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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  The Skyline Finally Arrives - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Seth Baskin - August 15 - 10:00 am

  This car has been produced in Japan for several years. American enthusiasts have been waiting for its arrival on American shores. Rechristened the G35, we now have the Skyline in America. To capsulize, it is fast, handles well, and is a steal for the money.

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  Best deal going right now - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By John - August 2 - 5:16 am

  After extensive research (including some on edmunds.com) I bought an 05 Garnet Fire G35 with the Premium package (keyless start, reclining rear seats, etc). I really like this car. Gets 20-24 MPG consistently (60/40 HWY/TWN). Very smooth riding with the exception of going over bumps on a turn (on ramp, etc) the cars seems to jiggle slightly. I may be somewhat sensitive though since I traded in an 04 GTO that was very stable on the road. Smooth V6 that accelerates hard above 3500 RPM and has plenty of torque above 3000 RPM. Look around and get one that is loaded out. The cost is about the same as a base one in the used market and the features are worth a little leg work.

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  Follow Up - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Follow Up - July 29 - 8:13 pm

  Ive now logged about 2500 miles on my 07 G35. Couple of things to note. Theres a strange rattling wind noise that is coming from the rear passenger side when driving >60 mph. Anyone else hear it while the radio is off? The technicians said it was the weather stripping but they have not been able to fix it as of yet. Theres a low pitched whistling sound coming from the front passenger side driving at >90 mph. BTW for you owners, I use an SD Card Adapter for the Compact Flash port. You can get one on E-Bay. Its practically the only way I listen to music in the car now.

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  infinity g35 - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By bobbyburnsjr - July 23 - 10:00 am

  The g35 has been a fun car to drive, lots of power, and the handleing is incredible.

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  Great Purchase - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Daniel R. - July 22 - 6:10 pm

  Since Ive only owned this vehicle 10 months and I have only drove it about 5400 miles, its tough to show you my experience. I enjoy the raw power of this vehicle with its 6-speed manual transmission! Love it!! The sound system is great, but would like to have had support for DVD-hudio. You cant use protected media in the player, so I was bummed about the "cheap route" with the player that they used.

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  My New G35x - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Buttafly - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I mostly like the way the car handles and the acceleration. I am not impressed, however, with the heated seats. They barely get lukewarm. So basically in the wintertime when its really cold out, you probably dont even feel the warmth from the seats. I traded in a BMW X5 for this car and definitely feel that Infinity can and should make some improvements so that it can comparably contend with its German counterparts. A safety feature this vehicle lacks: the steering wheel controls are not illuminated. In darkness you cant see them which could prove dangerous. Also, when there is sun glare, the compass,outside temperature guage and other console guages can not be seen!

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  slightly flawed - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By fatcat - July 9 - 2:00 am

  overall great car. bose stereo not up to standards. long term seat comfort seriously compromised due to control location. fix the radio & seats and the car is one of the best. catches attention everywhere i go.

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  Julies G - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By Julie Garrett - June 25 - 4:36 am

  This car is fun to drive and I love it, although without any doubt, vision while in reverse is severely impacted. I also feel that the transmission shifts a bit roughly given the category and have been told by three passengers that the front seats were narrow and uncomfortable, especially on travels lasting over 60 minutes.

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  I LOVE MY CAR - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By slg111 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  This is a car that is a lot of fun to drive. It also gets you noticed. People love to look at this car. I have a couple quibbles with the interior -- window too high, cupholder set too far back, and metal on stickshift heats up during the day making it hard to put your hand on it after work -- burns. But these are very minor design flaws that in no way diminish the absolute power and finesse this car has. Love it!

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  2004 Infiniti G35 Sedan w/ Navigation - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By ss707 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  I had my Infiniti G35 sedan for about a month and a half. My car has only 1400 miles so far. G35 is a serious performance car. Now I wish I had purchased the car with stick. Acceleration is fast although it could use more low end torque. Navigation system is annoying to put in information at first, but once you put in address, it gives you a pretty good direction. I wish Infiniti had touch screen system like Acura. The back seat is surprisingly roomy. No rear folding back seat though:(