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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  Hot car for the short run ONLY - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By SkipA - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Great fun to drive car, very fast, pretty darn good milage for this much performance. BUT = Seats are made for 150# or less small people. The low height of the roof line is anoying. I hit my head often & I am only 58".. In order to not hit the roof, you will almost be sitting on your back side. the ride is still a little abrupt. Great car to mess around with, not A AUTO FOR A LONG TRIP

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  G35 Review - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Sandor Nagyivan - September 11 - 10:00 am

  The car rides smoothly. It has great pickup and is very fun to drive.

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  Style and Performance for the family man - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Jhawk - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This coupe has the performance of the Z car with four seats to take the rest of the crew with you. Plus, you get Infiniti dealer service. The exterior is perfect, but it is the sweet song of the engine that will plaster a grin on your face and push you back into the seat.

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  BEWARE OF BRAKE WEAR - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By BEWARE - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car about 10 months. Great car overall no mechanical problems. Took car in for 15K service. Given estimate for $200. Left with $870 bill. The front brake rotors had to be replaced and the front and rear pads needed to be replaced. I found out that on virtually ALL the G35s the rotors needed to be replaced at around the 15K service. Infiniti is aware of this problem of "soft rotors" but so far has not considered this a warrantee issue. My dealer gave me a 10% discount to bring the bill to less than $900 - lucky me. IF Infiniti does not take care of this problem I will try to get rid of the car. Too bad since I like it. BEWARE

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  Best Bang for Buck!!! - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By Ben in LA - August 29 - 7:36 pm

  More comfy than Lexus IS and more sporty than ES 350. Audi, BMW & MB cant compare in terms of value/performance.

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  Great alternative to bmw - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By heres10 - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I love this car very fun to drive unique styling and a great alternative to bmws. BMWs are nice cars too but for the price you cant beat it!

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  World Class Sports Car - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Mikel96413 - August 26 - 7:10 am

  The G35 coupe is the best all around sports car for the money on the market today. Performance, comfort, safety and styling are second to none. Not to mention the fun factor. The tuned sports pkg with 19" high performance tire is a must option. Two adults can ride in the back seat comfortably as well. Test drive it before you buy your next sports car

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  Not as fun as expected - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By No - August 23 - 8:30 pm

  I bought this car because it was fast, agile and sleek. The exterior has aggressive styling that recieves many compliments, the interior is not very functional and hard to find a place to get comfortable. This car has so much plastic in it I am afraid it may melt if I leave it out too long. Even though I know the car is well built, I dont feel a sense of quality to it. The car has a rather potent engine but it does not grip the road well enough for having AWD.

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  Soooo much value - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By HB VB 24 - August 23 - 11:33 am

  For those that like to drive, this sedan is almost impossible to beat. As fast & roomy as a 545i, for literally half the price. Spent the last 7 years wishing my otherwise perfect Maxima was RWD, and now Ive got it! Many minor improvements in 05 made this car worth the wait. Basically a 4 door 350Z, with a better interior, to boot. Just a great combination of features to bring the true "four door sports car" back to Nissan/Infiniti

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  Incredible Value in Sport and Performanc - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By rubencr - August 22 - 11:36 am

  I have an early model 2003 Coupe w/6MT, loaded w/o nav. I have enjoyed the car immensely, but it isnt without its issues. Fortunately, the overall character and quality of the car are well beyond what should be expected for the price. My previous car was an MB that probably developed expectations for refinement in the "little things" that the G35C did not achieve, at least not in this first year of production. It is great fun to drive, forgiving handling character, very nicely styled (and gets attention), and no major mechanical problems. Dont expect a sense of massive horsepower - the G35C is created in the character of the original 240Z.