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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  G35 Driving Experince - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Pasquale - May 16 - 2:00 am

  This can be considered a true sport sedan.Probably the best value in its class.This car is a true BMW 3Series upset.World class braking, excelleration and handling.It also has great looks and style. A great package for the money.

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  Nice i love it - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By RobertMoreno - May 15 - 8:40 pm

  The standard features are hands down an easy choice when shopping between Lexus and BMW; no comparison for the price!

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  Best car in its class - 2009 Infiniti G37
  By Hermitt - May 14 - 9:30 pm

  I was in the market for a sport sedan for 6 month. I compared the A4, IS350,335XI. For my preference none of these cars compared to the G overall package. Is rough edgy but with class, great all wheel drive system. I love it.

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  great value - 2002 Infiniti I35
  By dws - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Beautifully built, Very comfortable, Quiet smooth powerful drive train, Good value when compared with Lexus ES300, and Acure TL, After driving it 12,000 miles I feel I made a good choice.

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  Extremely Pleased with G35 - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Mark - May 12 - 9:26 am

  Bought first Infiniti after driving all comparable entry level luxury sedans. Expected to purchase new Lexus ES350,IS350,BMW 3-series or Accura TL. The new G35 addressed former interior design flaws with clean, upscale, functional controls. Seats comfortable and leather and trim match any car in class. The car stands out, however, in exterior styling and performance. It is truly a head- turner and Ive actually grown tired of telling strangers what type of car it is...most believe it would cost $40- $50K. 306 hp rear-wheel drive in Journey model is responsive with a throaty sound better than competitors. Only the BMW 3 models compare in class and are not worth the extra $5-8K. Safe buy.

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  Good but not Great - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By Mike - May 11 - 11:26 pm

  Acceleration onto the freeway is top notch. Comfortable cock pit, but its a tight fit, even for a small guy like me. The paint could hold up to chips and dings better and you have to change the break pads about every 15k to 20k depending on your driving habits.

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  great value - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Johnnie B - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Car does everything I ask with no complaints. Large savings over competition with at least equal results. Arrive quickly and refreshed every time no matter the road. Would definately buy again

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  Very Nice - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By brad - May 9 - 2:50 pm

  I have been a Lexus customer in the past, but they have nothing that compares to the G35 Coupe 6 Speed Manual. If you are buying this car, pass on the automatic. The car has zero snow handling ability though. We got a very light dusting the day after i picked it up, and the low profile tires on the 19 inch rims (6M, combined with the RWD, could not get me up a VERY slight incline. It is a BLAST to drive though - very quick and great looking.

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  Best Car I ever Had - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By Alfonzo - May 8 - 2:50 pm

  This is the best car I have ever had. I love everything about it. It has never broken down or given me any type of trouble whatsoever.

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  Great Upscale a Family Hauler - 2015 Infiniti QX60
  By mkgcmc - May 6 - 3:19 pm

  My wife and I were looking for a three-row crossover to help avoid the minivan stigma, and the QX60 checked all of the boxes for us. We cross-shopped the Acura MDX heavily, but in the end, the Infiniti was more family-friendly overall, felt more upscale for the price, and had a far better dealer experience. What we purchased was a QX60 with only the Premium package. We missed out on navigation and all of the advanced safety technology, but with our normal trips being so short (less than 5 miles), we felt it was money well saved. That said, I wont be able to comment on those particular features. Pros: - Extremely quiet and smooth, particularly on highways - Great braking and steering - Clear, responsive, button-driven infotainment screen - Excellent third row that is usable by adults (at least for short trips) - Second row can move for third row access even with a child seat installed - Power tailgate has a programmable stop point (even though this isnt advertised) Cons: - Gas mileage is poor - you wont get anywhere near the stated city MPG - Headlights are weak and there are no daytime running lights - Slightly more jarring than expected on potholes given the class of vehicle - Nothing is optional - things like a panoramic sunroof and Bluetooth audio streaming require multiple levels of packages Overall, the QX60 is a classy-looking vehicle that handles trips to the grocery store and trips to the beach very well, though it really shines in the latter case. On the highway, its so smooth and quiet that you almost feel like youre floating along. I would strongly recommend looking at one in person, as it test drives better than it reads on paper. You wont find the same level of engine performance as you will in the MDX, but you also wont find the MDXs scary braking. Acceleration in the QX60 is good enough for its intended purpose; braking and steering are extremely good given the size of the vehicle, so youll at least feel safe even if you wont feel fast. The CVT handles itself pretty well and stays quiet for the most part (I much preferred it to the MDXs crazy 9-speed transmission that felt like it was constantly shifting). It attempts to simulate the shifting of a normal transmission when you accelerate hard, and actually does a pretty good job of it. The interior feels very upscale and is laid out really nicely. Everything is button-driven, and the infotainment screen is very quick and responsive when compared to the MDXs ridiculous all-touchscreen controls or Lexus mouse-driven input. There are a few spots in the cabin where some cheap plastics are used (mostly in the third row), but for the most part, everything is wrapped in leather or some other soft material, especially where your elbows and knees usually make contact. There are lots of cup holders, a great second-row climate control system, and I imagine that the panoramic sunroof makes things really nice in the back - we just werent willing to pay the extra $6,500 for two additional packages to get it. Speaking of packages, I was disappointed to find that something as simple as Bluetooth audio streaming requires a $3,000 package. Parking sensors are also noticeably missing from the list of standard features (as they are in the MDX). We can only hope that one day, luxury buyers wont need to pay extra for features that come standard on a Kia. The exterior is full of nice touches - LED lights on the driver and passenger door handles that illuminate when you approach the vehicle, mirrors that automatically tilt down when in reverse and can be power-folded via a switch, and a power tailgate that can be programmed to stop at your desired height. Unfortunately, the same level of detail wasnt extended to the headlights, which seem awfully weak for being "high-intensity" and have no LED daytime running lights (an odd exclusion for a luxury vehicle). The biggest disappointment in this vehicle is the gas mileage. Our driving isnt typical as we generally only drive to destinations that are a few miles away, but the 13 MPG we are getting seems awfully low. Mixed in with occasional highway driving, we average about 15 MPG, well short of the EPA estimate. We dont drive enough for this to have been a deal-breaker, but its something to keep in mind if you anticipate that fuel costs will be a big part of your budget. Overall, we really like our QX60 so far and feel like it is a pretty solid value in the upscale crossover segment. Time will tell on things like reliability and build quality, but it seems like Infiniti has come up with a serious competitor for the three-row luxury throne that the MDX currently occupies.