2006 INFINITI G35x Road Test

Walkaround

The G35 gets revised styling for 2006, but the changes are subtle. You'd almost have to park an '06 next to an '05 to see that the tail lights are different, with the white reverse lenses more subtly integrated. And projector-beam headlights are now standard up front.

The styling of the G35 sedan was freshened for 2005 with new headlights, revised tail lamps, new bumpers, and an aluminum hood and trunk lid. In the front valance, air intake ports were enlarged. The changes were subtle, but give the G35 sedan a more substantial look and emphasize its resemblance to the G35 coupe. From the front, it looks sportier, more upscale, more expensive. From the rear, it looks tidier and classier.

Coupe or sedan, the G35 grabs your attention with its stacked, vertically oriented headlamps. Fog lamps are integrated into the complex headlamp cluster, adding to its aggressive appearance. The raised front fenders were inspired by a catamaran, and look great from both outside and inside the car. Those fenders also manage airflow by reducing spillage off the sides of the hood. The short rear deck ends in a crisp crease.

Aerodynamics played a strong role in the design, especially underneath the car. Extensive use of diffusers and deflectors helps the G35 achieve 0 degrees of front lift, reducing drag and wind noise at high speeds and contributing to stability. With the optional rear spoiler, 0 degrees of rear lift is achieved. While front-drive sedans use rear spoilers for decoration, the rear-drive G35 benefits, particularly in a wet, high-speed turn. The G35 sedan has an exceptional coefficient of drag of just 0.27 for reduced wind noise and increased fuel economy.

The G35 coupe shares visual elements with the sedan, as well as its 112-inch wheelbase. Yet the coupe is shorter overall than the sedan (182.2 inches versus 186.5), wider (71.5 inches versus 69.0), and lower (54.8 inches versus 57.7). And while the coupe has a lot in common with Nissan's 350Z, the two differ in several important ways. The G35's wheelbase is 8 inches longer than the Z's, and the G35 is nearly 17 inches longer overall. While the Z is a hatchback, the G35 coupe has a separate trunk. And while the Z has no rear seat, the G35 coupe is a two-plus-two, providing tight accommodations for back-seat passengers.

The G35 sedan and coupe share the same rear-wheel-drive mechanical platform as the Nissan 350Z sports car and the INFINITI FX35 and FX45 crossover luxury/utilities. This platform was specifically designed for mounting a V6 longitudinally behind the front axle in the so-called front-mid-ship position. (Front-wheel-drive sedans typically mount their engines sideways, in front of the front axle.) Moving the engine rearward improves the balance of the car, and is key to the G35's excellent handling. Rear-wheel drive is preferred by performance driving enthusiasts for its purer steering response and its inherent capability to turn the car using the gas pedal.

A long wheelbase (112 inches between front and rear wheels) contributes to the G35's stability, especially at high speeds. A wide track (the distance between the left and right wheels) adds to its stability in corners. Short front and rear overhangs, a hallmark of the widely heralded BMW 3 Series, improve handling by moving more weight rearward.

These design elements help the G35 lead the near-luxury class in interior room and trunk volume. The location of the G35's compact V6 also allows for a low, aggressive hood line, which flows into the sharply angled windshield and contributes to the G35's sporty, powerful silhouette.

From a functional standpoint, we prefer the exterior door handles on the coupe over those on the sedan, which aren't as easy to operate.

Interior Features

The INFINITI G35 is roomy and comfortable, and the sedan boasts a roomy back seat and a big trunk. The G35's interior was improved for 2005, offering a higher quality look and feel, along with a redesigned instrument panel and console area.

We found good headroom for a 6-foot 3-inch driver even with the optional sunroof, along with ample leg, shoulder and hip room. The interior is designed around the driver and succeeds in this regard. Luxury features abound. The interior is nicely laid out and, for the most part, offers sound ergonomics and easy of operation.

The steering column tilts and telescopes. The instrument pod moves when adjusting the tilt of the steering column, improving gauge visibility for drivers of all heights. INFINITI's steering wheel is not a thing of beauty, but features nicely designed cruise controls and audio controls, including a power button for the audio, convenient when you want immediate silence.

The gauge cluster is legible and are brightly illuminated during the day. INFINITI's trademark analog clock graces the dash. A thin panel on top of the dash houses digital readouts for compass and climate settings.

The audio system is not particularly attractive and looks downscale for this car. Ergonomically, it's a disaster, with buttons scattered around on the unit and on the surrounding silver dash panel, so you have to look at it and search for the button you want to press. At least stations can be set up by holding one of the preset buttons down. The CD changer has the capability to play MP3 encoded discs, and the optional Bose stereo sounds great with crisp bass and highs. Volume automatically adjusts for speed.

The climate controls are mounted high on the center stack; like the stereo controls, the switches were improved for 2005 for ease of operation and aesthetics.

Seats for the driver and passenger are designed differently: In the driver's seat, a center mound of high-damping urethane foam, backed by a special spring design, provides support for sporty driving. The front passenger's seat has a flatter lower cushion and is shaped to allow a more relaxed posture. The controls for the power driver's seat are located on the right side of the seat and are a bit awkward; the manual adjustment for rake is on the left. Opt for the sedan's Premium Package, and a two-person memory function means that you won't have to use the controls as often.

The sedan's rear seats are comfortable for a 5-foot 10-inch passenger, with plenty of leg, hip, shoulder and headroom, although knee room is limited when the driver's seat is set all the way back to accommodate a 6-foot 3-inch driver. Hidden front seat rails widen foot room for back-seat passengers. With the Premium Package, rear air conditioning vents help keep back-seat riders comfortable. The rear seat itself is contoured to resemble two wide bucket seats. With the Premium Package, the sedan's rear seats can be reclined.

Storage inside the car is limited. Two glove boxes are provided, but both are small, and the optional DVD navigation system ($2,000) fills the top one. A handy storage compartment on the top of the center dash offers room for wallets and such, but the navigation system replaces it with a clever pop-up display. Center console storage is partly taken up by a power plug that's handy for cell phones. Overhead are nice map lights and a sunglasses holder.

HomeLink is available to open gates and garage doors and turn on the house lights. Visor extensions help keep the sun out of your eyes. Interior door handles are easy to grab and the doors close with a nice thunk. The optional sunroof features one-touch open and close. It's not immediately obvious whether the doors are locked, however, something we've noticed on other INFINITI and Nissan products.

The sedan's trunk leads the class with 14.8 cubic feet of storage. A large pass-through in the center armrest acc