2009 Volkswagen Routan

When you jump into a sport sedan priced at $47,900, you ought to feel wrapped in luxury as well as excited to press the accelerator. The 2009 Infiniti M35x, the all-wheel-drive trim of the rear-wheel sedan, delivers outstanding handling and wonderful comfort with AWD grip.

With its attractive physique, luxurious cabin, impressive advanced safety technologies, and athletic performance, Infiniti's M sport sedan has been a formidable entry in its segment.

The M is a premium sedan that carries off an athletic theme thanks to its low, wide stance, and large wheels with low-profile tires pushed to the corners, virtually eliminating unsightly body overhang.

To reduce curb weight, the M features lightweight aluminum doors, hood and trunk lid. The long wheelbase (114.2-inches) and wide track provide M with a stable posture and roomy cabin.

The engine bay features either a 325-horsepower 4.5-liter V-8 (M45) or a 303-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 (M35).

Both engines are very refined and powerful. For 2009, the V-6 in the M35 has been reworked, resulting in 28 more ponies.

Rear-wheel drive M35s feature a smooth-shifting 7-speed automatic transmission, while the M35x (all-wheel drive) and both the M45 and M45x utilize a 5-speed automatic.

Both transmissions feature a manual shift mode, downshift rev matching, and Drive Sport (DS) mode. M's engine and transmission combinations are extremely likable.

There's plenty of power from the V-6 and the transmissions provide ultra-smooth, effortless shifts when driving sensibly. But don't worry; M will delight those that like to drive aggressively, too, with either delayed upshifts and clever downshifts, or a driver-controlled manual mode.

The ride is nice, too. At boulevard speeds, my M35x tester felt compliant, yet not too soft. At higher speeds and during aggressive maneuvers, the ride nicely stiffened up to prevent excessive body sway.

A Sport Package with Infiniti's Rear Active Steer system is available on the rear-wheel drive M35 and M45 models, but not on all-wheel drive M35x or M45x models.

All-wheel drive models like my M35x tester and the M45x model feature Infiniti's ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive system.

The ATTESA E-TS system provides sports car-like handling and cornering ability due to optimum torque distribution between front and rear axles. The system can send 100% of the engine's torque to the rear axle and divide up to 50% to the front. Combined with the standard VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system, each wheel receives the appropriate amount of torque when needed.

The M has good stopping power, too. M's brakes are quite robust with large 12.6-inch ventilated rotors up front and 12.1-inch ventilated rotors in back.

M's cabin is highly refined with a nice blend of luxury and sporty styling. I like M's electroluminescent gauges with gear-like rings. I also like the keyless operation, adaptive cruise control, and backup camera.

But one of M's highlights is Infiniti's advanced Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system. LDP, which made its debut last year, utilizes a camera near the rear view mirror to detect lane markers ahead. If the driver drifts out of the lane without signalling, the system warns the driver visually and audibly. If the driver does not return the vehicle back into the lane, the LDP system assists the driver by applying slight brake pressure to the appropriate side of the vehicle to help bring the car back into the lane.

The M is loaded with standard amenities and safety features. I also enjoyed M's awesome-sounding audio system. While I found plenty of head and legroom up front, there's not enough headroom for me in the rear due to M's sloping roof. Another negative is fuel economy (16/22) for my M35x. Still, the M stacks up nicely to its competition and is extremely refined and enjoyable to drive.

2009 Infiniti M35x Sport Sedan

Engine: 3.5-liter (303 hp) V-6

Transmission: 5-speed automatic

Drive type: AWD

Fuel economy: 16 city/22 highway

Base price: $47,950

As tested: Not available

Web site: www.infinitiusa.com