Car Sight

The 2012 Nissan Altima is the best car for you if you’ve been eyeing this sporty-flavored model and want one before it gives way to a redesigned replacement.

The 2012 Nissan Altima steers this 2007-vintage midsize-car design into the homestretch. Nissan is readying a next-generation Altima for model-year 2013, where it will tussle with all-new versions of the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, and Chevrolet Malibu. The 2012 Altima, meanwhile, should essentially reprise the 2011 Altima. It’ll continue in four-door sedan and two-door coupe form. The sedan is by far the better seller and a fine example of a contender whose talents are still apparent but not nearly as vivid as they once were.

Should you wait for the 2012 Nissan Altima or buy a 2011 Nissan Altima? Probably not much reason to wait. Nissan could celebrate the end of this fourth-generation Altima with a special performance version. More likely, the 2012 Altima will be little-changed from the 2011 model. That makes buying a 2011 Altima the better bet. Its styling and features will look fresher longer, and you’ll minimize the hit from the almost-inevitable year-over-year price increases.