Overview & Reviews

These days, we've come to expect a lot from Infiniti. But in years past, the Japanese luxury brand actually struggled to find an audience. Only with the Infiniti G35 sport sedan did the company start to regain its footing after years in the red. At the time of its debut, the G35's refined styling and sporty performance made a loud statement.

There were two generations of the Infiniti G35, both built on the same platform as the Nissan 350Z sports car. The G35 distinguished itself in the entry-level luxury segment with a roomy cabin, plenty of performance and a respectable price. For those reasons, the rear-wheel-drive G35 was one of our editors' top recommendations for a sport sedan or coupe that was rewarding to own and drive. More recently, the G35 was replaced by the G37.

Most Recent Infiniti G35

There were two generations of the Infiniti G35 sedan, although the second generation is essentially the current G37 sedan with a smaller V6 engine. The G35 coupe lasted only one generation (meaning, same body style) before being replaced by the fully redesigned G37 coupe.

The most recent G35 sedan was completely redesigned for 2007. Changes included a stiffer body structure, revised chassis tuning for better handling, a more powerful V6 engine and a more voluptuous take on the previous G's styling. It was more or less the same size as the outgoing model, but the biggest improvement could be found inside, both ergonomically and aesthetically. Everything was better put together and materials were higher in quality. The 3.5-liter V6 engine produced 306 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters was standard, but a six-speed manual came with the 6MT trim. We'd seriously recommend against this transmission (especially on 2007 models) as it was incredibly difficult to drive smoothly.

The sedan was available in five trims: a base model, Journey, x (indicated all-wheel drive), Sport and Sport 6MT. Most Infiniti G35 sedans will be of the Journey variety, which added items like dual-zone automatic climate control and a six-CD changer. The Sport trims were geared toward enthusiasts and featured 18-inch wheels and tires, a limited-slip differential, sport seats and aggressive tuning for the car's electronic stability system. A four-wheel active steering system was an option that's exclusive to the Sport trims, although we weren't fans of it.

Other than its engine, its name and few other detail changes, the G35 sedan became the G37 sedan for 2009.

Used Infiniti G35 Models

The original Infiniti G35 was introduced for 2003, and was produced in sedan form until 2006 and as a coupe until 2007. Originally, the sedan was available in one trim level until the all-wheel-drive model arrived for '04. The coupe could be had in base or Sport trim. The latter included a firmer suspension, a limited-slip differential and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Both sedan and coupe shared the same 3.5-liter V6, but the sedan originally made less power (260 hp with four doors, 280 with two doors). They were made even at 280 hp for 2005, and both models when equipped with the six-speed manual option got a boost to 298 hp. These horsepower numbers dropped to 293 and 275, respectively, for the '07 coupe because of a change in SAE testing procedures -- actual output did not, in fact, change.

Other than the myriad engine changes, there were other noteworthy updates made during the first-generation G35's lifetime. The sedan received a new hood, grille, bumpers, side sills and taillights for '05, although it was hardly a revolutionary aesthetic difference. The coupe remained mostly unchanged visually. Inside, though, both benefited from a redesigned instrument panel and improved manual transmission with a lower shifting effort. The coupe gained an optional rear-steer system for 2006, while its Sport Package gained a unique front fascia and a big rear spoiler. Bluetooth arrived on all Gs that year. While the G35 sedan was completely redesigned for '07, the coupe remained the same.

In our reviews, we were quite fond of the original generation Infiniti G35. The sedan was a bargain-priced alternative to the BMW 3 Series, while being a little less frantic and more comfortable than the second-generation G35 and current G37. The coupe was the more practical, livable alternative to Nissan's 350Z -- it was a sports car in luxury clothing. If there was one area of concern, it was an interior filled with several cheap surfaces and some unintuitive controls. Headroom was also quite limited in the coupe. One feature that was welcome, though, was the optional reclining rear seatbacks in the G35 sedan, which made it a top choice for backseat comfort.

User Reviews:

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  The G35 Is Infiniti-ly Magnificent! ;) - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By G35-4-ever - March 31 - 8:26 pm

  This car is simply amazing!! We test drove everything in this class to be sure the G35 was "the one." Absolutely NOTHING compared, in look, feel or drive. The G35 sedan is drop-dead gorgeous outside. The inside is even nicer. The seats feel like Im driving from my couch! No more fights for the center armrest. ;) The instrument panels are cleanly arranged, giving the "featurey" feel we adore, without being fussy or complicated. At the same time the car exudes luxury, it drives like a race car! The sounds it makes are intoxicating. So is the speed! Left plenty a bigger engine in the dust, smoothly purring on past. Fast, smooth, and sleek, the G35 is definitely the best of both worlds!

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  Lots of Car - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By ART - March 31 - 1:40 pm

  With only a few issues, Infiniti would have produced one of the best cars Ive ever driven. Lots of power and extrememly fun to drive. Some lack of detail on the part of the engineers and poor fuel economy keep this from being a 10 all around.

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  Best Value in Entry-Lux Segment - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By Scott - March 30 - 11:36 am

  G35 value beat A4, TL, Accord, BMW 3. Exterior design very seductive, except black patches in front air dam. Keyless locks/start button are amazing. Excellent interior design; quality and ergonomics. Driver memory system is awesome. Excellent fit & finish. Accelerator a bit touchy, but wow - love the torque. Handling is amazing. Ipod interface is just OK. Lighting scheme very cool. Tranny lacks refinement, with "thump!" from 2nd to 3rd under hard driving. Add a 6th gear: 70mph runs at 3200 rpms. Getting about 18mpg in mixed driving, 23 hwy at 75mph. This is a performance vehicle. Has room for improvements, but for $10k+/- less than Lexus IS350 or BMW 3, it cant be beat.

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  Best in Price Range - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Nerso - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Before I went to Infinity dealer, I test drove BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C 3 series, Lexus IS 300, Nissan Altima, Audi A4, and I just tried the new redesighned Audi A4. Comparing the luxury, comfort, performance, features and price of Infiniti and all above cars, Infiniti gets 10(excellent) rating.

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  POW !!!! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Hoshtaylor - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Never driven anything like it...absolutely incredible to drive. Only problem that Ive had were interior noises which turned out to be things that were either my fault or fixable.

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  wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By stephz - March 25 - 2:00 am

  This will be my 5th Nissan/Infiniti vehicle and Ive loved every single one of them. First, the engine packs a punch-no longer do I have trouble merging on the on-ramps.Second,its a bargain! It has been compared to Lexus and BMWs and it is at least $6,000 less AND has MORE horsepower than they do.Third, the service is fantastic. Sadly my car was hit 3 days after purchasing the vehicle and I brought it back to the Harte Infiniti body shop and they fix it up good as new in only 3 days time with a busy schedule. They matched the paint perfectly.

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  G35X over the Cadillac CTS-AWD - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By Michael2003 - March 20 - 1:50 pm

  It was a really tough task to pick a winner in comparing the G35 to the CTS, but in the end I went with the G35. The things that made the G35 more attractive, and therefore my choice were: backup camera, built-in bluetooth, active cruise control, 4k lower price (with all wanted options).

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  Love this car! - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Lauren B - March 19 - 9:03 am

  I LOVE my G. I have had no problems at all with this car and Im nearing 30,000 miles. The seats are very comfy and the car is roomy enough even for my 220 lb, 6-foot-2 husband. It handles well and I drive like a demon. The gas mileage isnt great but Ill take it for the performance. I put 2 MTX 10" subwoofers in the trunk (and an 800 watt amp) a year ago with still not a vibration from anywhere. The things I would change are minor. I get many compliments on my G and would recommend to anyone - for the price I dont think you can beat it.

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  Performance and Value at its best - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By BlackG - March 17 - 8:20 am

  The 6MT G35 coupe has the perfect balance of luxury and performance. You can easily cruise around the city with the quietness and quality feel of luxury with a nice low hum of the exhaust reminding you that there is an animal inside when pushed. The car is smooth but can be rough at times (sport- tuned suspension and 19" rims) but I love the feel of the road, I feel so connected. The engine response is immediate and braking is superb. Handling is on par with the best in its class. Dont expect this car to have the luxury feel of a Lexus (interior- wise and quiet) it wasnt design that way and Infiniti did a great job balancing both performance and luxury. Its all about the experience.

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  Still new, but should be fun - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Dave - March 15 - 7:36 pm

  Ok, Ive only had it for a very short period but the car is really fun to drive. Aside from the sub-par Bose stereo display and poor functioning rear-view mirror, I would have to say that I am happy that I chose this over the 05 GTO.