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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This is better than a 350Z - 2003 Infiniti G35
By Greg40MD - September 14 - 10:00 amMost people do not realize that the same engine of the 350Z is in the G35 coupe. It has a richer and leather interior, a 2 x 2 flip donw back seat like the 300ZX used to have, SAT radio, nad even sounds better. Wake up America, this is better than a Z350.
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awsome coupe - 2003 Infiniti G35
By shark35 - September 14 - 10:00 amAwesome to drive! Cant have more fun with a 6-speed coupe.
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Hands down the best car for your money - 2005 Infiniti G35
By New England Owner - September 13 - 5:16 pmHands down the best car you can get for your money. In the dry weather the car can easily chase down, and carve a canyon road with a mustang GT or nissan 350z. But, its just as comfortable tracking through a blizzard with the likes of an acura mdx or honda pilot. The bmw 330xi, the audi a4 quattro, and the mercedes c320 4matic can simply not compete with this car. The awd system and engine are simply awesome, and to add injury to its competition, it comes with a very fashionable list of standard accessories (xenon lights, rear led lights, 17" wheels, heated leather seats, 6cd mp3 player, etc...) The only draw back is its mileage. It averages about 19-20mpg on the highway.
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What a car! - 2008 Infiniti G35
By Maniac - September 13 - 10:33 amI have owned quite a few sedans over the years and this one is my favorite by far. I just traded in my Dodge Charger R/T for this 2008 G35X (w/ Premium & Nav), and I have to say this sedan absolutley kills my dodge in every way (including performance). Being a computer consultant, I love all of the technology packed into the car. Voice commands actually work like you expect them to, the backup camera is awesome, iPod integration rocks. I could go on and on. Performance is great for a sedan like this. Faster than my hemi dodge for sure. The AWD is amazing and seamless. I feel like Im driving a RWD with LOADS of grip. Much safer for my wife to drive in the wet and snow!
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A Very good car - 2005 Infiniti G35
By Infiniti - September 9 - 5:30 pmHandling: Better then BMW or Subaru Ride: Better then Nissan or Mercury Looks: Better then Mercury Sable, Mercury GrandMarquis, or Volvo S80, or Mercdes Benz. Pickup: Better then Linclon Towncar v8 or Mercury GrandMarquis v8, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds. Features: The Best Cd Player: Updated bose, the best.
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My Pearl - 2003 Infiniti G35
By bullock - September 8 - 10:00 amI love the car. Enough said. All my co-workers think it is a 45000 dollar car and it is powerful enough to play around with my 2 bosses Porsche and Jaguar XK8. Dont get me wrong, it will not out perform either one, but of course I didnt spend any 60000 to 90000 either.
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Dream Car - 2003 Infiniti G35
By Bill Medley - September 3 - 9:36 amI bought this car after reading all the hype from the magazines. It has lived up to all they said. A dream to drive, little or no maintenance problems, a real pleasure to look at and decent milage (21-23 mpg highway when driving constant speed limit) for the power it has. It has been one of the best high performance cars I have ever owned, and I have had a few. I believe this car will be a classic.
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I found my under 50-Grand dream car - 2004 Infiniti G35
By neffster-01 - September 2 - 2:00 amThis sports coupe is insane! Handles wonderfully, turns on a dime, corners remarkable, stops abruptly, accelerates as fast as anyone would ever "need" and gets stares from onlookers everywhere.
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1st Infinity - 2004 Infiniti G35
By Ct Husker - September 2 - 2:00 amThis car is a BMW & Audi killer! Its about the same size but much less expensive. It has power to spare! Pulls hard from zero to 100. It doesnt have the precise handling of German cars but its still excellent. The AWD feature works superb. Had a snow and ice storm last week and the car was fantastic! Even better than my 4Runner. Interior is good but should be upgraded. Controls are nicely mounted and easy to use. Love the radio and CD control on the steering wheel. Had an A4 AWD and the G35x is a lot more car for the money. You will never know youre driving an AWD car unless the weather is bad. Will it hold up? Ill let you know in about 25,000 miles.
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saved my life - 2005 Infiniti G35
By no one - September 1 - 4:06 pmApart from good performance and its great looks, this vehicle has excellent brakes. I recenlty witnessed a major crash, all five cars in front of me from three lanes were flying everywhere, I could have very well been involved in that mess, but the brakes stopped the car so quick. Everyone was going at least 65 m/h. My previous car would have never made it. This car is worth it.
