Toyota Camry. Honda Accord. Nissan Altima. This Japanese trio has dominated North America's midsize sedan game for awhile now. But recently, the competitive set has grown not only in size to include the Fusion, Sonata, Malibu, Legacy, Jetta, etc., but in overall amenities. Long gone are the days when automakers could entice customers with power windows, automatic door locks, and that oh-so-convenient cruise control.
As we noted in our "Seven for All Mankind" midsize sedan comparison, Nissan's best-selling model lags behind the competition when it comes to standard features. Rather than elongate the Altima's standard feature list, the product planners in Yokohama continue to offer a wide array of all-inclusive packages (Alloy Wheel, Technology, Premium, Premium Audio, 2.5 SL, Convenience, Convenience Plus, Sport) that bundle popular creature comforts depending on trim (2.5, 2.5 S, 3.5 SR, 2.5 S with SL Package). For 2011, the package list includes a Special Edition group, but only for the midrange 2.5 S model.

While the contents of the $750 Special Edition aren't new, their arrangement and pricing is. Along with a unique badge affixed to its rear trunklid, Nissan includes 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, auto/on headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and a rear spoiler to the S trim's features list. If optioned separately, Nissan says, the group would cost $1250, so buyers are getting more bang for their proverbial buck.
Within Nissan's realm, you do get more features for your money. But in looking at some competitors' "build your own" sites, the legitimacy of the bang-for-your-buck argument fades a bit. Many of the Special Edition's contents are included in the competition's base fares. Hyundai and Ford, with their respective Sonata SE and Fusion SEL sedans, offer floormats, leather-wrapped steering wheels with stereo controls, auto on/off headlamps, and power seats to buyers at no extra charge. Hyundai and Ford also throw in Bluetooth and Sync connectivity, and their base prices still undercut our Nissan's as-tested price of $23,735 (with $175 floor and truck mats) by a few hundred dollars.