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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  Love our G35 - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Tony - November 28 - 4:36 pm

  We bought our G35 brand new and now have 106,000 miles on it. We have basically changed the oil every 3000 miles, performed regular maintenance, and had the brakes worked on every year. That was the only disappointment. The steering is starting to make some noise now -- will have it checked out, but the car has been trouble free. Thinking about buying another one!

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  A basically good car with a few problems - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By sunny_d - November 13 - 4:33 pm

  I purchased this car new in March of 2004, trading in a 2000 Infiniti G20t. I love the increased power of this car, and handling is very good. The AWD does well in Midwest winters. I have, however, had the front brakes replaced three times (only at 53,000 miles now), and the 6-disc CD changer completely died around 30,000 miles (replaced under warranty, thank goodness, as it would have cost over $650). I also REALLY wish Infiniti would offer the AWD version with the manual transmission that is available in the RWD version of this car. Performance is still good though, even with an auto transmission.

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  Good-Looking Car - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By GMoney - November 5 - 6:13 am

  This car was purchased by me as the 3rd owner at about 74k and had rotors and pads replaced at the dealer, only 7k later they were shot and Im not an aggressive driver either, it just eats breaks very quickly and they are very "touchy" as well as the gas pedal. The transmission jerks into 2nd gear a lot, and definitely wouldnt recommend using the autoshifter because you will tear up your transmission very quickly, and its pricey to replace. The car has a cheap feel to all the plastic pieces of the interior. Overall it drives smooth but is ridiculously bumpy on the slightest cracks in pavement. The car is fast but awful on gas, maybe 20MPG, I get 290 miles per tank at most, use 89oct not 93oct.

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  Fast, fun, reliable - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Kong - October 11 - 4:10 pm

  I bought my 2004 RWD 6-speed manual G35 sedan in 2006. Almost 3 years and 30K miles later, its still a really fun car to drive. Quick enough to handle most traffic situations. Luxurious enough and very comfortable; love the feel of the steering wheel. No major problems--took it to dealer under warranty for minor annoyances. Clutch is a little heavy; dealer always suggests replacing the clutch, but if it doesnt slip, its fine--75K miles so far on original clutch. Put on winter tires and it will handle winter with ease.

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  Practical and a Blast to Drive - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Morrie - September 28 - 9:06 am

  This is truly a drivers car, but with enough practicality to function as a family car. Amazing performance, with the overall feel of a much more expensive car. Its a huge step up from a Maxima or I35, which are in the same price range. Unless you really must have front wheel drive, the G35 should be considered. Also considered the Cadilac CTS. A nice car, but there is less interior space, a higher price and the build quality is lower.

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  Sweet ride.... with a lot of power - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By achung123 - September 19 - 10:30 am

  Just got a used 2003 Infiniti G35 sedan with GPS. The first thing I noticed is the strong brakes! They are much better than in the C-class. The second thing is the power. It is strong at ANY speed. The GPS is very nice; but it could be better (I think the respond time is on the slow side). The Bird-view is cool to look at, but it is essentially useless when you really need to look for something. The Bose sound system is nice, but not outstanding, and its layout is confusing. IMO, overall G35 is a the best valued car out there, and the second one is the TSX (in terms of what you get with your $).

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  BMW killer - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Juan Pablo - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for 3 months now, and Im loving it. I test drove it back-to-back with the BMW 3-series, and this car blew away the Bimmer, both in terms of power and handling. And at the price-point, its a bargain. I get more comments about this car from strangers than I do from my Porsche.

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  My G35 - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By karonz - September 11 - 9:40 pm

  Love the car! Its fun to drive, has great pick-up and is very nimble. Corners great without any yaw. The only thing I would prefer is that it were a little less stiff ride ... but I had performance in mind when I purchased it, guess you make concessions for fun!

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  Fast and fun - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By MikeB - September 3 - 5:20 am

  Bought my base 2005 G35 sedan in March 2009 with 38K miles on it. Unreal power, good brakes, stiff chassis for instant steering response, and decent cornering. The price for this is a stiff, but well-controlled ride. Fuel mileage is 19-21 around town, 24-26 highway. I actually like the 2005-2006 interior, instruments & controls better than the 2007-up G35. A minor annoyance is a very "creaky" center console, which is worse on cold days. Had the engine die on me 3 times with an error code displayed, although it would restart in a minute or less. The dealer ended up replacing a cam position sensor for free, even though the 4-yr warranty had expired.

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  If you have $8K to spend on a sporty sedan in 2016 - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Infinitimama - September 3 - 1:32 am

  You cant go wrong with this car. My old car died unexpectedly, so I was in a bind to get something that looked good, was inexpensive but sporty and had four doors. I found this clean six-speed manual G35 on a used car website, the price was only $8700. It had 85K miles on it, was in great shape inside and out, had 18 inch wheels, dark tint, black on black with leather interior and the Bose radio. I only drive manual transmission cars, so I jumped on it, and Ive had it two weeks now. Its not perfect, but I seriously love this car. The GREAT things about it are: Its quick. Acceleration is top notch! Shifting is short and smooth, passing is easy, and the engine has a low roar that will get you in a good mood. It feels solid on the road. Handling is great. The styling doesnt scream "Im 11 years old!" at all. It still looks really good. When I tell people its a 2005, they are surprised. Other good things to note - the inside is roomy for a sports sedan, even in the back seat. Power outlets, three cubbies for storage, in-dash 6 disc CD changer, and an armrest that comes down with cupholders for the rear passengers. I like the location of the clock and the features like cruise control, seat memory, and the dash are easy to use and locate. As far as getting a sporty sedan with the most bang for your buck, a used G35 is the way to go. Now - the bad stuff is the same as other reviewers. The inside is a bit noisy - little clicks, clanks and creaks as you are driving. They are slight but you will notice them after a while and wish they would go away. I also dont know why the Bose audio is supposed to be spectacular because its nothing special. Not much bass unless you really crank it. Im already thinking about upgrading the head unit and speakers, because I had better factory audio in my old Mustang. The inside materials and design are also basic and nothing special. Also the turning radius seems a bit wide. Overall though, unless you are really nitpicky about the negatives, I would recommend this car in a heartbeat.