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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  Fun - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By roseruby - April 25 - 10:00 am

  great car, fun to drive!

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  Good car but needs some improvement. - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Andrike - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Good car, well equipped for a sport coupe, excellent 3-D view Navigation screen, controls are well placed, though the buttons on the steering wheel do not light up at night time. Orange looking instrument cluster blends with the red arrows and its difficult to read.Tachometer is on the wrong side. Right hand armrest is very low and misplaced. Close ratio manual transmission is absolutely useless.Gears need to be changed all the time.It keeps high RPM on all gears, even 6th.,which results in a massive fuel consumption.Engine is powerful but lacks low end torque. Generally good car, needs power plant,manual transmission and some interior improvement.

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  Infinity G35X - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By john Grant - April 22 - 4:20 pm

  Very nice vehicle. Came out of audi s4. Not the v8 beast but fun and easy to drive fast and smooth. Great road feel and lighter car to drive. More of a generic look but I wanted something more low key. Great value for the money. Did a 24 mo lease to see if i like it.

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  Great Car - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By Ace814 - April 22 - 2:03 pm

  Ive had my 06 G35 sedan 6MT for about 3 months and I am loving it so far. Comfortable, great exterior, great engine. I would love to install a supercharger to bump it from the 298 hp to 440 hp but its finding someone I trust to do it. I dont trust myself with the install, this motor is more advanced than Im used to. But I am having fun with it anyway. Seems to be very well built seeing as how this is my first Infiniti. So far so good!

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  Will never drive anything else! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By ixrayu2 - April 22 - 9:30 am

  I absolutely love my G35! This is my first time to own an Infiniti and I am sold completely! This car is so fun to drive and it looks amazing. Yes, the fuel economy is horrible and yes the brakes do go out too soon and yes the idea of controlling the radio and the air conditioner with the same part is not wise (have had experiences with it all), but still, to be an owner of this car, to look at it and drive it is out of this world. Major trunk space! I cant wait to own my next Infiniti. Bring it on!

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  Desert Platinum roaring in Miami. - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Red Scorpion. - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Love it. I just picked up my 6MT; it is my dream come true. Every time I get in my Coupe, I cant wait to get it on the 6th gear and drive it fast. I still must break the engine at 1200 mi, so I am taking it easy. It is hard though because you just want to pump the gas into the engine to shoot off the line. Heads turn every where I go. Love the Navigation Sys. and BOSE stereo sys.

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  vdferw - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By berlan - April 22 - 2:00 am

  it is a very fun car to drive

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  service and reliability problems - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By service sucks - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned the car for six months, here is list of problems Ive had: CDs stuck in CD changer, had to replace the whole unit two recalls whistling sounds from the engine squicking breaks servcie... its awful. I went to two service centers: one in Brooklyn, another one in Long Island, Able Infniti. Its a headache. In first case they wouldnt give me a loaner, just beacuse I didnt buy a car from them, in another case they called me 15 minutes before they closed to tell me that my car is ready, and when I got there there was nobody there, but they charge me extra for keeping a loaner for another day

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  Beautiful, fast, reliable but... - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Former professional driver - April 20 - 1:21 am

  Bought this coupe used with only 24,000 miles on it. Loved the exterior styling and the handling (still do). Its been very reliable except the drivers side power window, but I only put about 7500 miles a year on the car. The owners manual recommends premium gas but it will drive OK on regular. Bose sound system is fine. I dont have nav. Climate control works great. Front seats are OK, but my wife complains about them and about getting out of the low seat. Not much knee room in back. Interior materials were never luxurious but still look nice. Trunk is a little small but the back seat folds down for extra cargo space. The car sits low, which looks good and maybe aids handling and aerodynamics, but can be a problem with parking blocks, large potholes and other roadway hazards where underside clearance could be an issue. Pros: Outstanding handling and plenty of power. Very stable and fun to drive on the highway, if it is not icy or snowy. Drives well in town too, if not icy or snowy. Exhaust has nice but not intrusive tone. Solid, gorgeous, sporty car. Cons: Road noise is high at all speeds above 20 mph. New, quiet-tread tires help some, but still noisy by modern standards; gas mileage not great even using premium, would be better if the automatic had another gear or two; terrible traction in snow with just all-season tires; have replaced drivers side window motor twice. But for the road noise and the lack of traction in snow, I would drive this car anywhere the roads are paved and good, across the country or across town.

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  Who said you cant eat the cake? - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By JRealtor - April 17 - 12:23 am

  What an experience this car has been! The AWD performed flawlessly in a recent severe rain storm and the handling is leaps and bounds better than anything I have test driven. WAY better than the Acura TL although fit and finish on the TL & ES330 were better. The car is a lot of fun to drive but Ive heard one creak and one rattle so far (only 800 miles in) which is cause for a little concern but Im usually listening to music so its no big deal. Its faster than anything else out there on the road so if you need passing power, this has it! The ride is "harsh" if you compare it to a Lexus or Acura because its a lot sportier and faster than those cars. Its not perfect but damn close.