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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  nice car - 1999 Infiniti I30
  By be careful - August 22 - 10:53 am

  my family has been driving this car for about 2 years now (35000 miles) and we have not experienced a single mechanical or cosmetic problem. Great commuter car (25mpg) with heated seats, temperature control and bose stereo. I consider this a luxury car for midgets, anyone over about 5ft 10in has very limited space to move. interior materials are much nicer than a GTP and the i30 costs alot less than the 325i. I have never regretted myself buying the i30. However I still find myself dreaming of driving a convertible with the top down on a curvy road just as the sun is setting after a beautiful day. that i would trade my i30 for.

• 

  Nice but... - 2003 Infiniti G35
  By DaveVI - August 14 - 2:23 pm

  I ran to my dealer to get the G35. I spent a few hours going over every detail, driving the car, looking it over. Then I got back in my Lexus and passed on the deal. The designers have clearly studied Audi and Lexus, especially Audi. There are so many Audi-isms in this car that I lost count, but suffice it to say that Infiniti did a fine job engineering this cars interior, especially the clever use of space! ItÂ’s the immaturity of the interior, the lack of refinement and the less than substantial feel and touch of the materials that got me to stay with my GS300. I still think the G35 is the best Infiniti theyÂ’ve ever built, -the best designed, and the most fun, but not for me.

• 

  Beautiful Car but Proceed with Caution - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By Terrapin - August 14 - 11:56 am

  My G35 exceeds expectations in interior exterior styling and has good performance to boot, but the brakes are not good. This is a hidden expense. You will need to replace the brakes and rotors every year at $1,000 a pop. Make sure you think about this before buying. I also had to replace my alternator after two years, although I didnt pay for it because it was under warranty. Id suggest getting a BMW if you want a stylish, performance car that is more reliable.

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  Luxury SUV for 8 people - 2010 Infiniti QX56
  By Sandeep - August 8 - 10:26 am

  I have driven large SUVs for over a decade. The QX56 has exceptional drive, handling and manners for vehicles this size. The electronics are very well equipped and the controls are easy to understand. The build quality is very good and I could not find any other SUV that compares. Given the low cost of this compared to the Cadillac, Lexus, Mercedes, its unbeatable. To top it all, no need to buy any extra options - it comes with everything as standard !

• 

  Needs Work - 2004 Infiniti I35
  By Price Glazer - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Although the I35 looks great there are a few features that need a great deal of improvement. The GPS system is just a toy compared to other cars in the same category. The turning radius needs a lot of work.

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  1 Year mark and still turning heads - 2004 Infiniti G35
  By cestmoi - July 31 - 10:00 am

  When I first got the car, I was always approached. Now, a year later, I still get those looks. The car is great, handles well, and very reliable. For the winter (I live in NYC) I opted for 18" Toyo Winter tires, this was I would not be limited to driving it in the snow. Highly recommend

• 

  4 Stars for Fun To Drive - 2013 Infiniti G Sedan
  By ELR - July 27 - 9:55 pm

  I got my G37 in December 2013 when dealer had incentives, it is a base Journey with Sunroof. This car is great to drive but there were a few features that it lacked. The 7-speed adaptive transmission was not very solid and had a rough ride to it especially when driving in city streets. The infotainment was very outdated and lacked blue tooth streaming and auxiliary cord (which is a deal-breaker for my next car); these features are standard with the Navigation package. The best part about the car is the Nissan VQ engine. This 3.7 Liter 328hp VQ37VHR naturally aspirated engine is a lot faster than my friends $40k Audi A4.

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  Love It!!! - 2005 Infiniti G35
  By Gbreeze - July 23 - 9:50 am

  I just bought this car used with 50k miles. We have been getting a lot of snow lately and my AWD G35 handles great in snow. My driveway drifts every year and I didnt even shovel it out. I wanted to test my G35 and it got right out. The car looks awesome as well, and the 280 hp is sweet too. This is the closest thing to German engineering. The handling, performance, horsepower minus the reliability problems that German cars are known for. I wish it had better gas mileage but I know its my fault because I have a heavy foot at times.

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  This is a serious sport sedan - 2006 Infiniti G35
  By tonto - July 15 - 2:20 pm

  Bought this car for my wife in March of 06. I get to drive it on weekends only and I really look forward to doing so. The motor in this vehicle is all about acceleration and revving to the redline. Sure, fuel economy is not good, but it gets better as the miles go by. Were now getting about 21 mpg combined highway and city driving. That may not sound too good but you have to be realistic when considering the fact that you have a sports car engine under the hood. We have had no mechanical issues so far at 21k plus miles. The brakes are still in good condition. I was worried when we bought it considering all the past issues with this model but the rotors look perfect and the pads look new.

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  Quality, but worth the price? - 1997 Infiniti QX4
  By P. Wadlow - July 11 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I love to set out for the day and cruise around with the sun roof open. However, when we are on the local pot-hole filled roads we cannot wait to get out of the car. It makes a mountain out of a mole hill. This is really amplified in the backseat where head room is already lacking. We do love to turn up the Bose system and enjoy the open road.