Current National Infiniti G35 Promotion:


1.9% Interest Rate for up to 36 months for qualified buyers (Infiniti Financial Services)

or

Lease for $349 per month for 24 months.  Call the Internet Desk 480-240-3527 for details.

Consumer Reports Summary:  2008 G35 Sedan

The G35 is a quick, sporty, and pleasant car. The 3.5-liter V6 is punchy and refined, and the automatic is exceptionally smooth and responsive. Handling is quite agile and predictable. The ride is taut yet comfortable. All-wheel drive is available on the G35X sedan but returned 1 mpg less than the RWD model, which got 19 mpg overall. The interior has been further revised with better materials and improved controls.

Road Test

Tested model: 2008 Journey sedan, 3.5-liter V6, 5-speed automatic
Tested tires: Goodyear Eagle RS-A, size P225/55R17 95V

The freshened G35 is now top-rated in this class.

Quick, agile, and sporty, it's a driver's car that is pleasantly refined and rides comfortably. But both the cockpit and rear seat are snug and the trunk is small. The all-wheel-drive G35X (which we also tested) is just as good with a slight loss of fuel economy and a few thousand more on the sticker.

The Driving Experience

The ride is firm, but nicely controlled with bumps absorbed reasonably well. There is no discernable ride difference between rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive versions. The cabin is quiet, with muted road and wind noise and an engine that sounds invigorating. The G35 is nimble in routine handling, with responsive steering and little body lean. On the track, the G35 handled like a sports car with high cornering limits. With well-tuned stability control, both versions posted a high speed in our avoidance maneuver. The 306-hp, 3.5-liter V6 is smooth and refined, with stronger performance than some V8s. Expect 19 mpg overall on premium fuel, and 1 mpg less for AWD models. The five-speed automatic transmission is responsive, downshifts quickly, and allows for manual overrides. A six-speed manual is available on rear-wheel drive Sport models. Brake performance was excellent, with short, controlled stops in both wet and dry tests. The standard HID headlights reach a good distance with excellent intensity.

Inside The Cabin

Leather, wood, and plastics are of a high quality and fit together well. The cabin is cozy, but there is adequate room for taller drivers. The telescoping steering wheel tilts and the instrument cluster moves with it. Visibility is mostly good but restricted to the rear. A backup camera is optional. The front seats are firmly padded and supportive, with a generous range of adjustment and power lumbar support. The rear seats are comfortable for two adults, although foot room is tight. The steering wheel can be programmed to rise out of the way to ease entry and exit for the driver. The multifunction knob and an array of switches can be intimidating, but hard keys can directly control most audio and climate functions. Gauges are clear and well lighted. You don't have to take your hand far from the wheel to access onboard computer information, such as fuel economy and miles to empty. A hard drive can store about 200 hours of music. Destinations can be entered into the optional navigation system through voice recognition. Interior storage is limited, and the glove compartment is small. Trunk room is just adequate and the rear seats do not fold. There is a lockable pass-through for longer items.

Safety Notes

Curtain head-protection air bags, extending to protect outboard occupants in both rows, and seatback-mounted side-impact air bags are both standard in the G35. They supplement required front air bags and three-point seatbelts in all seats. Front seatbelts have adjustable upper anchors for getting a safe and comfortable fit and are equipped with pretensioning and force-limiting devices to control belt slack and forces during a crash. An occupant classification system for the front passenger seat is designed to turn off the front air bag for that seat if it detects that a child is seated there. The front air bag will also not deploy if the seat is unoccupied. Front seat head restraints are tall enough for most even when fully lowered to reduce rearward head travel and whiplash injury; they also lock in a raised position. Front restraints are active: they move forward in response to the force from the occupant against the seatback to reduce head movement still further. Integral restraints in the rear seats are tall enough to provide protection.

RELIABILITY

We expect reliability to be better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey.