2008 Infiniti G37 Review

PROS  Powerful engine, Great handling, Tasteful but modern interior

CONS  Smallish trunk, Cramped back seat, Limited rear visibility

Coupes get a bad rap. Detractors complain that they aren't practical, have small back seats, and cost more than their sedan counterparts. All points all well taken. Still, coupes are an emotional expression for many buyers and are becoming more popular as baby boomers morph into empty nesters with disposable income. Today, there are no fewer than 15 sporty coupes on the market, each with its own unique identity. The Infiniti G37 is just one such coupe.

The G37 is actually a coupe version of the Infiniti G35 sedan. Both share chassis with the Infiniti FX and Nissan 350Z. The coupe returns for 2008 after taking a year off while the G lineup was freshened. It gets a 330-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine and comes only with rear-wheel drive. Sedan models get a less-powerful 3.5-liter engine and are available with either rear- or all-wheel drive.

Three couple trim levels are offered. The $34,500 Base and $35,250 Journey come with a five-speed automatic transmission with a separate shift gate and paddle shifters for manual operation. Sport models list for $35,800 and come only with a six-speed manual transmission.

Standard safety features on all trim levels include front-seat active head restraints, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. A rear-view camera is included as part of the optional navigation system. Park assist is not offered.

Base coupes come with automatic climate control, tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, front bucket seats, eight-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, four-way power passenger seat, center console, folding rear seat, aluminum interior trim, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, keyless access and starting, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital media player connection, satellite radio, illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system, HID headlights, fog lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Journey coupe adds dual-zone automatic climate controls, eight-way power passenger seat, AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, and automatic-off headlights. Sport coupe adds limited-slip differential, uprated brakes, and sport suspension.

Notable options include sunroof, wood interior trim, a technology package that includes adaptive cruise control and steering-linked headlights, and a navigation package that navigation system, voice recognition, rear-view camera, real-time traffic information, and 9.3-gigabyte hard drive for music file storage. A new option for the G37 Sport and G37 Journey with Sport Package is four-wheel steering, which uses sensors to adjust steering response and move the rear wheels slightly. Infiniti claims this improves handling.

The G37 competes with vehicles like the Audi A5, BMW 1-Series, and Volvo C30. It is built in Japan and has a destination charge of $715.

Get Up and Go  G37's smooth and powerful V6 is extremely responsive at any speed. Infiniti doesn't quote a 0-to-60 mph time for the G coupe, but it's easily less than 6.0 seconds--more likely about 5.5. When mated to the easy-to-shift six-speed manual transmission the engine has plenty of punch off the line and exceptional passing response.

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 2008 Infiniti G37 is EPA rated at 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Those numbers aren't outstanding given the car's size, and Infiniti requires that all G models be fed more-expensive premium-grade fuel. In around town driving and typical highway commuting expect to average about 20 mpg. Straight highway driving is likely to net about 24 mpg.

On the Road  The G37 coupe 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. The Sport model, with its 19-inch tires and sport suspension, has the firmest ride, so firm that it might not be to everyone's liking.

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 on that produces good 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.

Speaking of handling, the G37 does an amazing job of tracking true through turns on even the bumpiest of roads. In addition, there's very little wheel hop in hard acceleration. Add to this the wonderfully direct and accurate steering and powerful brakes and you get a coupe that actually handles like a sports car--sans the pounding ride of course.

Behind the Wheel  Critics of the first-generation G claimed interior materials and fit-and-finish were out of step with other entry-level sport-luxury cars. Infiniti took that criticism to heart and gave the '08 G37 an interior that rivals more-expensive premium-luxury sedans. Materials are top notch, buttons and switchgear work with rachet-like precision, 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 leg room for large adults. Taller adults will want to avoid the optional sunroof as it eats into head room. 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 hampered to the rear thanks to thick roof pillars, making the backup monitor a must. 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.

As in most coupes, the rear seats are not intended for adults. With the front seats pushed all the way back, leg and knee room are non-existent. If you are lucky enough to wiggle back there, you'll find that head room is also limited thanks to the steeply sloping roofline.

Trunk space is a scant 7.4 cubic feet. In itself that's not impressive, but the trunk has a reasonably large opening and expensive hinges that don't intrude on cargo space. Interior storage is adequate, highlighted by large front-seat map pockets and a roomy center console storage bin.

Bottom Line  If you're a coupe buyer, it's very hard to find fault in the G37. Infiniti was smart to upgrade the interior without meddling with the overall package. Luxury minded buyers will want to avoid the Sport or the Journey with the Sport package as the ride is firmer than expected.

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 G. Rarely does a sequel match or exceed its predecessor, but in this case, part II may, just in fact, be better than the original.