No matter where I go or which road I take, I know I’ll see Nissan Altimas zipping by. Now in its fourth generation, Nissan’s volume-leading Altima remains a solid (and very popular) choice. Thanks to a number of changes and upgrades for 2010, the Altima is likely to find even more consumers who are interested in taking the wheel. Just in case you need evidence of this car’s popularity worldwide, try this stat on for size: Since the Altima was introduced to motorists back in 1993, 3.2 million units have been sold! (No wonder I can’t go anywhere without seeing an Altima.) That’s an impressive number by any company’s standard, and the Altima matches quantity with quality – the car consistently receives awards from a number of industry watchdog organizations. The Altima is designed in two different body configurations: the four-door sedan and the sportier two-door coupe. The sedan has proven to be more popular with consumers on several fronts, mostly due to its versatility. For those drivers interested in improving fuel economy and reducing exhaust, the Altima sedan is also sold in a hybrid version.

One might ask: Just what makes the 2010 Nissan Altima different from the 2009 iteration? Hey, glad you asked! For starters, the car’s exterior has undergone a number of enhancements. Nissan introduced a new color palette, which helps to instantly set this car apart from its predecessor. The front grille, bumper and hood were also reworked and updated. All-new, stylish sixteen- and seventeen-inch wheels (depending on the option package) are also offered. Nissan engineers and developers have consistently drawn praise for their nicely appointed interiors, and this absolutely holds true with the 2010 Altima. You’ll quickly discover nicely redone fabrics and refined finishes on most of the touch surfaces. Additionally, the instrument gauge cluster was reword, making it more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. An updated/revised “next generation” navigation system with a 6.5-inch monitor is now available. And, XM satellite radio, weather alerts, Bluetooth streaming audio and a USB port with iPod connectivity make driving just that much more pleasurable. Up front, leg and head room is acceptable; the rear seating area of this five-passenger, front-wheel-drive automobile is fine, too.

When it comes to safety enhancements, Nissan takes its work very seriously. The Altima sedan achieves a five-star crash-safety rating in front and side impacts, as outlined by the NHTSA. And when it comes to pricing for this vehicle, the base car is nicely equipped with plenty of factory extras starts out at just $19,900. The base engine is Nissan’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which is rated at 175 horsepower. Push-button start, power windows and door locks, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, speed-sensitive wipers, power steering, traction control, air conditioning, a rear defroster, a lockable illuminated glove compartment and split rear folding seats make the 2010 Nissan Altima a very attractive choice for value-minded drivers. This North America-built automobile is available at Nissan dealerships nationwide.