Infiniti G Coupe Review

Think of the Infiniti G Coupe as an athlete in a tuxedo. Sharing its platform and basic engine structure with Nissan's Z car, the G Coupe boasts the handling and performance of a sports car, but with the posh interior and creature comforts of a luxury model. It's an intriguing combination, and with ample feature content to go with a reasonable price, it gets even better.

Through two generations, the G Coupe (like its sedan sibling) has been a prime choice for a luxury sport coupe. It's also an alternative to more dedicated sports cars, offering a more livable and comfortable nature while giving up little in terms of ultimate thrills. Indeed, whether new or used, the G Coupe is an all-star.

Current Infiniti G Coupe
The current Infiniti G Coupe is available as a single model dubbed G37, which is broken into five separate trims. The base car comes standard with items that are typically options on similarly priced luxury cars, including xenon headlights, keyless ignition/entry and leather upholstery. Stepping up to the Journey trim adds niceties like a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth and an iPod interface. The G37 Sport gets a six-speed manual transmission, summer tires, a limited-slip differential, upgraded brakes, a sport-tuned suspension and sport seats along with some otherwise optional luxury items like a navigation system and a Bose stereo.

The G37 IPL (Infiniti Performance Line) essentially has all the Sport's features along with a more powerful engine, a choice of automatic or manual transmission, unique styling tweaks and red accent upholstery stitching within the cabin.

All G Coupes are rear-wheel drive except for the G37x, which has all-wheel drive. Power comes from a potent 3.7-liter V6 that produces 330 horsepower, though in the high-performance IPL trim it gets bumped up to 348 hp. Base, Journey and G37x models come standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission featuring manual-shift paddle control and rev-matched downshifts. The Sport comes with a six-speed manual transmission, while the IPL offers a choice between the automatic and manual.

The G Coupe's cabin features user-friendly controls, excellent build quality and a handsome design -- the latter highlighted by such items as the car's leather-accented magnesium transmission paddle shifters and Japanese "Shodo-brushstroke finish" aluminum trim (wood trim is optional). The front seats are comfortable and well-bolstered, and the available sport-styled seats offer even more aggressive bolstering, though they may be a bit too snug for larger drivers. As expected, the backseats are rather cramped and best suited for little kids or shopping bags.

While it definitely has the luxury part of the equation down, it's the G's ability to be a dynamic driving machine that has made it a stand-out for driving enthusiasts. The G's handling is praiseworthy, as the coupe attacks curves with aggression and precision, yet remains poised and compliant when driven over less-than-perfect pavement. Its acceleration also provides a bang for your buck that really can't be matched in this class.

Used Infiniti G Coupe Models
The current-generation Infiniti G Coupe was introduced for 2008. Initially, a four-wheel active steer system (4WAS) was available for those obsessed with pushing the technological envelope, but reactions were mixed, with several drivers noting diminished steering feedback in cars equipped with 4WAS. It was eliminated after '09.

Changes since have been relegated to additional navigation package features (Bluetooth streaming audio, for instance) for 2010. There was a low-production 20th Anniversary model that year, however, while the IPL showed up for 2011.

The original Infinti G Coupe was sold from 2003-'07 as the G35. It looked similar to its successor, but was more angular and, more notably, had a less luxurious interior, with lower-quality materials. A less powerful V6, different chassis tuning and a less stiff structure also make it a less advanced driver's car, but for the time, it was tough to beat and a true performance bargain.

As its name would suggest, the G35 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6. It produced 280 hp with the automatic and 298 with the manual. These horsepower numbers dropped to 275 and 293 for '07 and later because of a change in SAE testing procedures -- actual output did not, in fact, change.

There were a few changes to the G35 coupe during its lifetime. Inside, it benefited from a redesigned instrument panel and improved manual transmission with a lower shifting effort. For 2006, Bluetooth and a rear-steer system similar to 4WAS were added to the available features list, while the Sport package gained a unique front fascia and a big rear spoiler.

In our reviews, our feelings toward this Infiniti G35 coupe were quite similar to those of the current car. The main, significant difference was an interior filled with several cheap surfaces and some unintuitive controls. Still, if you're looking for a more budget-conscious alternative to luxury coupes or certain sports cars, the G35 should make a great used car purchase.

Read the most recent 2013 Infiniti G Coupe review.

If you are looking for older years, visit our used Infiniti G Coupe page.