Infiniti G37 Review

2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Nissan launched its upscale Infiniti division in 1989 with two unique models and a polarizing ad campaign. Nearly 20 years later, Infiniti continues to blaze its own trail in pursuit of luxury, performance and style. The Infiniti G37 luxury sport coupe is a prime example of this corporate philosophy.

Blessed with a split personality, the rear-wheel-drive G37 will deliver you to work in luxury during the week and then clip apexes all weekend without breaking a sweat. It's related to the second-generation G35 sedan but is differentiated by a larger 3.7-liter V6 engine and a shapely coupe body style built on Infiniti's enhanced FM platform. The styling echoes the sedan in front, but finishes with a smoother, seductively zaftig rear end.

The list of available entry-level luxury sport coupes is a short one, but it's typically dominated by elite Teutonic nameplates. In readying the G37, Infiniti honed it on test circuits throughout Europe, including Germany's famed Nürburgring. This athletic chassis, along with the G's attractive sticker price, distinctive interior appointments and ample array of technology, makes it well prepared for battle in this class.

Current Infiniti G37

The Infiniti G37 coupe debuted for the 2008 model year. It is available in three trim levels: the base G37, the G37 Journey and the G37 Sport 6MT. In addition to the long list of standard features packaged with each trim level, several options are available a la carte. Audio upgrades, hard-drive-based navigation and adaptive cruise control will entertain the tech-savvy, while the available Sport Package (standard on the G37 Sport 6MT and optional G37 Coupe Journey) will rouse the interest of more aggressive drivers thanks to features like a limited-slip differential, a sport-tuned suspension and brakes, sport seats and bigger wheels. Stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags are standard on all Infiniti G37s, and a pre-collision preparation feature is optional.

The G37's exclusive 3.7-liter V6 boasts a very healthy 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. In base and Journey trim, the G37 comes with a paddle-shifted five-speed automatic transmission, while the Sport 6MT features a six-speed manual. Both transmissions have their devotees, but the clutch take-up in the manual is a little too abrupt. Of course when a vehicle has so few faults, it's easy to identify them. Acceleration and mileage numbers are comparable between the automatic and manual, so the choice is a matter of personal preference.

The Infiniti G37 coupe is based on Infiniti's enhanced FM (Front Midship) platform; the company says the structure is 36 percent stiffer than the one used for the previous G35 coupe. The suspension is comprised of a double-wishbone design in front and a multilink setup in the rear. The ride is firm on Sport models, but only occasionally sports-car harsh. A four-wheel active steer system (4WAS) is available for those obsessed with pushing the technological envelope, but early reports have been mixed, with several drivers noting diminished steering feedback in vehicles equipped with 4WAS.

If you're familiar with the current sedan, you won't feel like a stranger in the G37. Well, in the front seats anyway. Like most coupes in this class, rear-seat room is tight and the steeply raked back window intrudes on headroom. The trunk has only 7.4 cubic feet of space, but the rear seatbacks fold down when not in use, allowing skis and other bulky items to pass through into the cabin. Brushed aluminum (wood is optional) accents the dash, doors, shifter and center stack. The ubiquitous Infiniti analog clock is neatly integrated into the cockpit and switchgear is intuitive to use.

Overall, the Infiniti G37 stands shoulder to shoulder with of all the players in the entry-level sport coupe segment. Consumers in the market for such a vehicle would be wise to put it at the top of their to-drive list.

Past Infiniti G37s

Although considered an all-new model, technically the G37 coupe is the second-generation version of the G35 coupe. The difference in name is mostly related to the arrival of a new, larger engine. Introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, the first-generation G35 has been selected as an Edmunds.com Used Car Best Bet and is a serious contender for anyone in the market for a pre-owned sport coupe.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.