Mazda's 626 gets the nod as the Best Buy in this class. Not because it's the fastest or roomiest, but because it is the best all-around performer. Ranging in price from $18,000 to $22,000 depending on equipment and engine choice, the 626 offers room for four large adults, a comfortable but sporty ride, above average acceleration, and good fuel economy.
Recommended choices include the sporty Mitsubishi Galant, the vanilla Nissan Altima, the powerful Oldsmobile Alero, and the refined Volkswagen Passat.
Hyundai's Sonata is our Budget Buy here. Though it's just an average performer on the road, its below average price and quality construction help it stand out. Chrysler's new PT Cruiser is the wildcard in this segment. Not really a sport-utility or minivan, the PT has been well-received by our staff. It offers versatility and eye-catching styling not found among compact cars.

Altima's 2000 update was surprisingly extensive for a year-old design, especially as the '99 models recorded higher sales. Then again, that calendar-year increase was a modest 6 percent, and orders in the first four months of 2000 are down about 6 percent. As Altima is Nissan's top-selling car, this situation must be worrisome for a company now fighting for its life.
One way to win that battle is to cut costs, and one way Nissan is doing that is to reduce its number of separate platforms, models and powertrains. This explains why the current Altima will be a short-timer, giving way after 2001 to a slightly larger new-design replacement. Informed sources say the '02 Altima will grow 2.9 inches in wheelbase to 105 and 2.2 inches in length to 188, courtesy of a new platform. More significantly, the '02 offer a V6 option for the first time in Altima history. It's expected to be Nissan's familiar 3.0-liter V6, borrowed from the larger Maxima. The current 2.4-liter 4-cylinder will remain base Altima power. To keep appropriate price and image distance between Altima and Maxima, Nissan will give the latter a standard 3.5-liter V6 for '02, then shift the car to a stretched version of the new Altima platform for 2004. At least that's the plan now. Nissan's new owner, Renault of France, has set in motion a radical cost-cutting strategy that may change parts or all of this scenario.