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. Its only drawback is tepid acceleration. Also getting the nod as a Best Buy is the Nissan Altima. It is the best all-around performer offering 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 Mazda 626, and the refined Volkswagen Passat. Hyundai's Sonata is a viable alternative if cash is tight. Though just an average performer on the road, Sonata's below average price and quality construction help it stand out.

Altima recorded a 6-percent calendar-year sales gain in 1999, then lost that and more in 2000, dropping 10.8 percent to just under 137,000 unit. That's a disappointing performance for a mainstream midsize, let alone the best-selling car line at a company that's been working hard for over a year to climb back to profitability.

Most Japanese car designs last 5-6 years, but the vintage-1999 Altima is retired after only three seasons in favor of a brand-new third generation for 2002. It goes on sale in September 2001 in four models, all with surprisingly more power and greater size than current Altimas. Nissan has already released preliminary information, and you'll find it by clicking on our 2002 Altima report.