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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  I like it - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By cornshuck - April 6 - 2:00 am

  This is just the car I was looking for, excellent performance, comfort, and price. Very well balanced car and it lives up to its advertising

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  Second Childhood Car - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By nkala - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I am a 50 yr old female who is having a ball and all of my friends want to ride. The biggest problem is keeping my husband and my two sons, 23 and 24 out of my car so I can drive it. Great acceleration response for highway merging. Tight stearing but touchy brakes. Love the engine sound! Comfortable driver seating. Back seat is a little close but not unexpected. Climate control is really good. Love the dual comfort zone feature. Fun car to drive. Definitely an attention getter. You want to stay in it all of the time.

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  very sweeeet! - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By dereks - April 6 - 2:00 am

  even though I just purchased this car, I was comparing the G35 with the Maxima. All in all, the G35 was smoother and a step above the Nissan. The rear wheel drive, the turning radius and Infinitis warranty were the deciding factors. I feel I made the right choice after a 2 week comparison. HP were about the same both with tiptronics.

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  Sweet Ride - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By fjm1 - April 5 - 10:13 am

  Got rid of a 2000 BMW 3 series for a 2004 G35 Sedan 6 speed. The G is greatly superior to the BMW, especially in reliability. This car really goes and its a blast to drive on twisty roads. One of the few family 4 doors that I could find with a stick and a sticker I could afford. At 30K miles its still fairly quiet inside, no rattles.

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  A1A Daily Driver - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By hatteras56 - April 4 - 8:23 pm

  Having owned 2 BMWs (3 & 5 series) along with an Audi allroad, I have a frame of reference to compare the German ownership experience with that of the 2008 G35 (sport, premium and navigation packages). Nothing can touch a Bimmer coursing through the S curves but my new G 35S is a powerful sedan that hopefully will provide years of satisfaction. This car is simply gorgeous and packs more technological features that cars costing many thousands more. I am very satisfied with my purchase.

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  G35 ROCKS - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By OmegaBlue - April 4 - 10:00 am

  Audi A4, BMW 3 series, Acura TL typeR, and on and on, they just cant compare with G35. Start with horse power, G35 got 260, and 260lb of torque. No car in this catagory can beat that. Eventhough TL typeR got 260HP, it has less torque. Styling? I thik BMW gotta go, its style is the same years after years. A4 is not bad, but when we speak about money, theres a huge difference. German cars are over priced. With 30k, u can only get an Audi A4 1.8T, not even the V6 version. As for BMW, you can only get a plain 325i without leather. Dont even think about 330i, itll cost at least 35k. TL is front wheel drive, and doesnt qualify as a true sports sedan.

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  Sweet Ride - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By CF - April 2 - 6:23 am

  Owned this car for a full week now. I have the G35 with the sports pkg and the nav. Once you learn all of the controls, you will love the features of this car. It is a pleasure to drive.

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  Wow! Performance and Luxury all in one - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By John6373 - March 26 - 6:00 am

  This car really is an "underdog" when people first compare it to BMW, Lexus and other well known cars. But this car is fantastic! The Premium and Navigation Packages are a must when getting this car. The performace of this car is awesome. Its very fast and smooth at accelerating. I can get in and out of traffic when I need to. My favorite part of this car is the interior. Its very Modern but also has a luxury feel to it as well. The controls are very well laid out and look fantastic. I get so many looks in this car. I think its much more sporty looking than the Lexus and also the BMW. All I can sy is make sure you test drive one when comparing to BMW? Lexus and you will see what I mean.

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  Fantastic Sports Sedan - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By perry227 - March 25 - 3:53 pm

  Ive had the car for 5 months now and it is about everything you could want in a car in this class. Its comfortable, good looking, smooth and powerful. It has a few quirks of design but any car does. It is a very solid car and has many great features. The best thing about it is the driving experience, it is quite visceral and the car just growls everywhere it goes.

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  nicest car for the money - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By joedaddy - March 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is the best bang for the buck, i had a corvette before this and this is just as fun to drive!