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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  service and reliability problems - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By service sucks - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned the car for six months, here is list of problems Ive had: CDs stuck in CD changer, had to replace the whole unit two recalls whistling sounds from the engine squicking breaks servcie... its awful. I went to two service centers: one in Brooklyn, another one in Long Island, Able Infniti. Its a headache. In first case they wouldnt give me a loaner, just beacuse I didnt buy a car from them, in another case they called me 15 minutes before they closed to tell me that my car is ready, and when I got there there was nobody there, but they charge me extra for keeping a loaner for another day

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  Beautiful, fast, reliable but... - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Former professional driver - April 20 - 1:21 am

  Bought this coupe used with only 24,000 miles on it. Loved the exterior styling and the handling (still do). Its been very reliable except the drivers side power window, but I only put about 7500 miles a year on the car. The owners manual recommends premium gas but it will drive OK on regular. Bose sound system is fine. I dont have nav. Climate control works great. Front seats are OK, but my wife complains about them and about getting out of the low seat. Not much knee room in back. Interior materials were never luxurious but still look nice. Trunk is a little small but the back seat folds down for extra cargo space. The car sits low, which looks good and maybe aids handling and aerodynamics, but can be a problem with parking blocks, large potholes and other roadway hazards where underside clearance could be an issue. Pros: Outstanding handling and plenty of power. Very stable and fun to drive on the highway, if it is not icy or snowy. Drives well in town too, if not icy or snowy. Exhaust has nice but not intrusive tone. Solid, gorgeous, sporty car. Cons: Road noise is high at all speeds above 20 mph. New, quiet-tread tires help some, but still noisy by modern standards; gas mileage not great even using premium, would be better if the automatic had another gear or two; terrible traction in snow with just all-season tires; have replaced drivers side window motor twice. But for the road noise and the lack of traction in snow, I would drive this car anywhere the roads are paved and good, across the country or across town.

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  Love, Love, Love my 2011 QX56 - 2011 Infiniti QX56
  By TonyG5003 - April 18 - 7:37 pm

  I traded in a 2010. If youre a current QX owner... youve got to experience in the new QX in person - I think Infiniti has hit a home run. The new QX drives MUCH more like a car than a big SUV. It has VERY surprising pick-up and power, and the braking is superb. The visibility from the driving position is excellent - I truly feel like I have full command of the road, as opposed to simply being an occupant. As for wind-noise... Ive driven several times well over 70MPH, and unless its very gusty outside, or theres a strong headwind, there is little, if any wind-noise to speak of in the new QX. Its very, very quiet.

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  Who said you cant eat the cake? - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By JRealtor - April 17 - 12:23 am

  What an experience this car has been! The AWD performed flawlessly in a recent severe rain storm and the handling is leaps and bounds better than anything I have test driven. WAY better than the Acura TL although fit and finish on the TL & ES330 were better. The car is a lot of fun to drive but Ive heard one creak and one rattle so far (only 800 miles in) which is cause for a little concern but Im usually listening to music so its no big deal. Its faster than anything else out there on the road so if you need passing power, this has it! The ride is "harsh" if you compare it to a Lexus or Acura because its a lot sportier and faster than those cars. Its not perfect but damn close.

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  Joes G35 Coupe - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Joe - April 14 - 10:43 pm

  Overall, this car is a great ride for the money. I looked long and hard to find this quality, power and finess for under 40K and when it came time to decide, it was the easist decision Ive ever made. A quick note though, if you buy one, be prepared for a bumpy ride. The suspension is very tight - you will feel every bump on the road - the question is will you care?

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  Great leg room, but.... - 2005 Infiniti QX56
  By Jason P - April 14 - 1:46 pm

  We have owned the QX56 for about three weeks. It offers lots of leg room for passengers. I wish the front passenger seat was offered with 10 way adjustments and was a tad bit more comfortable. The storage behind the third row is VERY disappointing. We were forced to place our luggage in the third row, next to our son, on our first long trip. Infiniti should consider splitting the third row bench seat to accomodate luggage and at least one third row passenger. All-in- all, my wife and I prefer the QX56 over all of the other SUV models we tested. If you are looking for 8 passenger room, you should strongly consider this model; however, beware of the limited storage space!!!

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  Unbelievable! - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Dave - April 11 - 7:40 pm

  That says it all. I have owned this car a week.This car turns heads, more than my BMW528i, then snaps their necks as they watch it disappear. Unbelievably fast, it will challenge you to keep up with it. I bought mine loaded with Tech, Nav and Premium with Rosewood Trim. Love the stereo, Nav, Voice Rec. This car is a true pleasure to drive. I am always looking for excuses to go for a drive. Test drove the Acura TL- S, the BMW330i. The Infinity hands down outperforms them and doesnt look like everyone else on the road.

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  The Only One - 2003 Infiniti M45
  By cosmicm - April 11 - 10:00 am

  If you want quality, luxury, performance -- without owning the same car as every other joe on the highway - - this is a simple choice. Infiniti of Cincinnati is offering them for as little as $399 on a 39 month lease -- and nothing out there can touch that. Almost everyone that sees my car loves it (Graphite on Graphite with chromes). Most people think it is a Mercedes or Bentley. If you are at all considering a BMW 5- Series, Lexus G Series, Audi A6 or Mercedes -- you owe yourself an M45 test drive.

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  G35 Driver - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By JNWFLY1 - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Great driving and fantastic styling. Acceleration and handling are fast and smooth. Automatic shifts very smoothly, but wish I waited for the manual, as theres a lag when shifting with the manumatic. Only disappointment has been with the quality of interior materials, which scuff & scratch easily, and the placement of a couple of the interior controls. For example, the power seat controls are on the right side of the drivers seat, next to the cup holders (which dont fit the "Infiniti" coffee mug). The electric controls end up being a perfect place to spill coffee and crumbs. Otherwise, This car is awesome.

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  Worth The Price - 2007 Infiniti G35
  By Steven Ang - April 10 - 7:33 am

  Looked into the is250, Mercedes c320, bmw 330, Audi a4, Audi a4, and this was the best of its class imo. outperforms all of the vehicles power wise, although handing in the bmw was great better than the g35. this is a great buy for an entry level luxury car, and id highly recommend getting the premium package with it that includes the moonroof, 6 disc, 10 speaker / 3 subs made from BOSE, bluetooth, heated seats, heated mirrors, homelink, etc all for like 2500 extra which imo is cheap for what you get out of it.