Best Reviewed
Sports Sedans
- Best sports sedan overall 2011 BMW 3 Series sedan *Est. $34600
- Sports sedan value 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan *Est. $34200
- Luxury sports sedan 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan *Est. $49400
- High-performance sedan 2011 BMW M3 Sedan *Est. $55900
Get info about new reports and updates
- Comfortable, luxurious cabin
- Smooth, powerful engines
- Variety of features
- Available all-wheel-drive (AWD) for both V-6 and V-8
- Busy, button-heavy instrument panel
- Lack of manual transmission
The Infiniti M received a styling update for 2008, which gave it a smooth, sophisticated look that some reviewers call handsome, but others call too plain. The Infiniti M35 (*est. $41,450 to $44,250) is powered by a 275-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, while the Infiniti M45 (*est. $49,100 to $50,550) has a 4.5-liter V-8 rated at 325 horsepower. No manual transmission is offered. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but a sophisticated AWD system is available with either engine. Critics say the Infiniti M's cabin is comfortable and feature-laden, but the number of buttons on the center stack can be confusing. Reports indicate that either Infiniti M model, with their much lower price and comparable equipment, are excellent alternatives to the BMW 5 Series (*est. $44,600 to $83,900) or the Mercedes E-Class (*est. $51,200 to $85,300). The Lexus GS (*est. $44,550 to $55,800) and the Cadillac STS (*est. $42,390 to $53,360)are recommended as smoother, quieter choices.
Edmunds.com provides the best general review of the Infiniti M. Consumer Reports gives valuable historical reliability data along with its informative review. Also useful are well-written road-test reviews by Kelley Blue Book and Cars.com, which gives the M its "Best Bet" endorsement.
Our Sources
1. Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com editors provide a well-rounded summary description of the Infiniti M35, as well as a similar but separate review of the M45. Though the M is touted as a "luxury sport sedan front-runner," it is noted that the M's suspension and steering feedback is on the harsh side, and that road noise is evident inside the cabin.
Review: 2008 Infiniti M35 Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Editors at Consumer Reports base their road-test review of the Infiniti M on 2007 test cars, which are basically similar to 2008 models. Data on historical reliability collected from survey data is also featured.
Review: 2008 Infiniti M Review, Editors of Consumer Reports
3. Cars.com
Cars.com includes the Infiniti M on its "Best Bet" list, which includes 32 vehicles that excel, according to editors. A detailed evaluation of the M35 (which includes some notes on the M45) reports that the V-6 engine provides plenty of confident power (while the M45's V-8 is said to add brute force). Better-than-average reliability data on the M35 is also cited.
Review: 2008 Infiniti M35, Kelsey Mays, May 14, 2008
Editors call the Infiniti M "a sport sedan with plenty of room, spirited performance and loads of comfort and convenience touches." Negatives include the "understated" styling and lack of a manual transmission. Specifications, photos, safety features, predicted resale value and more data is included.
Review: 2008 Infiniti M35 4-Door Sedan Review, Editors of Kelley Blue Book
ConsumerGuide.com gives the Infiniti M its "recommended" rating for 2008, a step below the ""Best Buy"" rating it earned in 2007. This report briefly rates each detail of the M, including its pros and cons. Editors mention the Infiniti M in the same breath as its German competitors, but note that the M suffers because of its "numerous buttons" and poor fuel economy.
Review: 2008 Infiniti M Full Review, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Apr. 30, 2008
This review is a short, descriptive write-up based on other published reviews as well as the editors' own time behind the wheel of the M35 and M45. Called "a satisfying driver," the M is praised for its smooth power, comfortable interior and reliability. Editors find the styling appealing, but note the button-happy interior as a negative.
Review: 2008 Infiniti M35 Review, Editors of TheCarConnection.com
Sports Sedans Runners Up:
6 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Car and Driver…
6 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com…
6 picks by top review sites.
5 picks by top review sites.
5 picks by top review sites.
5 picks by top review sites.
3 picks including: FuelEconomy.gov, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety…
3 picks including: Car and Driver, Cars.com…
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.