The suspension is firm and tight but dampened enough to absorb bumps in the roads with ease. Accelerating, steering and stopping on very rough washboard surfaces was predictable, smooth and quiet. No tug of war with the steering wheel was necessary to keep it in line. The ride was amazingly quiet inside, even at highway speed and visibility is excellent. When braking, the car remains flat and composed. My tester was not equipped with ABS brakes but I had no trouble pulling the car down from speed without fuss. The brakes are easy to modulate yourself, and offer plenty of feedback.

Photo: Nissan Canada

Nissan offers a Graduate rebate program on the Altima as well as their X-Trail, Sentra and Xterra. You get $350 cash back, a quarter percent off the lease or finance rate, and 4 free oil changes. Every Nissan comes with perks like a block heater, floor mats, a tank full of gas, roadside assistance and even travel planning free of charge. Check out www.nissan.ca for details.

I had a fun time with the Altima 2.5S Extra. I can't help but think that even sportscar fans wouldn't mind being spotted in one. Underlying all the fantastic features and its eager attitude is the sense of responsibility and wholesomeness that comes with driving a sedan. It stands out, has a nice engine, roomy interior, good warranty, great stereo and fantastic handling manners. It's mature enough to take your new boss out for lunch in, fun enough to take for a spin in the backroads, and refined enough that your parents will probably like it too, not that it matters.