2005 Nissan Altima
Falling in between the larger Maxima and smaller Sentra, Nissan Altima models featuring the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission achieve 31-mpg on the highway and offer 103 cubic feet of passenger volume. Though matched for fuel economy, the Altima beats the Mazda6 in both passenger volume and price (Altima prices start just under $18,000).