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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Still love my 2003 G35 Coupe - 2003 Infiniti G35
By ivorycoupe03 - February 2 - 1:16 amBack in 2002, I was in the market for a new car and had read about the Infiniti G35 sedan. Test drove the sedan and loved it, then saw the photos of the upcoming coupe. I am so glad I waited for the coupe. I purchased mine in October 2002, so it was one of the first G35 coupes sold in my state. It was amazing to drive such a head turner back then, and I love it still. Every time I see it, I recognize again how beautiful it is. I do take care where I park, etc., so it is pristine. Yes, Ive had some electrical issues (A/C - stereo control, windows), but for a 9 year old car with 86K miles, its been a good value. Love my 2003 G35 coupe!
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A Beautiful Car - 2003 Infiniti G35
By IKW - January 27 - 10:00 amI enjoy driving this car. It makes you feel young again! My wife says Im too old for this car and should drive a more conservative car (I also own a BMW 540i).
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Hugs the road - 2006 Infiniti G35
By ron mcclain - January 23 - 10:16 pmIve owned this car for 63k miles now. Its been incredibly reliable, and fun to drive. I Love everything about it, except the gas mileage, which has averaged 17.9mpg. With the manual transmission, I do drive it HARD though. But its time for some true American Muscle so Ill be selling it for a Challenger SRT8,with a manual transmission of course.
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Great Car - 2003 Infiniti G35
By TomZ - January 19 - 10:00 amGreat car. Fast!!! Might buy another one
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Fun But............. - 2006 Infiniti G35
By jqlaw - January 11 - 9:00 amI sold my E36 M3 and bought a 2006 G35 Sport Coupe. It had 22K miles on it. Its got great power, handles great and great brakes. It gets lots of looks and sounds awesome. But........ It aint no BMW. The interior is kinda cheesy, the clutch is horrible and the seat belts dont retract. Dont get me wrong, I love it but Im just not passionate about it. The reason I picked it over an E46 M3 was the reliability. Having the check engine light come on every other week on the M3 was a little frustrating. Did I mention how great it sounds? Especially with the sun roof open and the windows down.
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Great car... but? - 2007 Infiniti G35
By big mountain - January 7 - 12:50 amI had to part ways with my G35x. The car is great but the power is unbalanced for the handling and weight of the vehicle. Watch out for the MPG. Averaging 20, doing good to get 22 on the highway. The G needs a 6th or 7th gear. 3000+ RPM at 70-75 mph on the highway is poor engineering.
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A Porsche sedan - 2003 Infiniti G35
By doctoro - January 1 - 2:00 amDealer called it a 2003 1/2. Infiniti raised the price for the Leather model $700, but made Xenon headlights standard, as well as the radio coming equipped for Satelite. The rear deck was redesigned for the better. Have Premium and Sport Package. When bought new with 11 miles, the tire pressure was 41 pounds all around. I reduced the pressure to 32 pounds and the car not only rides better - more supple - it actually handles better. The Bose radio disappoints - I found a solution: adjust treble to +3 and bass to -3. Only real gripe is the gas mileage. Gets 14 mpg in normal city driving.(95% stop and go city streets, 5% highway).
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Been a month... so far so good - 2003 Infiniti G35
By gehrig97 - December 22 - 10:00 amSo far so good... Ive just passed the break-in period, but this damn rain has kept me from seeing what this car can really do. Acceleration is almost too smooth for me... I prefer to have my head snapped back as opposed to stealth speed. Cockpit controls are poorly designed--after a month, I still fumble with the stereo. And what is it with the dashboard glare? Minor quibbles, as this car is fast, fun, and uniquely stylish.
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Sportiest in this class - 2003 Infiniti G35
By bileman - December 15 - 10:00 amIve put about 5000 miles on this car. I test drove its competitors prior to my purchase, and Ive subsequently accompanied a couple of friends on a series of test drives of this & similar cars... bottom line, no other car in this class can touch the G35s performance & poise. At the same time, its competitors (possibly excepting the Cadillac CTS) all out-class it in terms of interior quality, styling & ergonomics.
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Nice Car! - 2004 Infiniti G35
By Jo baby - November 29 - 10:00 amThis is a "fun" car. Overall, it is a great little sports car. My son loves to drive it. Its sharp looking, great speed, comfortable.
