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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  Poor interior quality - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By nsube001 - March 31 - 10:56 pm

  This cars dashboard is cracking and the edges are warping which I can only imagine is because of the poor quality materials used to put it together. The handles and steering wheel buttons are all peeling, this is very disappointing I would have imagined a well-maintained "luxury" vehicle would have lasted. Would have spend my money elsewhere! Infiniti consumer affairs is a joke and offer no resolution.

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  Look No Further! - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Sizarro - March 29 - 9:43 am

  Bought the G35 AWD with Premium Pkg, Nav Pkg, Tech Pkg, Rosewood interior, and Splash-guards. The car is awesome. Smooth, powerful drive-train, nice trans (5-spd but thats all you need), tiptronic works great, bluetooth syncd with no problem to a Sprint Sanyo Katana, excellent sound system, back-up camera is nice to have. Highly recommend the Rosewood interior; without it cheapens the interior. Looked at the the Lexus: IS250, ES350 & GS350 as well as the Acura TL. Evaluating the Infiniti was almost an after-thought. But, for the money and driving experience, the 07 G35 is the standard to beat right now in this class (maybe any class). If looking for a driving experience; look no further.

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  BMWs fans beware!!! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Roger55 - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I was looking a car for my son and took test drive of BMW 330, MB C320, Audi A4 3.0, and G35. G35s performance is the best among them. However, BMW 330 might have a slightly better handling. Overall, G35 clearly delivers better value than the rest. To those people who think I am cheap....go fish!!! I have 2000 Porsche 911 Turbo and 2001 Acura MDX in my garage.

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  Awesome!!! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Peter Jung - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Everything about this car is superb.

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  Top Choice - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By kfh - March 28 - 10:00 am

  A great car. Fun to drive and looks great in red. Rear reclining seats add comfort for back seat passengers. Most options should be standard on an INFINITI. The premium package should be standard. The side mirrors should be included in the memory function with the seats and standard equipment. The only options should be the wood package, sport package, heated seats, sun roof, cloth seats, and maybe the aero package. An INFINITI deserves everything else as standard equipment. My 1992 Diamante has more standard items than the G35. When you look at an Acura TL you know what equipment it has, almost everything is standard.

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  Opportunity knocked - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By agm - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Beautiful,fast,quiet,comfortable and inexpensive compared to the BMW, Lexus, or Mercedes. This car is an opportunity to have luxury at a reasonable price.

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  G35 Sedan over BMW 325 - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By TimG35 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  I shopped the G35 versus a BMW 325i. Having driven BMWs for the last 11 years, I fully expected the BMW to win, but the cost factor was too big an issue (more than $8,000 difference for a comparable BMW). The G35 does everything very well -- as powerful as the BMW, but not quite as sharp in the handling area. Very nice car.

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  2006 Infiniti G35 x - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By NEPA Driver - March 20 - 6:50 pm

  Love this car. Have owned luxury SUVs, Audi, BMW and this is my favorite. It has pickup I could not believe. What acceleration. As for the gas mileage, I dont know why people are complaining. First, its AWD so expect less. Also use good brand name gas, at least the mid- grade. I get 20-21 MPG on mixed street and highway drives. Plus this thing is excellent in snow. Just push the Snow Button and off you go.

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  Good - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By G35 Coupe - March 20 - 4:53 am

  The only this i have to say bad about this vehicle is that the front seats are rather uncomfortable. I understand its a sports coupe, but its also suppose to be a luxury coupe. i feel they need to recline better and be more comfortable, but other that hands down, its a great car, and has great speed and handling.

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  I was a believer - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Takuhog - March 20 - 4:20 am

  I thought I had done my research when purchasing a used Coupe. You should go to the users forums for the best information - I didnt and paid a hefty price. The G35 is an entry level Infiniti. It has poor interior materials that damage easily and it rattles like a spray paint can. It was also in the shop for some fairly substantial warranty repairs and the dealer damaged interior parts. A "Regional Manager" rode with me once and said he couldnt fix all of the rattles so get used to them. The rattles and squeaks were bad enough to make me get rid of the car for a loss. If you want the same, if not better, performance get the 350Z. Its cheaper. Poor customer service! Shame on U!