PROS
Powerful engine, Fantastic ride/handling balance, Tasteful but modern interior
CONS Smallish trunk, Cramped back seat, Smallish trunk
Improving on the original. Since its inception as a luxury brand in 1990, Infiniti has struggled to find an identity. It was caught between Acura's sensible luxury and Lexus' pursuit of excellence. However, in 2003 Infiniti launched the G35 sport sedan, and almost as quick as you can say "Bob's your uncle," the identity crisis was gone.
The first-generation Infiniti G35 transformed Nissan's luxury brand into an instant BMW competitor. Add to that the launch of the sporty FX in the same year and Infiniti was well on its way to cementing its position as a purveyor of sporty automobiles with a luxury tone.
For 2007, the G35 sedan is all new, though fans of the coupe will have to wait one more year as which time it will get a similar redesign. The G35 remains the lowested price car in Infiniti's lineup, and competes with vehicles like the Acura TL, BMW 3-Series, Cadillac CTS, and Jaguar X-Type as a compact luxury car.
Vehicle Tested |
2007 Infiniti G35x
Base Price: $33,950 As-Tested Price: $40,000 Built in Japan.
Options Technology Package Premium Package Navigation Package
Engine: DOHC 3.5-liter V6 Transmission: 5-speed automatic Drive Wheels: all-wheel drive |
Though no sheet metal carries over, the sedan's exterior styling is reminiscent of the previous generation. Wheelbase is unchanged, but overall length and rear-seat leg room are up one inch.
The sedan comes in three trim levels: Base, Journey, and Sport. The Base model retails for $31,450 with rear drive; $33,950 with AWD. Journey has a base price of $31,900, and the Sport lists for $32,250.
Regardless of trim, all sedans get a 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Base and Journey models come with a 5-speed automatic transmission; Sport is available with the 5-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission.
While the Journey and Sport come only with rear-wheel drive, the Base is available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The AWD model is called G35x and includes a winter mode that locks the center differential to split power delivery equally between the front and rear wheels.
Standard safety features include front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Other notable standard features on the Base model include leather upholstery, trunk pass-through, aluminum interior trim, 8-way power driver seat, and keyless starting.
Journey adds dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power passenger seat, in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, and automatic headlights. Sport adds a limited slip differential, 12-way power driver seat, sport-tuned suspension, and larger front and rear tires.
Notable optional features include power sunroof, heated memory seats, Bluetooth cell-phone link, adaptive cruise control, steering-linked headlights, satellite radio, and hard-drive-base navigation system that includes voice recognition and real-time traffic information. The navigation system's 9.4GB hard drive also has the capability to store music files like an MP3 player. In addition, G35 has a dash-mounted slot for flash media cards.Optional on Sport models are active front and rear steering systems that are designed to make the G35 easier to control at high speeds.
Get up and Go G35's smooth and powerful V6 is very responsive at any speed. Infiniti doesn't quote a 0-to-60 mph time for the G sedan, but it's easily as fast as the previous-generation's 6.0 seconds. More impressive is the smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic transmission. It's always alert and ready to downshift to provide more power at just a moment's notice.
The throttle pedal is also very easy to modulate. Press a little and you get mild acceleration, press harder and speed increases in a linear fashion. Stomp hard and acceleration is outstanding.
While this may seem like the norm, sadly it isn't. Lots of today's luxury-sport sedans have a throttle pedal that's hard to modulate. You either get too little or too much acceleration. This is often done to try and improve fuel economy ratings, but it ends up making the car much less satisfying to drive.
Speaking of fuel economy, the G35x is EPA rated at 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. Those numbers aren't outstanding, and Infiniti requires that all G models be fed more-expensive premium-grade fuel, but are on par with other sporty all-wheel-drive sedans. In around town driving and typical highway commuting expect to average about 20 mpg.
On the Road The new G35 sedan sports a European-flavored ride. That means there is little float or bob on wavy roads but also a fair amount of road feel--especially on uneven roads. The suspension does a good job of filtering large bumps, but it softens rather than removes.
This translates into a fairly busy ride, more so with the available sport suspension. The ride is never harsh or jarring, but isn't typical luxury-car smooth either. Enthusiasts will love the balance between road feel and comfort, luxury purists may yearn for something a bit smoother.What's really impressive is the way the suspension works to keep the G pointed in the right direction regardless of road surfaces. Any automaker can make a suspension that gives handling on glass-smooth roads, the hard part is making a suspension that absorbs bumps and still keeps the tires in contact with the road.
The G35's suspension does an amazing job of tracking true through turns on even the bumpiest of roads. In addition, it keeps the rear tires from hopping or skipping in hard acceleration. Add to this the wonderfully direct and accurate steering and powerful brakes and you get a sedan that actually handles like a sports car--sans the pounding ride of course.
Behind the Wheel
Critics of the first-generation G35 claimed interior materials and fit-and-finish were out of step with other entry-level sport-luxury sedans. Infiniti took that criticism to heart and gave the '07 G35 an interior that rivals more-expensive premium-luxury sedans. Materials are top notch, buttons and switchgear work with sewing-machine smoothness, and the overall ambiance is one of understated luxury.
Gauges are clear and easy to read, day or night. The entire gauge cluster moves up and down/for and aft with the tilt/telescope steering wheel. Major controls for the audio and climate control system are easily reached on the center stack. Navigation and ancillary controls are incorporated into a pod at the top of the center stack that should be studied by other manufacturers for its simplicity and ease of use.
The firm and supportive front seats are a bit narrow, but there's plenty of head and leg room for large adults. Seat controls have been repositioned from the previous inboard seat cushion location to a more standard outboard position. There's not much room between the door panel and the seat bottom, so they are still somewhat difficult to operate.
Outward visibility is excellent thanks to tall windows and thin roof pillars. Another nice feature is the backup monitor that's included with the optional navigation system. Unlike similar systems from other automakers, a simulated grid overlays the video image that shows the intended direction of the vehicle. It changes depending on steering wheel angle and is very helpful when parallel parking.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results, 2007 Infiniti G35 |
Front Impact, Driver | NA |
Front Impact, Passenger | NA |
Side Impact, Driver | NA |
Side Impact, Rear Passenger | NA |
Rollover Resistance | NA |
As in most entry-level luxury sedans, the rear seats are not truely intended for adults. However, they are more comfortable and roomy than one might expect. Foot and knee room are acceptable if the front seats are less than 1/2-way back and head room is good enough for anyone under six feet. Sharply contoured seat cushions and a large driveline hump limit practical rear seating to two.
Trunk space is on par for the class, but unimpressive overall. Expensive hinges don't intrude on cargo space but the opening is smaller than expected, making it difficult to load bulky objects. Interior storage is good, highlighted by large front-seat map pockets and a roomy center console storage bin.
Bottom Line
It's very, very hard to fault the new G35--a fact that's made even more amazing considering how good the previous-generation performed. Infiniti knew they got the sport/luxury formula right and smartly avoided changing it much. The new G is easily a match to the class-leading BMW 3-Series for power, handling, ride, and features--and costs less too boot!
Infiniti was smart to keep the price reasonable for first-time and value-conscious buyers, and to also offer a host of high-tech features for those looking to upgrade from the previous G35. Rarely does a sequel match or exceed its predecessor, but in this case, part II may, just in fact, be better than the original.