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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  king of sports sedans - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By kyoppolife - November 23 - 4:16 pm

  test drove the 2007 bmw 328i, audi a4 (2.0t and 3.2), mazdaspeed6, lexus is250. spent the last 5 years driving a 2001 vw jetta wolfsburg with Upsolute chip. the g35s 6mt i picked up a month ago easily outperformed all of them. full of gadgets (im a sucker for techy gadgets and gimmicks). perfect balance of sport, luxury, and technology. no other car can hang with the bang for the buck and the only one in its league performance wise is the bmw 335i for an additional $10k. sorry lexus is350, if youre automatic only you are disqualified from serious sports sedan contention. otherwise is350 would also be in this top 3, although for $5k more than the infiniti.

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  Fun Car - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By steve - November 23 - 11:36 am

  I drive a lot of miles. Wanted AWD, previous car was a BMW 540iA and an SUV in the winter. It was either the Infiniti or BMW 530ix THe G35 is fun to drive, great NAV and stereo, and at least feels as fast as the 2000 540. Only have 1K miles in 2 weeks time, but I got the same or better milage with the V8 in the 540. Lacks the refinement of the German car but is $20K less than the 530ix. IMO the 530ix lacked low range torque and was a pig off the line. I am very happy to pocket the $20K and drive the G35year round.

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  luxury as its best - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Kurt B - November 22 - 10:00 am

  tried several other makes.The G35 had amazing power very fast response and comfortable interior.From former Infinity carowners the dealership service and standing behind the product was excellent.we had the car only for 100 miles so its the first impressions

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  coming up on 9 years and counting - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By clay2000nc - November 16 - 11:28 pm

  Back in July 2003 when I purchased the Red G35 Coupe MT6 my wife told me it was my 10 year car based on the price. Well here we are at 110,000 miles and it still looks and performs like the day we picked it up. Yes, having a car like this comes with a cost. Tires are certainly one of them along with the periodic window motor/regulator. But getting 23 mpg average and getting 27 mpg on the highway is not bad at all. This is the longest I ever owned a car and to date I can not see another car Id even want to buy.

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  Just Replaced a Bmw 525 - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By Muttmart - November 16 - 1:33 pm

  After driving BMWs for the past 8 years, I decided to test ride the G35x. Im glad I did. The looks are great, both inside and out. It handles great, especially around those nasty curves. Just turn the wheel and gun it. The car responds better than my 5 series. The best part is that the G is its 10 grand less expensive than the 525. I was a BMW "lifer", but the G has BMW beat, hands down.

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  A basically good car with a few problems - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By sunny_d - November 13 - 4:33 pm

  I purchased this car new in March of 2004, trading in a 2000 Infiniti G20t. I love the increased power of this car, and handling is very good. The AWD does well in Midwest winters. I have, however, had the front brakes replaced three times (only at 53,000 miles now), and the 6-disc CD changer completely died around 30,000 miles (replaced under warranty, thank goodness, as it would have cost over $650). I also REALLY wish Infiniti would offer the AWD version with the manual transmission that is available in the RWD version of this car. Performance is still good though, even with an auto transmission.

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  Infiniti is making a major statement - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By theobro - November 9 - 10:00 am

  The powertrain is better than anything I have driven in the class by a sizable margin. The exterior styling is unique and dramatic. It handles extremely capably while providing a fairly smooth ride. The interior seemed to compromise new age and classic luxury, but doesnt quite integrate the two styles successfully. The control stalks are an odd shape and the drivers seat controls and parking brake are misplaced. Seats are very comfortable and keep you firmly in place in sharp cornering. By the way, dont expect to find a G35 on the dealer lot for anywhere near the base MSRP (add at least $3000).

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  Poor reliability after two years - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By lvnvdriver - November 8 - 1:50 am

  We have had way too many service problems with our G35 to be able to give it a positive review. It has had problems with the brakes, it had an electrical system problem, and there have been other issues which have required taking it to the dealer more often than should be the case for a two year old vehicle.

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  Good-Looking Car - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By GMoney - November 5 - 6:13 am

  This car was purchased by me as the 3rd owner at about 74k and had rotors and pads replaced at the dealer, only 7k later they were shot and Im not an aggressive driver either, it just eats breaks very quickly and they are very "touchy" as well as the gas pedal. The transmission jerks into 2nd gear a lot, and definitely wouldnt recommend using the autoshifter because you will tear up your transmission very quickly, and its pricey to replace. The car has a cheap feel to all the plastic pieces of the interior. Overall it drives smooth but is ridiculously bumpy on the slightest cracks in pavement. The car is fast but awful on gas, maybe 20MPG, I get 290 miles per tank at most, use 89oct not 93oct.

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  Better than I thought! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By budoinst - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I had a large number of vehicles to choose between and they came in all categories from the Mini to the RX330 Lexus. After driving them all, comparing them carefully, researching the invoice vs. MSRP, I ended up with the one that struck me immediatley, the G35 Coupe. Amazing speed, handling, comfort, build quality, solidity, and very decent $s for what package you get. Try one, youll like it!