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Infiniti Review:
Infiniti's G37 sedan feels more like a sports car than most of its
competitors. It's light, nimble and powerful, rewarding drivers with its
make-you-smile handling.
Infiniti upgraded its
materials in the G37's cabin this year, offering more soft-touch panels
that feel luxurious. And if you're in the business of selling cars these
days, it's popular to call your slightly sporty sedan a "four-door
sports car."
That only makes sense,
after all, customers don't want to imagine themselves driving the Mommy
Mobile wearing frumpy clothes on their way to the super center to buy a
can of baby formula.
No, car buyers want to
see themselves as Dustin Hoffman driving his Alfa Romeo with the top
down through glorious, golden sunshine. But they can't have an Alfa
Spider because they need four doors, so they settle for the next best
thing: the "four-door sports car."
That's unfortunate,
because most of these vehicles are, indeed, cars and do, indeed, have
four doors. But the "sports" part is woefully lacking. Not in this
Infiniti.
This car, the G37
Sedan, drives far more like a sports car than most of its competitors.
Equipped with the performance package and a manual transmission, the G37
can provide the kind of white-knuckled thrills that you'd normally find
in, say, the Porsche Boxster, only with far more luxury and an actual
back seat.
Even BMW, often thought
of as maker of the world's sportiest sedans, doesn't quite match the
nimble, lightweight, turn-on-a-dime feeling in the G37. BMW ultimately
makes some impressive driving machines, but they're brutal, muscular
fullbacks. This Infiniti is a swift wide receiver.
With rear-wheel drive,
328 horsepower and exceptional balance, the G37 is the kind of car that
makes you want to turn off the traction control and flog it through the
twisties. It's sensitive, communicative and playful.
It's also quite
luxurious. Leather seats come standard, along with a key that lets you
start the car wirelessly, and a 7-inch color display on the dash.
Optional features include a navigation system with a hard drive to store
your music and a rear-view camera that lets you see better when backing
up. It even has a standard 10-speaker Bose stereo called the "Studio on
Wheels."
A couple of
improvements are worth noting. The G37 has a new 3.7-liter V6 engine
this year improving performance, even though last year's engine was no
slouch. And it has a seven-speed automatic transmission that should help
with fuel economy.
What was tested?
The 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan 6 speed MT with a base price of $34,250.
Options on the test car include: The Premium package $2,500, illuminated
kick plates $350, rear deck spoiler $520, navigation package $2,150.
Total MSRP price as tested including the $815 destination charge:
$40,585.
Why avoid it?
Some people may find the ride harsh, especially with the sport package.
It's more about crisp handling than highway smoothness.
Why buy it? This
is a luxury car for people who appreciate performance as much as they do
comfort. It drives exceptionally well, looks sharp and has lots of
technology.
Bottom Line: The
G37 starts around $33,000, which isn't a bad price for BMW-like
performance and luxury. It compares well with the BMW 5-Series in some
ways, but it costs less than the smaller 3-Series.
By Derek Price © AutoWire.Net - San
Francisco
Byline: Infiniti Review provided by Tony
Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Infiniti Home Page
Column Name: The G37
4-door luxury sedan is playful and communicative
Topic: The 2009
Infiniti G37 Sedan
Word Count: 622
Photo Caption: The
2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan
Photo Credits:
Infiniti G37 Internet Media
Series #: 2009 - 22
Download
the Microsoft Word version here:
2009 Infiniti G37
Download the Original Image File here:
2009 Infiniti G37
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