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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  Love It!!! - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Gbreeze - July 23 - 9:50 am

  I just bought this car used with 50k miles. We have been getting a lot of snow lately and my AWD G35 handles great in snow. My driveway drifts every year and I didnt even shovel it out. I wanted to test my G35 and it got right out. The car looks awesome as well, and the 280 hp is sweet too. This is the closest thing to German engineering. The handling, performance, horsepower minus the reliability problems that German cars are known for. I wish it had better gas mileage but I know its my fault because I have a heavy foot at times.

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  WHAT A SURPRISE - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By G35 FOR MIKE - July 19 - 10:00 am

  WHEN THE G35 FIRST CAME OUT IN 2003 I FELT THAT IT WAS BY FAR THE BEST 2DR SPORTS CAR YOU CAN GET IN THE 35K PRICE RANGE BUT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE IN THE 65K RANGE. TRUST ME I STEPED UP IN PERFORMANCE FROM THE LEXUS SC. I JUST PICKED MINE UP IN SEPT 04, AND JUST CANT GET ENOUGH OF IT. I LOOK FOR EXCUSES TO DRIVE IT HANDLES GREAT ACCELARATES EVEN BETTER AND LOOKS GORGEOUS AT ALL TIMES EVEN IN THE RAIN. A FEW THINGS THOUGH ARE MISSING LIKE THE PRESET SEAT BUTTON AND MAYBE A BETTER STANDARD STEREO BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

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  Excellent Car - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Kirby F. Burnett - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I am in my mid - 40s. The G-35 Sport Coupe makes me feel like a kid again. It is actually more exciting than my wife of 20 years!!!!!

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  g35 is a well balanced rocket - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By John Williams - July 18 - 4:53 pm

  I traded in my 2005 g35 6mt, for a 2007 g35 sport 6mt.I was happy with my 2005 and now feel like a kid again in the 2007. I estimate the overall upgrade to be very close to the m35 level and they held tight on price.This car pulls like a demon, and the gas mileage has improved! Coconut creek infiniti dealer in Florida is the number 1 infiniti dealer in the world, they gave me 2k off msrp,and the best buying experience I have had. No other manufacturer comes close to the new g35 value.

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  This is a serious sport sedan - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By tonto - July 15 - 2:20 pm

  Bought this car for my wife in March of 06. I get to drive it on weekends only and I really look forward to doing so. The motor in this vehicle is all about acceleration and revving to the redline. Sure, fuel economy is not good, but it gets better as the miles go by. Were now getting about 21 mpg combined highway and city driving. That may not sound too good but you have to be realistic when considering the fact that you have a sports car engine under the hood. We have had no mechanical issues so far at 21k plus miles. The brakes are still in good condition. I was worried when we bought it considering all the past issues with this model but the rotors look perfect and the pads look new.

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  An excellent car - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By geffen - July 13 - 10:30 pm

  Wonderful car to drive. The throttle is twitchy until you get used to it which takes about a week. Its sort of funny watching someone drive it who is not used to it. Everyones head bounces off the headrests (which are well padded). I understand they modified the throttle response in the later models which is unfortunate. The car has performed flawlessly but be prepared to replace the brake pads every 15,000 miles and the rotors will need to be machined each time. $$$$

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  Whats there not to love?? - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Dennis - July 13 - 8:43 pm

  I started looking around and I narrowed my choices down to the Acura TL S-Type, Lexus IS 350, BMW 330i and the G35. I am an avid lover of the BMW, the Acura would have been my second choice, however the G35 was what my heart told me to follow and I have not looked back since. There is nothing bad I could find to say about the G35. I ended up getting a black G with tan interior. The 9.5 gig hard drive to download music to the car just blew me away. I have owned about 10 cars in my life and driven several others and nothing in or near the G35s class can compare to the performance and handling of this vehicle. Infiniti has upped the ante - can any other automobile step up to the challenge?

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  More than a match to BMW 3-Series - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By ^0^ - July 11 - 10:00 am

  To be honest, I didnt expect this Infiniti to be this good, its engine, styling, transmisson, brake and extensive feature contents make it impossible to beat. It cost less than 35k when fully loaded, compare to the Bimmer, its a bargain. This Infiniti matches or exceeds BMW in terms of handling, braking, accelerating, overall build quality and reliability. This is one great car from Nissan, thank you!!

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  better than 330Ci? - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By andy perng - July 11 - 10:00 am

  awesome sports car. great handling, great engine, good interior, great value compared to bmw 330Ci.

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  G35 SEDAN - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Gremp01 - July 5 - 10:00 am

  tHE ONLY PROBLEM i HAVE HAD IN 4000 MILES IS THE RADIO AND IT WAS REPLACE BY THE DEALER IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS