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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  Good but not great - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By missmytalon - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Overall good car, but feels heavy, both in steering and in excelleration. It just doesnt feel like 280 hp. Looks great and gets a lot of attention. Overall comfortable ride for level of performance. VSC system kicks in a little too soon. Seat backs are way too hard for a luxury brand, and very tiring on long drives.

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  Excellent Ride! - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By James - April 12 - 9:33 am

  Ive had this car for a month and I am extremely pleased with the handling and performance of the car! This car feels like a light, fast tank that confidently grips the road. However, the car does feel a little stiff and the brakes are a little unpredictable. The engine sounds fantastic as well, I find myself leaving the windows down just to hear the engine rev up!

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  Lovin Every Minute of It - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By OU Fan - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I have absolutely no complaints. This is by far the best car Ive ever owned or experienced. I love every minute in it. As a matter of fact, once in awhile, I even let my wife drive it... to keep her happy of course.

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  Great car but not enough headroom - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By G35 Driver - April 7 - 3:56 pm

  The power motors for the drivers seat take up WAY to much space. Combined with the moonroof, this car is a tight fit for anyone near the 6 height mark. Im 62", and with the seat lowered and tilted back 100%, I still cannot sit straight up. This is my only dissapointment with this car.

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  Best car for the money - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Ken - April 4 - 6:50 pm

  I really love the drive and reliability of this car. Its a pleasure to drive and look at. You will not be disappointed. Very reasonable maintenance if not done at the dealership. You just basically change the oil and cabin air filter every 3,750 miles. You owe it to yourself to own one of these cars.

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  Catch Me! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Catch Me! - April 4 - 2:00 am

  I can not say enough about this car! It looks great, drives great, and boy do I love smokin a BMW on fresh asphalt! The seats are nice and wholesome looking, unlike the 3s wimpy little things, the interior is sharp and classy, love da clock, and the sound is super! The room in the rear is great for kids, and adults can fit too. This is my fun car! I didnt want a car that was too common and I have only seen 3 since they were put on the market! I get great looks from everyone, a Mercedes S owners jaw dropped as I zoomed past, and an M3s owner stared and stared at me as I kicked up gravel in his face! Hah! I love this car!

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  A G35 for the real G man - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Nare - April 4 - 2:00 am

  Wow, I just purchased the car recently, and boy do I love it. Not only does this car give u everything a $43,000 BMW would give you for just around $32,000, but it also gives you some Japanese realiability. When the dealer says theirs 260 ponies under the hood, he means it, no joke. If I didnt knwo this car has a V6, I would mistake it for a small V8, because of the power on tap. The interior is also beautiful. 6 Disc in dash, titanum finish, fine leather, classy yet sporty look that most car componies fail at pulling off.

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  BEATS ANY BMW except for the M3 - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Steve - March 30 - 10:00 am

  This car is, awesome, solid , powerful and the Brembo brakes defy the laws of motion. I had a GTi before which also had 13" rotors in the front and 10" rear and THE G35 ( a heavier car) stops even better. Im not exageratting look up the braking distance for the 98 GTI Vr6 and the GTI there is a 20 FT difference. This cars handling is unmatched by any car Ive ever driven and I used to work at a dealership not to mention Ive driven all the 3 series BMWs except for the M. overall you cant go wrong.....I just hope you can get your hands on one =).

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  Bang for the buck - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By 1nate7 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Hard to believe a car this nice is this cheap. You will likely pay MSRP for a 6-spd coupe, but it is still far and away the best value in this price range. I have had this car for 5 1/2 months and put on 11,500 miles. No problems so far, and I am averaging about 20 mpg for my normal commute/city driving. Road trips I get about 26 with cruise set to 80 and the A/C on. If you want to blend in, this is not the car for you. Its amazing how much attention this car gets. Stoplights, gas stations, drive-thru windows, whatever - people are always asking me questions about it.

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  G35 needs to be more like 330i - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By bmw guy - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful car, but it still lacks that drive by seat-of-your-fanny feel of Beemer. With the proviso that this is a fine automobile, the manual G35 shift could stand to be a little smoother. And while it turns corners like it was on a rail, a little understeer could make it more fun to drive. Also, could we convince car manufactures to get rid of automatic climate control systems, or at least make it easier to control manually.