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:

• 

  a BMW with a 50% discount - 2008 Infiniti M45
  By Ray Libaad - January 12 - 4:20 am

  I bought this after testing the 550i. outstanding performance. Handles like a sports car but rides like one (19"wheels). Interior is quiet and serene at high speeds. I find myself regularly doing 100-120mph without even feeling it. Exhaust note is sweet. The best low beam headlights in any car Ive driven (the road is evenly carpeted with bright white light) but strangely very lousy high beams. Leg room in the front and back is class leading

• 

  infiniti-hard to deal with - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By michelle - January 10 - 4:53 am

  things keep breaking on this car and infiniti does nothing to help. I have had to buy brakes and rotors every 20,000 miles..first there was a recall and they paid for it. 2nd time there was no recall anymore, and somehow there never was one, and i had to pay. actually they told me i was lucky that i was going 20,000 miles cause most people only go 15,000. Infiniti is terrible to deal with when a there is a problem.

• 

  Comparison: 3.7 VQ, 3.0tt, 3.0tt Red Sport - 2017 Infiniti Q60
  By Dan - January 1 - 6:21 am

  This review is for the Red Sport AWD Q60. I test drove the 300 hp version (for a week) and I decided to buy the 400 hp version. The 300 hp VR feels similar to the 3.7 VQ engine in overall power (I had a 2014 Q50); with more low end torque on the VR that runs out of juice at around 4.5K, while the naturally aspirated VQ is still going strong to 6.5K. The VR will be quicker off the line, and will feel faster when driving around town. The Red Sport version, on the other hand, is an entirely different animal. Much quicker from stop and awesome when needing to quickly merge with oncoming traffic on highway ramps in Chicagoland. There is a slight turbo lag right off the line and the transmission can be slightly sluggish when shifting in lower gears. Using the paddle shifters make this issue much worse, so Id just keep the car in automatic and in Sport + mode for the quickest shifting. The only way that you even notice any of this is because the VR engine in the Red Sport is so much quicker off the line than the older VQ engine; which had the same 7 speed auto transmission. I would make three suggestions with regards to choosing options for the Q60. First, youll want blind spot monitors and driver assistance features; as it is saved me MANY times from changing lanes into a car that was riding behind me in my blind spot. The Q50s visibility was fine without this feature, but the more sexy Q60 profile has one major limitation; massive rear quarter blind spots. Also, the around view monitor allows you to park this car effortlessly, without curbing your wheels. Second, if you enjoy performance oriented driving, Id skip the Direct Adaptive Steering. Version 2.0 is better, but it still needs further refinement. The standard electric steering is quite good; much better than the older VQs hydraulic rack. Most reviews of this car that complain about the Q60s steering have a fully loaded Q60; with the DAS option. What a shame, as the standard rack is excellent. The only trade off is that you do loose some additional features that are packaged with DAS (adaptive cruse control, lane keeping, etc.). However, Infiniti still gives you 2 settings for the electric steering; standard and sport, which is great and fine for most people. Third, please consider changing out those horrible run flat OEM tires! The handling, ride quality, steering, and braking all improve significantly. A tire change completely transforms this car. You have no idea how well this car can perform with better tires. The Run Flats on the Red Sport can kick the back end out of the car when you take a sharp turn and it will hydroplane in heavy rain. I wouldnt even attempt to use these in the snow. Cornering also feels unstable with stock tires and the steering is way too heavy. Did I mention that the ride is brutal with the Run Flats, even in the "comfort" mode? Before I changed the tires, I considered returning the Q60 due to the very harsh ride quality. This would have been a huge mistake! As with the DAS optioned on almost all test cars, all reviews that Ive read that complain about both the handling and the ride quality... are also using the OEM Run Flats. (Continental DWS 06s go very well with this model). Also, I must say that I am happy the the gas millage. I average 23 mpg with mixed highway / city driving. I got 21 mpg with the 3.7 VQ. Mileage actually improved with the addition of 72 hp! Thanks twin turbos and better cooling. Lastly, if you shop around you can get some really great deals on this car. (A well-optioned Q60 Red Sport AWD can be had for the mid-50Ks). Cross shopping, I felt that I would probably need to jump to around 80k+ to improve on this cars performance. Even then, you may not be able to match the Q60s good looks. Yes, Im looking at you Lexus LC! Oh, one last comment, the sport seats in the Q60 are amazingly comfortable compared to my older Q50s, and even the current Q50s, seats. No back problems at all on a 750 mile one-day drive!

• 

  Rust machine - 2001 Infiniti QX4
  By Rob - December 27 - 2:43 am

  The QX4 has been very reliable for me, but its not my everyday drive vehicle. Ride is real rough in the back and the cabin is a bit small, but at the time that i purchased it, there were not a lot of options in mid-sized SUVs. For a vehicle that mostly sits in a garage, around 6 yrs old it has had a lot of rust issues, mainly behind the fender flares and the running board. Infiniti would not do anything for me and wanted $1100.00 for new running boards. So I had a body shop redo the metal for the running boards for around $200.00 each. I do think I will by infiniti again, because they did not stand behind the rust guarantee. A $40,000.00 vehicle should not have rust that much so soon.

• 

  265,000 miles - 2002 Infiniti Q45
  By q45owner - December 23 - 9:02 am

  I have owned this car (Sport) since 9-2005 when I bought it from the first owner w/ 40k on it. It has been very reliable car to own. It handles well and has great accelertation. At 265k there are no rattles and the car rides very quite. The V8 does burn oil. But it is the same since I got it. This is a common issue w/ these cars.

• 

  Lemon - 2001 Infiniti I30
  By Jean McDonald - December 19 - 11:23 pm

  I purchased this car new. It drives good handling is excellent, fuel economy good, this vehicle was great until it got to 65,000 miles then it started to come unglued, it now has 85,000 miles on it now, sensors are going out one after the other, struts gone, front axles out now, brake calipers replaced, catalytic converters replaced to many items to list have been replaced, am trading it in for a Ford as soon as I get it out of the shop.

• 

  Preety Good - 2003 Infiniti M45
  By robertem1 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my M45 4 months, and 5K miles. I took a long trip out west with it and got to work it hard. I got excellent mileage (23-24) at highway speeds. I love the power and can almost get the numbers that the magazines do. It handles very well at triple-digit speeds and is smooth and quiet. I experienced a problem with the tire pressure monitor, but once reset, it worked just fine. The interior looks very classy and elegant. The only things that I dont like are the transmission shifting and lack of bass in the stereo. It is just a shade short on headroom too. I will live with that for the $18 K under the Cadillac I WAS going to get.

• 

  Full sized touring classic - 2000 Infiniti I30
  By yUngstar - December 17 - 8:26 am

  I purchased the car from a buddy of mine with 170K on it. I noticed that the belts needed changing right away and wasnt too sure about the ride, but was told the suspensions may need to be replaced in the next couple of years. Since I have owned the I30t have noticed some deserting things, such as the CD player not working a grinding in the front caliper and jerking from the engine on occasion.

• 

  4 door sports car - 2008 Infiniti G35
  By grnone - December 14 - 4:20 pm

  I had an M35 prior to this and believe it or not I like the G35 much more. Great power, handling and braking; it feels like a 4-door sports car. Looked at BMWs and the other usual suspects but there is no comparison when it comes down to price.

• 

  1 yr of owning - 2001 Infiniti I30
  By yjmontreal - December 5 - 1:53 am

  purchased 1 yr ago at 117,000km. now at 130,000km. had to replace alternator. CEL comes on and off telling O2 sensor is bad. car pulls good when you floor it but during normal throttle, car feels heavy and big. turning circle is very big. fuel economy isnt great. regular can be used but premium recommended. Very good on highway cruising. long list of options but the material quality isnt up to acura/lexus. doesnt have MIST wiper operation that sweeps only once (even civic has this feature). need to turn on the wiper and turn off for occational wiper sweep. Trunk space is HUGE. interior space is HUGE as well. Standard HID is good but need more brightness.