima Hybrid sports the 2.5-liter I4 gasoline engine, good for 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, as well as a 40-hp electric motor. The single electric motor powers the car at low speeds, and its single nickel-metal hydride battery is recharged by both the gas engine and a regenerative braking system. As with most hybrids, the Altima Hybrid’s gas motor shuts down at a stop and restarts when accelerating. Mileage for the Altima Hybrid is touted to be 35/33.

Standard appearance, comfort, and convenience features with the 2010 Nissan Altima 2.5 sedan include 16-inch steel wheels, velour upholstery, power windows, door locks, and mirrors, cruise with wheel-mounted controls, air conditioning, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and, curiously, only the wiring for an audio system with four speakers, but no radio or CD player. The 2.5 S adds the Intelligent Key remote entry system and a single-CD player with six speakers. Adding the available SL Package to the 2.5 S turns it into the 2.5 SL trim, featuring 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, leather seating, power driver’s-seat lumbar support, heated front seats, auto on/off headlights, and a leather-wrapped shift knob. The 2010 Altima 3.5 SR boasts such standard offerings as a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch aluminum wheels, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. As for the Altima Hybrid, standard features include dual-zone climate control and 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels.

Options for the 2010 Altima sedan come mostly in package form. Option packages, however, do include a power moonroof, DVD navigation system, Bluetooth hands-free communications technology, and Bose audio with nine speakers. One of the few stand-alone options offered with the 2.5 S and higher trims is a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

As for safety, the 2010 Nissan Altima lineup is equipped with standard four-wheel disc ABS, traction and stability control using Nissan’s much ballyhooed Vehicle Dynamic Control, dual front side-mounted airbags, front and rear head airbags, and a remote anti-theft alarm system. The 3.5 SR also carries standard integrated signals in the outside mirrors, while the 2.5 S, 3.5 SR, and Hybrid trims additionally offer dusk-sensing auto-on/off headlights.

Owners of the 2009 Nissan Altima seem to be split in their opinion of both mileage from the gas-engine trims and noise levels in the otherwise well-regarded cabin. Virtually all owners deplore the Altima’s audio system and windshield wipers, while some complain as well about over-active brakes, the lack of standard heated mirrors on lower trims, and the necessity of buying option packages to get a single desired option. The push-button start system in the 2010 Altima also draws mixed reviews, with some loving its refinement and others loathing its apparently unreliable nature. Meanwhile, owners praise the 2010 Altima’s ride and handling, decent acceleration, even with the I4, as well as its distinctive styling and tolerably large trunk space.