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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  safe/fun/fast car - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By Brian - January 28 - 2:30 pm

  Bought used. Looked at everything. Kept coming back to the G35. Very quick and comfortable. A deer landed on the front end of the car going 60-65 mph with my wife and 2 young daughters in the car. Car sustained $8,000 of damage and we were all safe. The car was solid on impact. I hope it comes back as good as it was before the accident.

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  2 year old and 45,000 miles - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Mark Turner - January 28 - 10:00 am

  Overall a good car for the money. The navigation works well but the sound quality from the Bose is average. The drivers seat shows signs of excessive wear. The car chews up brakes. Working on the second set of pads and rotors $850 from dealer. Infinity has offered free replacment but only up to 36,000 miles. Dealer cannot find a squeek in the dash.

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  2004 infi. G35 - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By wonderlong2003 - January 28 - 10:00 am

  the best car ive ever had. the car responses as quick as your thinking. passing, merging, turning fast at the corner is no problem. almost perfect car for the $35,000 range. one of the shortest stop distance from 60-0mph.

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  NIce - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Rome - January 25 - 7:43 am

  Very nice car to drive and sit in driveway. Everyone talks about the look and the power

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  Lot of Hype, No Quality - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By mikeymike - January 23 - 10:00 am

  Car has no quality, driver seat squeaks, brakes squeak, sound system rattles and is pretty awful sounding. Has a fast engine but thats about it, the overall quality from the xenons to interior is disappointing, I will never be getting another infiniti again.

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  Great car. - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Cris - January 23 - 10:00 am

  Amazing amount of horsepower. Wonderful handling because of the weight balancing; handles standing water better than my 4 wheel drive. Car can handle tall people up to 6ft 5in; very unusual for a sports car. Back seat obviously small but useful, particularly the pull down feature that extends the trunk for longer items. You wont find a better performing car within $10K.

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  Best car yet! - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By insulatorz - January 19 - 2:00 am

  By far the best car weve ever purchased. This is one car that covers all bases. Excellent!

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  The Birth of a Great One - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Fatz - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Solid, from the contact points withthe road to the sunroof to the engine responsiveness to the styling. This car has all the makings of a beginning legend. The handling and the available power through redline is simply exhilarating.

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  Second Time is even better - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Joel Adler - January 18 - 9:20 am

  This is my second G35X. I loved the first (2004). This car has been even better. I am actually getting better mileage as well. The original Goodyear tires were poor, but a step up from the previous cars horrible original tires. I replaced them with Hankook tires after 29000 miles. No complaints there. I am still on my original brake pads after 41000 miles. I cant believe it, but I have them checked, and they are fine. It might be due to my use of the autostick . This car is a lease, but I will likely purchase it at the end of the lease. I drove the 2009 with the 7 speed auto and 328 horsepower. There was no real difference. The Bose premium "studio on wheels" sounds great.

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  great car, great buy - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By jamG356MT - January 14 - 2:00 am

  i just bought my G35 6MT, and this car is by far the better deal than a BMW. now the german cars might be a little bit better on the interior, but by no means this car is not a comfy and fun car to drive. i have not even got the rpms above 5000 and it redlines at 6500 rpms. i also got the sport package, which is killer, and it does drive on the rough side just a bit, but thats what you expect when driving a great handling car. this car is exactly what i wanted and more. the BMW 325 or 330 cant compare with the price or roominess of this car, and even though i love BMWs design and style, this car is surpassing the BMW by the day.