Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) has honored the Infiniti G37 Sedan with its ALG 2008 Luxury Brand Residual Value Award - recognizing Infiniti as the luxury brand forecasted to hold its value better than any other 2008 Luxury Brand. ALG, the standard for Residual Value projections in North America, uses an econometric model to predict residual value and considers many factors of the G37 Sedan and its competitors including pricing (including MSRP), incentives, vehicle characteristics, market trends, sales strategies and economic variables. For more information about the ALG Residual Value Awards, see www.alg.com.
June 3, 2008: JDPower and Associates announced today the results of their 2008 Initial Quality Study. Infiniti, always known for quality and durability, was recognized again in the IQS. Infiniti, as a brand, vaulted from 9th overall (out of more than 40 brands) to 2nd overall. Only Porsche had a better overall brand rating. The IQS is the “gold standard” for auto manufacturers. The industry takes this study very seriously. Consumers rely on JDPowers for fair and unbiased evaluations of products, services and companies. Infiniti had 5 of its 6 models place either 1st or 2nd within their respective segments.
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EX35
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1st Highest Ranked among Entry Premium Vehicles
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G35
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2nd among Entry Premium Vehicles (tied with G37)
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G37
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2nd among Entry Premium Vehicles (tied with G35)
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M
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1st Highest Ranked among Midsize Premium Cars
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QX56
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2nd among Large Premium Multi-Activity Vehicles
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The G35 Sedan (G37 Sedan & G37x Sedan) is now top-rated in this class. Quick, agile, and sporty, the Infinity G Sedan a driver’s car that is pleasantly refined and rides comfortably. But though the cockpit is ample, the G Coupe's rear seat is snug and the trunk is small. The G37x, all-wheel-drive version, is just as good as the rear-wheel drive G37 model (which we also tested) with a slight loss of fuel economy and a few thousand more on the sticker. A more powerful 3.7-liter V6 and seven-speed automatic are new for 2009. Hence, this car is now called G37.
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 G's engine is upgraded to 3.7-liters and 328 hp for 2009. The five-speed automatic transmission is responsive, downshifts quickly, and allows for manual overrides. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard for 2009. A six-speed manual is available on rear-wheel drive Sport models. Infiniti G Sedan brake performance was excellent, with short, controlled stops in both wet and dry tests. The standard G37 HID headlights reach a good distance with excellent intensity.
Leather, wood, and composites in the G37 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.
Curtain head-protection air bags, extending to protect outboard occupants in both rows, and seatback-mounted side-impact air bags are both standard. 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 outboard seats are tall enough to provide protection, but the center rear seat lacks a head restraint and is too low. Driving with kids: It may prove difficult to secure rear-facing seats in the center rear of the G37 as they easily tilt and can move within the wide belt spacing and narrow seat hump. Some rear-facing infant seat bases may also be difficult to secure in the rear outboard seats when installed using the seatbelts, as they also can tilt. Front-facing seats should prove secure and there are three top-tether strap anchors on the rear parcel shelf. LATCH installations should also provide a secure fit; there are lower LATCH anchors in the rear outboard seats. The LATCH anchors are difficult to access, however, as they are recessed and nestled against the firm seatback cushion.
We expect reliability to be better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey.
