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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  Road Runner Car - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Denis P - February 19 - 3:20 am

  This car flies...it is super fast and it cuts thru the air like nothing....it is performance and luxury in one, it has it all nothing needed to modify it unless you want more than what you got...excellent car

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  Should have bought the IS350 - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By G35owner77057 - February 18 - 6:53 pm

  Rattle, rattle, rattle. For a near $40k car it has more rattles and ticks than a babys toy. I am very disappointed with this car. I should have bought the Lexus IS350 or BMW 3 series but instead took the infiniti instead (more options for less money). See what happens when you go the cheap route. Nissan should get a clue.

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  Great sporty car - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By IgorK - February 15 - 9:06 am

  Very happy with this car. Definitely better than Lexus of the same class. Great performance on slippery road, no problem handling snow or ice. Great acceleration and turning. Most of comfort features are included in basic features.

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  Live up to the hype - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By renbutler - February 10 - 10:00 am

  This hot car truly lives up to its accolades. It strikes a perfect balance between sportiness and luxury, without being ridiculously flashy or pretentious. Awesome power, superior styling, ergonomic design, this car has it all. Im not quite sure theres anything as spectacular on the road today (at least, not for under $60K).

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  A real treat! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By bmarquis - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the couple for 7 months. My favorite car Ive owned. All the power and handling I could ask for. The deep throatiness of the exhaust always brings a smile whenever I drive it. The tiptronic transmission allows me to drive it like a sedan most of the time but switch over to fun mode at will. A solid fun car. Absolutely zero regrets.

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  impresive - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By John Spain - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy my new g35 a lot, it is slick and powerful with nice leather trim for top notch luxury. Mine is loaded with options (only way to go)

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  Sweet ride - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By ripkiss - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I got my MT6 Sedan about 5 weeks ago and I already got almost 2000 miles on it. I just love to drive this car. The style, very comfortable seats, the handling & power is awesome. My fuel economy hasnt been so good, because I just love to punch it. Overall I am very happy with it.

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  A Pleasure to Drive - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By Rob - February 8 - 8:50 am

  This car is for people who love to drive. Acceleration is fantastic. Handling and braking are smooth. Very tight turning radius for a car this size. Road noise is a little more prevalent than in competitors models, but not bad overall. You can feel the transmission shifts a bit. This car has a lot of power for a 5-speed. Likely corrected with the 7-speed in the 09. For me, the MPG has been trending at 17 over the first two months of ownership. Im a little on the aggressive side, but previous cars havent penalized me as much as this one does.

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  08 G35xS - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By Mark - February 4 - 11:50 pm

  Trading in my 2005 G35 6MT that I upgraded from 298HP to 350HP for a 2008 G35xS was a bit concerning because I wanted the same horse power feel and was concerned the sedan would lack the feeling one with the car experience. I also needed something for winter. I will say Im really surprised by how responsive the automatic 306HP of the sedan deploys itself. Having said that, I HIGHLY recommend anyone getting this car to the G35xS, which adds the 18" wheels and the paddle shifters. I will say the car comes to life when in manual mode, much differently then just driving in automatic. With that I will say Im quite happy and the car now provides the same confidence my previous G did.

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  Best money spent - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By andyatlexus - February 4 - 10:00 am

  We use this car daily driver. The versatility of the folding rear seat give us room that we use without sacrificing performance. We are very happy we didnt go with the 350Z. The car handled extremely well last winter having new tires and the skid control system. We have been most happy with its ability to get to 100+mph and it sure footed handling at all speeds and in all weather. Although I would like to have a little more tire howl before system intervention. Aslo can get a little noisy for long road trips. Bonus is the great stereo.