Best premium four-seat convertible 2009 BMW 3 Series Convertible *Est. $44550
Best premium roadster 2009 Porsche Boxster *Est. $46600
Bargain four-seat convertible 2009 Mini Cooper convertible *Est. $23900
Best roadster value 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata *Est. $21750

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2009 Infiniti G37 convertible

*Est. $43,850 to $43,900

Reviewed August 2009

Curvaceous body
Smooth ride
Quiet cabin
Growling V-6
Very good handling and braking
Power folding hardtop
Long warranty
Costs less than a comparable BMW

Virtually nonexistent trunk space with top folded
Very cramped backseat
A bit less speed and grip than G37 coupe
Relaxed performance compared to BMW

Where to Buy

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Our Analysis

"Seductive" is the word reviewers use most often to describe the new Infiniti G37 convertible -- both for its sexy shape and its tempting price. Experts say it's not quite as sharp-driving as the top-rated BMW 335i convertible (*Est. $50,700), but it comes close and costs less.

The Infiniti G37 and the BMW 335i convertibles have a lot in common. Both offer retractable hardtops, comparably powerful V-6 engines and rear-wheel drive. The BMW still holds the performance edge, testers say; it's 300 pounds lighter and it shows. The BMW also has a backseat people can actually fit in, and a trunk that can hold something bigger than a footlong sub when the top is stowed -- two things you won't get with the Infiniti, critics say.

On the other hand, the Infiniti is more luxurious, according to reviews. Its standard leather seats are heated, unlike the BMW 335i convertible's. Satellite radio and a rearview camera come standard on the Infiniti, and its climate control self-adjusts -- for example, it automatically pumps out more hot air if you're driving fast with the top down on a cool evening. Reviewers note that the Infiniti offers all of this for the same price as the lower-level BMW 328i convertible (*Est. $44,550), which has a smaller engine and vinyl (sorry, "leatherette") seats.

Still, the Infiniti G37 convertible's handling isn't quite as precise as a BMW drop-top's, according to reviews. And it's not quite as sharp as the lighter, stiffer Infiniti G37 coupe, which makes Car and Driver's 2009 10Best list. "Don't misunderstand; this car can hit a mountain road with some serious speed, and in fact it's very easy to drive quickly," Scott Oldham of Edmunds.com's Inside Line says of the G37 convertible. "It's just not as fast or fun as a G37 Sport Coupe."

But reviews agree the Infiniti G37 convertible isn't about pushing the driving limits. It's about open-air driving in the lap of luxury, and on that note it succeeds. Lavish options include cooled front seats, a built-in hard drive for your music and a Bose stereo system that automatically adjusts depending on speed, noise and hardtop position.

The Infiniti G37 convertible is powered by a 325-horsepower, 3.7-liter, V-6 engine. The base model (*Est. $43,850) has a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and delivers 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, according to Infiniti. The similarly-priced Sport model (*Est. $43,900) substitutes a six-speed manual transmission with sport-tuned steering and different wheels and brakes; expect 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

We found safety and reliability ratings only for the Infiniti G37 sedan, not the convertible, which just came to market. The sedan enjoys good crash-test ratings except for a "marginal" performance in rear-end crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The sedan is also one of the most reliable in its class, according to major owner surveys. The Infiniti G37 convertible carries a longer warranty than most: four years/60,000 miles basic, six years/70,000 miles powertrain.

ConsumerGuide.com tests both the manual- and automatic-transmission Infiniti G37 convertibles, rating them on 11 criteria (such as acceleration and value) and comparing them with a class average in a chart format. Track and/or road test-based reviews from Edmunds.com's Inside Line, Car and Driver, Autoblog.com, Popular Mechanics and Jalopnik.com have more narrative detail. Safety ratings at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and IIHS -- and reliability ratings at J.D. Power and Associates -- are based on the G37 sedan, not the convertible.

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Our Sources

1. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com testers find the 2009 Infiniti G37 convertibles mostly comparable to their impressive coupe and sedan siblings, except for their nearly nonexistent backseats and trunks.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Not Dated

2. InsideLine.com

Inside Line editor Scott Oldham says the Infiniti G37 convertible barely loses a step compared with the coupe version, and it feels good cruising with the top down. He includes plenty of details about trunk space, the stereo, the retractable hardtop, etc.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37 S Convertible Full Test and Video, Scott Oldham, April 6, 2009

3. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

Car and Driver says the Infiniti G37 convertible edges up toward the top-rated BMW 3 Series, with more luxury at a lower price. However, the heavier G37 isn't quite the performer BMW is.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible -- Short Take Road Test, Eddie Alterman, June 2009

4. Autoblog.com

This tester centers his review of the Infiniti G37 convertible around the premise that it would be the perfect car for Miss Moneypenny from the James Bond films. He says it's heavier than the G37 coupe but offers similar power and handling, making it a "sensible choice."

Review: First Drive: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, MI6's Sultry Secretary Has a New Ride, Damon Lavrinc, April 10, 2009

Like other reviewers, Ben Stewart finds the Infiniti G37 convertible heavier and a little slower in curves than the G37 coupe. However, he says the convertible is more about open-air refinement than pushing the driving limits.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Test Drive: Is the Newly Topless Coupe Still Spicy?, Ben Stewart, March 27, 2009

6. Jalopnik.com

This reviewer drives the Infiniti G37 convertible at a press event in California. He says it's pretty and versatile, but needs to define itself. "If it pushed the limits in one specific direction at the expense of another, we'd probably love it," Wes Siler says.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible: First Drive, Wes Siler, March 27, 2009

7. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn't crash test the convertible or coupe versions of the 2009 Infiniti G37, although the sedan version earns perfect five-star ratings in most front, side and rollover tests. It earns four stars for passenger protection in a head-on crash.

Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

8. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The 2009 models of the Infiniti G35/G37 are not among the Top Safety Picks in crash tests here, thanks to marginal rear crash protection. Ratings are based on tests of the 2007 sedan model.

Review: Midsize Luxury/Near Luxury Cars, Editors of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

9. J.D. Power and Associates

The Infiniti G sedan -- part of the same series as the Infiniti G37 convertible -- earns superb reliability ratings from owners, according to this chart by J.D. Power and Associates. Another chart on this website shows that Infiniti cars in general suffer from far fewer problems than the average car.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G Sedan, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates