In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupes, Infiniti, Nissan

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

The Infiniti G35 coupe showed that Nissan's U.S. luxury arm could compete with the likes of Mercedes and BMW. Being mentioned in the same breath as those storied brands is nice, but Infiniti isn't looking to be class competitive; it wants to lead. Ghosn's guys rolled out the new and improved G37 Coupe for the 2008 model year with more power and a vastly improved interior while also delivering an entry price that undercuts the popular 335i coupe by around $4,000.

The 330-hp 3.7L V6 introduced in the G37 Coupe was a big improvement over the also competent 3.5L it replaced, but the carry-over five-speed automatic was holding back Infiniti's jewel of an engine. Nissan has rectified this shortcoming for 2009 with an all-new seven-speed slush box that promises faster shifts and improved refinement and efficiency. We got our hands on a brand new 2009 model to see if it has what it takes to put the G37 at the top of the entry-level luxury food chain. Hit the jump to see how Infiniti's coupe performed during its time in the Autoblog Garage.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• Top 10 Best Luxury Cars Costing $50,000 or Less
• Getting Car Loans for Bad Credit
• Carolyn Savage
• Clever BMW Billboard
• AutoblogGreen for 09.04.09

Related posts:

• 2009 BMW 7-Series
• Today In History: Inaugural Indianapolis Motor Speedway Race
• 2007 Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Lexus IS-F
• The Stunning BMW CS Concept
• If Biodiesel is in short supply where you live, why not make your own?

The Urban DINK: 2007 Infiniti G35x

At a wedding not too long ago, a fellow Urban DINK started quizzing me about the new BMW 3 Series and if it was worth the money. The new 3 Series is a great car, but if you have to ask “is it worth the money,” a car like the G35 is probably a better choice. Not because their prices are astronomically different; the 328 starts $1,500 higher than the G35, and the 335 and its larger engine are roughly $7,000 more.

No, it’s because, after a week in an all-wheel-drive G35x, I realized this car is almost as good as a 3 Series on equal footing. Sure, we beat the two together last fall, but on its own, with an automatic, I enjoyed the G35 almost as much as the 3 Series (the 335 with the new twin-turbo is just too amazing to beat out).

The interior quality is so much better in the new G35 than the previous model that, besides the window switches, I’d say it was more attractive inside than the BMW, and much more ergonomically pleasing. All the buttons on the center stack felt great, and the dial/knob/buttons for the navigation system had a nice weight to them. The steering wheel was well-balanced and full of useful buttons, and, as is true in most Infinitis, the most ergonomic features were the stubby stalks for the turn signals and wipers. They’re the perfect length with the perfect feedback. Sometimes it’s the little things.

My main beef my last time in the new G35 was the manual transmission, which I thought was a bit crude for a luxury sedan. It should be noted that three other reviewers at Cars.com all disagreed with me. My tester this week had the automatic with manual shift capability. I just left the thing in drive and let my right foot do all the work. The 306-hp V-6 engine is a thing of beauty. It sounds great, responds immediately and seems to deliver endless power. Getting onto the highway is just a blast. Then there’s the all-wheel drive, which held up in extremely icy conditions and unplowed alleys with near SUV-like confidence.

Nothing about the exterior really thrilled me, but the look shouted “I’m a luxury car,” with its large, chrome grille. When I valet parked at a nice downtown-Chicago restaurant, the guy in the red jacket kept it up front without any added monetary enticement, and that was during the nasty weather when the G35 had been caked with dirt. Still, the inside was what really sold me. The seats were nice, the gauges glowed a subtle blue and that center stack is one of the best I can remember.

As far as Urban DINK-itude goes, the G35x could win an award. If only we didn’t have a dog I’d think about getting one myself. The next person to ask me about a 3 Series might get a more definitive answer now.

*I apologize for the lack of images. Bad weather, a busy auto show schedule and forgetting my camera during Sunday errand runs are all to blame.

Related:
The Urban DINK: 2007 Audi S6
The Urban DINK: Acura RDX

Related posts:

• Nelson Supercars Builds a Crazy, 1,750hp Thing-a-ma-jig
• Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009
• Suburban Dad: Ford Expedition
• Start Your Engines - 2007 Bullrun May 11-18
• All-New 2008 Volvo V70

Related posts:

• ZR Auto Supercar Shop Photo Gallery by Jeff Cools
• VW Tiguan Coming to Market in Fall 2007
• Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Superveloce: Not to be called Supperleggera!
• Mini Whimsy
• Pink Ferrari 360 Modena Spider Pics

Top 10 Best Luxury Cars Costing $50,000 or Less

So you want to buy a luxury car but don’t want to end up spending more than $50,000? Check out Forbes list of the Top 10 best luxury cars costing $50,000 or less. Forbespoints out the luxury...

Related posts:

• 2009 Acura TSX pricing announced
• Hyundai to kill the Tiburon, Genesis Coupe is not a replacement
• Aston Martin DBS plunges into lake on set of new James Bond
• Spy Video: Lexus LF-A screams by
• The Tesla Model S Sedan: What Could Have Been [Tesla Model S Sedan]

Related posts:

• First autobahn speed limit imposed
• AC Schnitzer updates 6-Series package, offers 310-hp for the 635d
• Video: Audi RS6 Gymnastics ad - Performance in every part
• Carbonyte stretches the Smaaart ForTwo
• Ford pledges to reduce emissions by 30 percent