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:

• 

  North Houston Infiniti Lemon - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By SoSad - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Purchased G35 8 months ago, has approx. 8500 miles and major electrical problems. Has been at dealership for a total of 21 days, I have taken it in 3 times and was told it was fixed!! NOT North Houston Infiniti has offered me no relief!!!! Only grief! Have applied with state for Lemon relief. I know these are good cars, I just happened to get a bad one. Dont Buy at North Houston Infiniti they do not care after you have signed on the dotted line

• 

  Drives well but interior quality is bad - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By waynecow - May 24 - 10:56 pm

  I spent a lot of time comparing and researching cars before buying the G35 Sedan last year, and I am very dissapointed with my choice. Dont get me wrong the main reason for buying this car was drivability - and this car drives very well. However I paid $35000 (paying more to get the excellent Bose stereo), and I am amazed that the interior materials are so cheap and the build quality so poor that even with Bass at zero every song is accompanied by annoying rattles from the door panel in my left ear. I have taken the car in several times, but they dont seem to be able to fix the problem. My last car was a VW GTi which was a lot less expensive but the interior had a superior fit and finish.

• 

  Customer Service - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By SedanLover - February 18 - 2:00 am

  The brakes are terrible and wear prematurely most G35s. This is a safety hazard. Infiniti blames this on the driver, not bad design or parts. They do nothing after the sale to help the consumer. Certainly not up-to-par with the BMWs, Mercedes or Jaguars. Dealer service is horrific. Cheap plastic interior parts and chipping external paint liken this car to a Kia.

• 

  I got a lemon - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Sam - October 10 - 6:20 pm

  Ive only had this vehicle for 7 months and it has been in the shop over 20 days and counting. The oil consumption on this engine is comparable to that of a 2-stroke engine - one part oil to 20 of gas. The vehicle has gone through several oil consumption test, the valve covers have been replaced twice, the exhaust pipes are covered in black desposit and inifiniti wont acknowledge it as a lemon. This is not the kind of treatment that one would expect from a "luxury" dealership. Do your homework and research this car very carefully, if you do a quick web search you will find out Im not this only one with this kind of problem.

• 

  Rattles and squeaks - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By me dog - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Have had car for 18 mths now and have had to take the car in for service to address rattles and squeaks 5X now. Everytime I get on rattle fixed, another pops up a few weeks later. Overall build quality is poor and has soured me on the Infiniti name plate

• 

  Not Best in Class - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Driver427 - July 6 - 10:00 am

  I test drove all the cars in this class extensively, and the G35 is not the leader in my opinion. Yes its fast, but the handling isnt the greatest and it was not very fun to drive. The BMW 330 is the best overall car.

• 

  I Expected More - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Patrick Lucas - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Great looking car. Average interior materials. Poor initial quality. 7 repeat visits to repair a dangerous pull to the right. (Was told it was in spec) AC faulty but factory had a repair for it. Gas tank will not fill up. Factory does not have a repair for it.

• 

  Dont buy a used G35 - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Calvin - December 12 - 8:56 am

  I like the G35 overall but this car is not your usual reliable Japanese sedan. It has weird reliability issues: eg. the suspension lower arm link broken @ 35000miles, the brake squeak @ 38000miles, the dashboard light went out @ 44000miles...all those little things that drive you nuts because you would expect better from Infiniti. I wish I wouldve gotten an Acura instead (owned 3 of them in the past and had no problem whatsoever at least till 100,000 miles!).

• 

  Unimpressed - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By jcc2007 - December 5 - 11:23 pm

  My G35 RWD has auto tranny, premium pkg, but not the sport pkg. The car has been quite reliable. I like the supple ride, Bose stereo and Bluetooth feature. The keyless feature is a gimmick. If you drive it like a luxury car, it performs pretty well. However, if you want to drive it like the sports sedan as it claims to be, you may be disappointed like I am. The engine is loud and severely lacks low end torque, and the auto tranny is slow and jerky (among the worst Ive experienced). Combined with slow (yet heavy) steering, soft suspension and crappy tires, the car is very unsatisfying to drive. On top of that, the gas mileage has been consistently worse than that of our mid-size SUV.

• 

  Lots of room to improve - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By MissMyIntrepid - October 20 - 4:20 pm

  Infiniti falls short in so many areas. The controls are a foot away from the display for what youre changing (A/C, stereo), the A/C controls are non-intuitive. Bumper paint doesnt match. Dash lights dont match. Body and trim panels vary in fit. Front sport seats are too tight for an average (180 lb) adult. Bad clutch - in for recall today. Cheap floor mats are almost worn out! 14 bolts/plastic cover to replace oil filter and change oil. Front chrome grill easy to chip. Moon roof trim falls out. Redundant service disply in console and in dash. Cheap analog clock should be digital for quick read. Leather not as soft as previous year. Little storage in cabin. Stereo FM separation very poor.