2008 Infiniti M35 Review

PROS
Fresh inteterior design, Quality materials, Good ride-handling balance

CONS
Average fuel economy, No rear park assist

So you want to play with the big boys, eh? That's no easy task. After all, at just 19 years of age, Nissan's luxury brand is a mere pup when compared to BMW, Cadillac, and Mercedes-Benz, who combined have 300 years of experience building luxury automobiles. For most buyers, purchasing a luxury vehicle is as much about the car as it is the brand, and it's hard to match the brand cachet BMW, Cadillac, and Mercedes-Benz have accumulated for the past century.

Still, Infiniti is game for a fight and have unleashed a phalanx of new vehicles over the past five years. Most based on Nissan's FM platform, originally spawned as the foundation for the Nissan 350Z. One of those models is called the M. It's a midsized luxury sport sedan that seats five and competes with vehicles like the Acura RL, Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Cadillac STS, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Volvo S80.

The 2008 Infiniti M is offered in two models: M35 and M45. Both are four-door sedans that come with rear- or all-wheel drive. The M35 is powered by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and the M45 has a 335-horsepower 4.5-liter V8. Both engines are matched with a five-speed automatic transmission that sports a console-mounted shifter with a separate shift gate for manual operation.

Subtle changes for 2008 include revised interior and exterior styling and added luxury amenities and technologies, including the production debut of Infiniti's newest safety technology, the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system. While the LDP is optional, antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, and front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags are standard on both models. Also optional is a rear-view camera.

Standard on M35 are dual-zone automatic climate control, power tilt-telescope steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, memory system, center console, trunk pass-through, wood interior trim, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, keyless starting, sunroof, AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, digital-media player connection, satellite radio, Bluetooth cell-phone link, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, floormats, theft-deterrent system, and 18-inch alloy wheels. In addition to the V8 engine, M45 adds steering-linked adaptive HID headlights.

Key options include active rear steering, sport suspension, navigation system, iPod adapter, adaptive cruise control, rear-seat climate controls, and DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system. The M35 has a base price of $43,350 while the M45 lists for $49,700. All-wheel drive adds $1750 to the M35 and $2500 to the M45. All models have a destination charge of $715 and are built in Japan.

Get Up and Go
After just a few minutes behind the wheel, there's little doubt that the Nissan/Infiniti 3.5-liter V6 is one of the best engines on the market. It's smooth, powerful, and economical. In the M35 it provides ample acceleration around town and impressive passing power--easily on par with competitors' V6 models and faster than some V8s.

Speaking of V8s. The M45 4.5-liter V8 is quicker still, but the power boost isn't as dramatic as the 55-hosrepower jump might suggest. Still, it makes the M45 one of the quickest cars in the class and has more than enough muscle for even the staunchest lead-foot drivers.

Transmission performance is flawless. With only five forward gears, the Infiniti automatic is down a gear or two to many competitors. Still, it upshifts with absolute smoothness and downshifts quickly. The manual gate is quite useful in hilly terrain.

The rear-drive M35 is EPA rated at 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. While the city number is on par with V6-powered competitors, the highway number trails by a couple mpg--most likely because the Infiniti transmission has just five gears and competitors have six or seven. In a routine mix of city and highway driving expect to average about 18 mpg, perhaps as high as 20 mpg if your commute includes lots of highway driving. Infiniti recommends premium-grade gasoline for best performance on the M35 and requires it on the M45.

On the Road
In the world of luxury sedans, the M leans toward the sport side of the sport-comfort equation. Rear-drive models ride with the most comfort. All-wheel-drive models have a slightly firmer suspension that imparts a little more impact harshness and sport models ride firmer still. Overall, the suspension does a good job of reducing large impacts without creating a lot of unnecessary bouncing or bobbing. Still, if you're looking for a typical smooth, floating ride, you might want to look elsewhere.

The firm suspension settings and low-profile tires pay off in handling dynamics. Regardless of model, there's little body lean and the tires have ample dry-road grip. The steering is heavy but very precise and tracks straight and true on the highway. Brakes are strong and the pedal is easy to modulate. The M isn't as nimble as the BMW 5-Series, but feels considerably more sorted out than the Cadillac STS or Lexus GS.

The all-wheel-drive system is not designed for off-road use. By default, the system sends most of the engine's power to the rear wheels. If the rear wheels begin to spin, more power is routed to the front wheels. There is also a snow mode that locks the center differential in a 50/50 split front to rear.

The Lane Departure Prevention system takes lane-departure warning systems a step further. A typical lane-departure warning system will sound a tone or flash a warning when the vehicle strays to close to the curb or into the other lane. Infiniti's LDP system applies slight brake pressure to the wheels opposite the side of the lane departure direction to help prevent the M from inadvertently traveling out of its intended lane.

The M rides more quietly than you'd expect. There's little wind noise and the engines are only noticeable in hard acceleration. Tire roar is a problem on concrete pavement, exacerbated with the optional sport package.

Behind the Wheel
In stark contrast to many competitors, the M's interior is bright and airy. Materials are top notch, highlighted by lots of real wood and metal. Gauges are large, clearly marked, and easy to read day or night. Radio and climate controls are logically arranged on a shelf at the top of the center stack. They are easy to operate for both driver and passenger and present an interesting alternative to the sea of buttons offered on some other luxury cars. The navigation system and Bluetooth cell-phone connection are easy to operate and work well with the voice recognition system, though you have to start your commands from scratch each time, which can get monotonous.

The front seats are generously padded, supportive, and comfortable on long trips. Head and leg room are more than ample for large adults. The standard power tilt-telescope steering wheel is convenient. Forward visibility is good, though thick rear pillars might make drivers wish that park assist was on the option's list.

Though firmer than the fronts, the rear seats are nicely contoured. Head and leg room are above the class norm. Two adults are the limit, as the middle rider must contend with a raised seat cushion and the center hump.

Trunk room is quite good for the class and more than adequate for a couple of golf bags and a weekend's worth of luggage. Trunklid hinges don't intrude on cargo space and there's a rear-seat pass through--too bad the rear seats don't fold or the M would be a real cargo-hauling sleeper. Interior storage is minimal, consisting of a shallow center console bin and small front-door map pockets.

Bottom Line
Before you jump back in sticker shock at the M35's $43,000 base price, keep in mind that Acura RL lists for $46,000, BMW 5-Series costs $44,000 and the Mercedes-Benz E350 goes for $51,000. Those prices make the M the bargain of the litter, though the RL does come standard with all-wheel-drive--a $1750 option on the M35.

Although it can't match the agility of the 5-Series, the bank-vault solidity of the E-Class, or the technology of the RL, the M is more car than most buyers will ever need. Its a near-perfect combination of style, safety, performance, luxury. In addition, it offers more interior room than any competitor.

The availability of all-wheel drive on both M35 and M45 is a huge plus, as most competitors only offer this on-road security feature on less expensive models. While resale value doesn't match BMW or Mercedes, Infiniti dealerships are noted for treating customers like royalty. If you're shopping midsize luxury, you'd be a fool not to give the M serious consideration.