2009 Infiniti G37

At Autotropolis.com, Jeffrey N. Ross writes, "Infiniti's G37 may be a stylish, luxurious sedan, but the new engine is the car's ace in the hole." He says the 328 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque blow away the competition, noting that the G37 Sedan's 3.7-liter V6 provides outstanding performance and acceleration compared to the Audi A5 (a sport/luxury coupe in the same general price range) and Acura TSX sedan.

Infiniti's 3.7-liter V6 engine, paired with a new 7-speed automatic transmission, boasts improved performance, emissions and fuel efficiency over the outgoing 3.5-liter version. The fastest acceleration times for the Infiniti G37 are clocked by Motor Trend reviewers, who report acceleration from zero to 60 in "only 5.0 seconds, with the quarter-mile obliterated in just 13.5 seconds at 105.3 mph."

Fuel economy ranges from an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city / 25 mpg highway / 20 mpg combined for the rear-wheel drive Sport with a manual gearbox to 18 city / 26 hwy / 21 combined for the rear-wheel-drive car with the automatic. All-wheel drive models land in the middle at 18 city/ 25 hwy/ 20 combined.

Car and Driver's Erik Johnson says, "Although the Infiniti can't quite measure up to the dynamic grace of the best-in-class BMW 3-series, the G37 offers BMW 335i performance at a 328i price."

"The G37 sedan provides a sportier driving experience than any competitor other than the BMW 3-Series," writes Kirk Bell of MSN Autos. He says what's most noticeable is the steering, which is very direct and makes the car react quickly to driver input.

Exterior styling carries over largely unchanged from 2008, which isn't a problem for reviewers, who tend to like the Infiniti G37's clean expanses of sheetmetal, crisp contour lines and subtle trunklid spoiler, combining good taste with the appropriate amount of sportiness.

"The cabin is definitely this car's strong suit," says Autotropolis.com's Ross, calling the instrument panel "pure sports car," as is the low seating position, flowing center stack and instrument panel, which give the cabin a true "cockpit" look and feel.

"Infiniti offers some of the best cabin tech in the automotive world, and the 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan exemplifies a balance of modern convenience and sport driving prowess," says CNET's Wayne Cunningham. He observes that the optional hard drive-based touch-screen navigation system operates quickly and converts text-to-speech. Other notable options include an iPod interface, integrated XM satellite radio and a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive. Some reviewers express disappointment in the audio and climate controls, which are very similar-looking and thus a potential source of confusion. 

The G37's passenger compartment makes a good impression on most reviewers, though. Car and Driver's Johnson writes," The handsome interior uses superb high-quality materials including leather seating … and rear-seat comfort and space are excellent."

Some reviewers feel the G37's back seat is a tight fit for three and that the rear seat trunk pass-through that's used instead of folding seats is a downside. Trunk space measures in at 13.5 cubic feet -- slightly larger than the BMW 3 Series' 12 cubic feet.

The Infiniti G37 sedan is offered in four well-equipped trim levels: G37, G37 Journey, G37 Sport and the all-wheel-drive G37x. The base G37 includes leather upholstery, keyless entry/start, high intensity discharge xenon headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels. The G37 Journey adds dual-zone automatic climate control, 6-disc CD changer and automatic headlights. The G37x features Infiniti's all-wheel-drive system and heated front seats. The G37S Sport is the only Infiniti G37 model with a standard manual transmission, plus sportier suspension settings and a limited-slip differential.

Standard safety equipment on all trim levels includes six airbags. Crash-test ratings show a strong report card for the Infiniti G37 lineup. The Infiniti G37 earns a perfect five-star rating from the National Highway traffic Safety Administration in all categories except rear crash protection, where it's rated as marginal. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests were equally impressive, with the G37 sedan earning the highest possible "good" rating in both the frontal offset impact and side impact tests. Several reviews highlight comprehensive road tests and solid advice for buyers including, TheCarConnection.com, AutoWeek.com, Car and Driver and MSN Autos.