Overview & Reviews

Infiniti is an upscale automaker from Japan. Though most of its products are related to those sold by parent company Nissan, Infiniti looks to achieve a premium status by infusing its cars and SUVs with spirited performance and additional luxury content.

The brand was launched for the 1990 model year. Its purpose back then, as it is now, was to create premium vehicles for America that wouldn't have otherwise fit in with Nissan's more mainstream image. This was the same tactic Honda used for the creation of Acura, and Toyota for Lexus. In its first full year, Infiniti started out with two vehicles, the Q45 sedan and the M30 coupe and convertible. The compact, entry-level G20 was introduced soon after.

As the 1990s moved along, Infiniti slowly added more vehicles to its lineup. The Q45 luxury sport sedan found its market. The car's 278-horsepower V8 was class-leading in its day. On top of that, the Q45 offered cutting-edge technology such as an active suspension system. By the late '90s Infiniti had rolled out the QX4, an SUV based on the Pathfinder. The sport-ute's truck platform gave it a leg up in off-road performance relative to competing car-based SUVs.

Although Infiniti's sales grew steadily, the marque still fell short of both Lexus and Acura in terms of popularity. The early 2000s saw Infiniti making a determined effort to sharpen its focus and upgrade its products. But it was the introduction of the entry-level, midsize G35 in 2003 that finally gave Infiniti the boost and identity direction it sorely needed. Based on the same platform underpinning the Nissan 350Z, the G35 coupe and sedan met with immediate sales success. The FX35/FX45 soon followed -- a crossover SUV that provided spirited acceleration and sports-car handling with the utility of a wagon.

Today, Infiniti's lineup has expanded to include the G (now a sedan, coupe and convertible) and FX as well as the midsize M sedan, the EX small crossover SUV, the JX midsize crossover SUV and the QX large SUV. Infiniti has also introduced the M Hybrid sedan, its first hybrid vehicle. No matter the model, shoppers will find Infiniti's latest vehicles to be focused on luxury, sport, quality and value.

User Reviews:

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  Paint issues - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By Dale Bilthouse - October 1 - 8:06 pm

  As soon as I started driving this car I noticed chip marks on the front end. As I continued to drive there were more chip marks. The car is red with a white primer so the chips are very noticeable. I contacted the dealer who stated that because the nose of the car is very low to the ground it will pick up lots of road debris. I have owned many cars previous to this one and have never experienced this much damage is such a short period of time. With less than 10K on the car there are over 26 chips on the front end-some very noticeable. Its almost like the paint flecks off.

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  Too many problems - 2005 Infiniti QX56
  By carl j - September 30 - 12:10 pm

  This could be a great car, but when you pay $55k for a luxury auto and then have the rattles, shakes, and bad brakes it doesnt matter how nice everything else is. I thought it would be worked out for 2005. Now I am suffering along with the 2004 owners. I wish I had never purchased this vehicle. It has taken a lot of time and energy to get Infiniti to make the fixes on this thing and it is still not better. I would rather be driving a common Tahoe or Sequoia. I may look good on the outside but I am too embarrassed to have friends, coworkers, clients etc ride in it. If you really want one, I advise to wait a few years and then reevaluate very conservatively or buy a 2004 for cheap.

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  used i35 - 2002 Infiniti I35
  By russ29 - September 25 - 4:43 pm

  I purchased this 2002 I35 when it was five yrs old with only 32000 miles on it. I have owned three other nissans always thought they were great cars but not his one. After two years the exhaust system broke, heater motor sounds like the bearings are bad, check engine lite was on until I tapped on the sensor and the Bose sound system blows. Cant wait to sell it.

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  M45 OK in Richmond - 2004 Infiniti M45
  By Duane - September 20 - 10:16 pm

  Moved from an I35 to M45! Car has alot of horses! Could be a little better from the start but awesome excelleration after 55 miles an hour. Happy with the handling but could have leg room in back seat and why cant they have cruise and radio controls light up @ nite? Also they should have doors lock and unlock when moved from park. For the price they should have more standard features!

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  Unreliable car, multiple problems - 2004 Infiniti QX56
  By H.H. - September 17 - 3:10 pm

  This car has been very disappointing! Innumerable services required for multiple flaws (the major one being faulty design flaw for brakes requiring service every 3 months), as well as repairs for the rear hatch, sunroof, navigation system, back-up camera, and rattling DVD console. Have had car 12 months and in for service 13 times. Multiple complaints with this car are common (esp. re: brakes), so beware! Like the size it affords for a family, but it has been an incredible inconvenience. Research the internet on the problems with this vehicle and consider waiting to purchase until the manufacturer has worked out the kinks! Also beware our average is 12 MPG!

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  good value but needs serious improvement - 2002 Infiniti I35
  By rodiva - September 17 - 10:00 am

  Powerful engine but ok steering and handling. The center console is cheap material and poor design. speakers are misplaced and out of balance. bad quality midrange sound. The rear sunshade is good, but supporting bars look werid when stretched. the bars need to be shortened in length so it will be a straight line when stretched. this car elsewhere has better features: massager on every seat, reclining rear bench seat (like the G35), speed projection onto front winshield at night (like Nissan 240sx), Auto tilt down right side mirror when in reverse (like the old Q). same price

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  A compromised sport sedan - 2014 Infiniti Q50
  By ocd168 - September 6 - 1:25 am

  After leasing the car for about 6 months, 5k miles, heres my assessment. Accelerating from standstill is great, the electric motor really provides a smooth takeoff combined with the gas engine for the power. In "sport" mode it is fast (0-60 in 4.9s). However, taking turns or windy road is a different matter, I never feel the car is planted like the 3-series, car feels unstable at times. Sometimes the auto brake, lane departure tech get in the way of driving, I usually turn it off on local streets. The lane departure prevention is of little use because when the lane curves too much it wont correct for you. The touch-screen computer is extremely SLOW, needs a faster processor.

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  what a disappointment - 2013 Infiniti JX
  By gwlig - July 30 - 10:26 am

  Been fighting blown fuses since delivery. Five times to dealer still blows. The dash trim is now fading, wood look now has a creamy line through it and a part of the center console. Live 200 miles from dealer. Wants me to make to trips to diagnose the dash problem then come back and replace plastic. Customer Relations will "mentor the dealer to improve his response to customer problems" This non event is turning out to be a nightmare. In addition, delaing with the Affairs office is like dealing with terrible attitudes. All this at 6900 miles

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  Spend a little more on a 3-series - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By outofca - July 26 - 11:36 pm

  Since I bought this car as a commute car only (also have an 03 M3) I decided to save a little money and get the G35 over a 330i. What a big mistake. The interior is a joke and the car rattles like an old Chevy. The handling is good but cant approach that of the 330i. I guess its a good car for the money but consider spending a little more and you get a far superior car in the 330i. I would not recommend the G35 to anyone.

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  stay away from the qx 56 - 2005 Infiniti QX56
  By steve - July 14 - 5:33 am

  we purchased this un tested piece of junk in july 2004, the dealership was very accomodating, but the car has been in the shop 4 times for the back up sensor , twice the front brakes had to be changed within 10,000 miles, the front end bottoms out on the wheel wells, "twice to repair that" the car has been in the shop on 10 different occasions, for a total of 31 days, infinity doesnt want to know any thing " the clowns in california not the dealer" stick to american send this scrap metal back to japan where it belongs