Introduced as an early 2003 model, the Infiniti G35 has always polarized shoppers in the segment. It's agile rear-drive chassis and strong 3.5-liter V6 attracted enthusiasts seeking a less expensive alternative to the BMW 3-Series. However, many people shopping for a sedan with a price in the low-to-mid thirties, even those that were driving enthusiasts, were turned off by the Infiniti's subpar refinement and interior materials. My advice: get the dark interior, as dark shades make materials look richer than they are. Unfortunately, this did nothing for the circa-1982 orange-on-black instruments.

Well, for the 2007 model year Infiniti (i.e. Nissan) has redesigned the G35 sedan. (A redesigned coupe will arrive next year.) The new car promises a small improvement in sport coupled with a major improvement in luxury. But does the new G35 deliver on this promise?

I dropped by a dealer to find out. I wanted to drive the Sport version with a six-speed manual, but the only Sport they had was an automatic, and it was sitting in the showroom. So I ended up taking a brief drive in an all-wheel-drive G35x, which is available neither in Sport trim or with the stick. I plan to take a more extensive drive in a six-speed Sport once one arrives. So consider this review more of a preview.

Styling

Infiniti has shown a concept version of the next coupe, and it's a stunner. Similar to the current coupe, but with more rounded forums (like those of the larger M sedan) and additional dynamic detailing, it makes the current coupe, gorgeous as it is, look small and plain.

The sedan receives similar evolutionary changes to its exterior styling, but the results are less dramatic. The sedan, though handsome, has never been the stunner the coupe is, and the changes don't change this. Before seeing the car in the metal, I thought I'd find the difference more dramatic and enticing. But, no, the new styling doesn't make me desire this car.

Most surprising, a few times while at the dealer I confused the old car with the new one, and vice-versa, when glancing at them from the front quarter. I'm not usually one to do this. I've had similar issues with the Cadillac CTS and STS. With a careful look I can easily tell them apart. But with just a glance, no. I found myself looking at the headlights to tell them apart; the new G35's are much like those on the M.

The Sport supposedly has unique side skirts and fairings. Without parking them side by side, I don't notice the difference. I do notice the Sport's larger, sportier wheels. Like just about any car, the new G35 looks better with a larger, sportier wheel.

The difference inside is far more dramatic. The old G35's thoroughly idiosyncratic, somewhat downmarket interior is history. The new one resembles those in the M and Q. While no more stunning than the exterior--no breakthroughs in automotive interior design here--the new cabin is thoroughly suitable for a moderately expensive sedan. The materials are soft to the touch and look good, while the controls are designed to be clear and easy to reach and operate. No longer are some major controls on the right side of the center stack, an obvious cost-saving measure (they used the same center stack in right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive cars).

Rosewood trim is a $450 option on the non-Sport. Fans of wood will like this wood, as it is attractive and nicely shaped.

Accommodations

The original Infiniti G35 sedan had a unique driving position: you sat high above the instrument panel in a relatively narrow cabin. That in the new car is much different. You sit lower relative to a more massive instrument panel, and the cabin feels more spacious. In other words, you feel more like you do in the M and other larger sedans. Most people will prefer this change, as it makes the car feel more luxurious and substantial, but I personally miss the greater intimacy of the old cockpit more than a bit. Partly because of the change in driving position, I don't feel as connected to the car and the road in the new car.

The front seat is moderately comfortable, perhaps average compared ot others in the class. I've always wondered why the G35 coupe gets cushier, better-bolstered seats than the G35 sedan. Well, the new Sport includes a sport seat with slightly larger, firmer bolsters. Making the real difference, the both the cushion and seatback bolsters in the Sport can be pneumatically adjusted in and out, one-upping the current 3-Series Sport Package seats where only the seatback bolsters adjust. This feature should be in every performance car. That said, I prefer the seats in the 3, as they remain more supportive.

The G35 was significantly longer than direct competitors like the BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, and Audi A4, and used this to provide more rear legroom. The new car does about the same here, which gives it a significant advantage over the Lexus and Audi, but not so much the BMW (which has grown). Those seeking a truly roomy and comfortable rear seat will want the M, but the G's rear seat will do for two moderately-sized adults. The main problem I have with it is that the seatback feels overly reclined, and unlike before the Premium Package does not include a manual rear seat recliner. (I never understood the point of this feature in a compact sedan.)

The trunk remains just average in size. And, unlike in the German competition, you still cannot fold the rear seat to expand the trunk.

On the Road

The Infiniti G35 continues to be powered by a 3.5-liter V6, but the six has also been updated. Horsepower is up, to 306--which just happens to tie the 3.5 in the Lexus IS. I haven't driven the old G35 recently enough to say, but on the boards owners are reporting that the new engine provides a significantly firmer shove in the lower back. It's definitely quick, even saddled with the extra weight and drag of all-wheel-drive. But I remember the Lexus feeling stronger. And, now with twin turbos, the 2007 compact BMW sedan feels much stronger. Who'd have ever thought that 306 horsepower in a midsize sedan could be less than mind-blowing? Such are the times in which we live. At any rate, the Infiniti no longer has the large horsepower advantage it had four years ago.

More noticeable to me than the increase in power is the increase in refinement. The old 3.5 was a brash engine. With the throttle wide open, it produced the sort of roar I usually associate with unsophisticated American iron. Okay, not that rambunctious, but getting there. The new engine sounds much more like that in a Lexus IS, not silent but with no untoward notes.

The automatic transmission remains a five-speed, while BMW and Lexus have a six. Not a big deal. At least it's not a CVT, which Nissan is quite fond of these days. The Sport includes paddles on the steering wheel to manually shift the box.

The steering in the old G35 relayed every road surface imperfection, with kickback over the larger ones. Many people did not like this lack of refinement. Well, it's gone in the new G35. The new steering system feels much mroe like that in the M35. Moderately quick and reasonably accurate, it also manages to provide some feedback while filtering out the kicks people don't want. I'm going against the flow here, but I personally prefer the quicker, more alive feel of the old wheel. Maybe with more seat time I'll fall more for the charms of the new system.

The all-wheel-drive car I drove felt very balanced in turns, with perhaps a touch of understeer to keep things safe. I expect to prefer the more dynamic feel possible with the rear-drive chassis, especially when hooked up to a manual transmission. I've driven a 3-Series along the same roads that I drove this car, and was much more enamored with the 3. The BMW felt magical, especially when pushed hard. I wasn't able to push the G35 as hard, at least not this time around, but it feels like a larger, cushier car than the BMW. Very competent, but not quite enthusiastic. In general it feels like a 40/60 combination between the old G and the current M.

When I say the new G35, feels cushier, this doesn't mean it provides a flawless ride. If there's anything that'll hold this car back, it's ride quality. Over tar strips and divots it can react quite sharply; a BMW feels more poised when hitting a break in the pavement mid-turn. Nothing awful here, mind you, but not as good as I expected--even though all Infiniti sedans I've driven in recent years have behaved much the same way. (Neither Infiniti nor I seems to be learning from the experience.)

It's unclear whether the suspension in the Sport is even stiffer. Given that there is a Sport and a non-Sport, I'm surprised they didn't use softer suspension settings in the latter.

Noise levels are considerably lower in the new car. Like many of the other changes, this will please most buyers while making the driving experience less visceral. I'm not entirely happy with it, but am more than ready to find the six-speed Sport more to my taste. In all fairness, my initial drive in the old G35 yielded many of the same criticisms. They went away when I was able to drive a six-speed.

Infiniti G35 Price Comparisons and Pricing

Infiniti has greatly improved many aspects of the car, at least from someone seeking luxury and refinement in a $35,000 sedan, so the price must be way up, right? Nope. The price has pretty much stayed the same. Depending on the equipment level, it can be a bit higher or a bit lower, but you're clearly getting a lot more car for about the same amount of money.

Compared without options to a Lexus IS 350, the new auto trans G35 is $4,270 less before adjusting for feature differences, and about $2,800 less afterwards. Adding just a sunroof (standard on the Lexus) changes these numbers to $2,800 and $3,000.

Doing the same with a 335i yields $8,500/$7,200 before the sunroof, $7,100/$7,400 afterwards.

Clearly, the G35 remains positioned to win over people focused on price. And if you want a strong engine combined with either a manual transmission or all-wheel-drive (but not both), the Lexus is automatically out of the running.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the G35:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/G35.php

Last Words

I went to the dealer expecting to be blown away by the new G35, as I've always been a fan of the old one and the new one promised to be better in every way. The good news is that I found a car that has become much more luxurious and refined. The bad news is that I found it less fun to drive, at least for me.

The driving position and steering in the old G35 reminded me of those in older compact sport sedans. Antiquated in some ways, perhaps, but immediate and sporty. The new G35, in contrast, is thoroughly up-to-date.

This should, of course, substantially broaden the appeal of a car that has already outsold any previous Infiniti by a wide margin. People who used to buy an Acura TL to get a proper interior will no longer have to do so. The main thing holding the new car back could be its ride quality, but the Acura is not creampuff in this area, either, and handles with considerably less balance.

The above conclusions are subject to revision following a test drive of a six-speed G35. So stay tuned.

A Note on Infiniti G35 Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a G35 rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Infiniti G35 reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need reliability data on all cars--not just the G35--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

If you're an Epinions member, and you want to receive an email alert from Epinions when I post a new review, click here.

Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Acura TL Type-S review 2007
Audi A4 2.0T review
BMW 335i review
Cadillac CTS review
Lexus IS 350 review
Amount Paid (US$): 35000