2009 Infiniti M35x Reviews

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2009 Infiniti M35x 16 22
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16 City | 22 Highway

Vehicle	Min	Max
2009 Infiniti M35x	N/A	N/A
2009 Infiniti G37x	N/A	N/A
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class	N/A	N/A
2010 Acura TL	N/A	N/A
Average	Not Available

Vehicle	Min	Max
2009 Infiniti M35x	N/A	N/A
2009 Infiniti G37x	N/A	N/A
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class	N/A	N/A
2010 Acura TL	N/A	N/A
Average	Not Available

MPG	city	hwy
2009 Infiniti M35x	16	22
2009 Infiniti G37x	N/A	N/A
2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class	N/A	N/A
2010 Acura TL	18	26
Average	17	24

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Summary
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Introduction
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Walkaround
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Interior Features
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Driving Impressions
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Final Word

2009 Infiniti M35x Review Summary

What reviewers liked most about the 2009 Infiniti M35x:

The 280-hp V-6 offers gobs of go across the rev band and rarely leaves you thinking that you shoulda had a V-8.- Automobile
The stiff superstructure, with wheels stretched to the corners and the engine behind the front wheels, adds up to a package more than capable of hitting the sweet spot in balance, ride and handling in a sport-luxury sedan.- AutoWeek
[The Sports Package] sounds gimmicky, but it helps you to storm through decreasing-radius corners more smoothly.- Automobile
On narrow, twisty stretches of road, hustling the M along at higher than customary rates seems easier than it should be, almost effortless.- AutoWeek
...we were impressed with its absolute sure-footedness during our drive through sopping wet wine country. Under ideal conditions, it splits torque 50/50 front-to-rear, but can put 100 percent of the power at either end, depending on conditions.- The Car Connection
The buttons [on the dash's control panel] are large, almost too large, but it makes things as easy to operate as any on the road right now.- The Car Connection
...we soon discovered that the adaptive transmission logic-when left in automatic-interprets your intentions accurately and performs so well in that mode that one soon forgoes the manumatic system in order to keep one's hands on the wheel.- Car and Driver

What reviewers liked least about the 2009 Infiniti M35x:

This car has lots of style, but it's generic style.- Automobile
Like its G35 sibling, there's some trailing-throttle oversteer to be had in tight turns, but just as in that car, the slide is easy to catch.- Car and Driver
...the rear center seat is much less inviting, with a broad transmission tunnel consuming much of the floor space, forcing the middle passenger to splay his legs and have his feet share the front seatback cutouts with the outboard passengers.- Car and Driver

2009 Infiniti M35x Comparisons:

...the cabin materials, if not best in class (Audi), are on par with Mercedes and superior to Cadillac.- Automobile
It's a much roomier, more contemporary design that should be competitive with the Acura RL and Audi A6.- Consumer Reports
As with the G35, the M35/M45's engineers have targeted the German competition, and the resulting car compares favorably with the BMW 5-series, the Mercedes-Benz E-class, and the Audi A6, not to mention the Cadillac STS, the Acura RL...- Automobile
The M's chassis is a stretched, updated version of the G35's FM platform, which Infiniti says has 30 percent greater torsional rigidity and 1200 percent - yes, 1200 percent - more front lateral rigidity than the old car.- AutoWeek
Actually, on Napa Valley roads that twist up and down like a grapevine, even the base M35 delivers body control and steering feedback that are at least equal to those of the Audi and the Mercedes, which is to say quite good but a little soft, and the chassis is more tied to the task of hard driving than is that of the front-wheel-drive-biased Acura.- Automobile

Best one-liners about the 2009 Infiniti M35x:

[the M35/M45 is offered with] option packages that should satisfy the tech geeks and audiophiles alike.- Car and Driver
Though one or two drives aren?t enough to draw more than a sketch, you will be empowered enough by the experience to be impressed.- AutoWeek

2009 Infiniti M35x Walkaround

The Infiniti M follows through with a distinct Infiniti identity heralded by the introduction of the stylish G35. The M looks like a bigger brother to the G35 sedan. It has the distinct Infiniti badge located in the center of its grille, with familiar horizontal bars and a chrome lip at the top. The edge of the hood cuts into the headlight cover with three jeweled lamps behind, creating a sophisticated yet fairly aggressive look.

The back edge of the hood is high enough to hide the windshield wipers, and it helps the top of the fenders flow back and up into the A-pillar. The wedge-like side profile continues front to rear and ends in a short, high rear deck, creating something like a hatchback look in the rear. Short overhangs at both ends of the body help give the M its aggressive look.

For 2008, subtle but significant revisions better emphasize the M's identity. The clean new 2008 grille abandons the previous fussy, semi-visible vertical elements, leaving nothing to distract from Infiniti's trademark horizontal blades. The new front bumper houses a hungry-looking center air intake, outlined in bright metal and repeating the shape of the grille, flanked by bolder fog lights stretching the outboard edges of horizontally split brake nostrils. It's all far more visually interesting than the plain rectangular slots below the bumper of last year's model. Side sills have been re-shaped as well, and last year's body-color side molding is replaced by bright metal.

2008 Sport Package models now have a look all their own, with unique front fascia that gently undulates in plan view, while turning the base-level lower-center air intake upside down and eliminating its bright molding, making it more a mirror-image of the upper grille. So while the eye tends to sweep across the width of the base model, the Sport always draws your gaze back to its protruding center. It's more race car, less luxury car, which no doubt is exactly what Infiniti intended. Black-grilled lower brake nostrils and blacked-out headlight bezels add to the road-racer effect. Also for 2008, a red S badge identifies Sport Package cars.

For 2008, slimmer, simpler taillights have been used, plus a wider deck lid molding, bring a sharper focus to the M's pert tail, without compromising its Infiniti identity. The change required new rear quarter panels, no small investment. This is an improvement over the pre-2008 models where we thought the rear view was its weakest.

Also for 2008, the base-level 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels emulate the five-split-spoke pattern and titanium-look finish of the 19-inch Sport Package wheels (which are new as well, but changed more subtly). These are particularly striking, as each spoke is made from two thinner spokes.

2009 Infiniti M35x Interior Features

Infiniti likens the shape of the M dashboard to an elongated and flattened letter M. It's unusual, but in a positive manner. The switches and knobs for climate controls, sound system and other functions are all placed on an almost horizontal surface in the center of the dash, below a large LCD screen and dual vents. They're all easy to see and operate. This big multi-function control knob in the center is simpler and more intuitive than the systems in some of the other cars in this class, such as the BMW 5 Series, thanks to Infiniti's clear layout and markings.

New for 2008 are Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges surrounded by gear-like rings.

Infiniti, like an increasing number of automakers, has gone quaint on us. Harking back to olden days, one has to push a starter button to fire up the engine. That's possible because the M comes with an intelligent key that does not have to be inserted in the ignition. The car senses its presence in your pocket or purse and automatically unlocks the doors for you. We're not sure we like this technology, though many owners do. On the upside, the key can also be programmed to deliver various functions such as pre-opening windows and setting seat and mirror positions. On the downside, we've heard lots of reports of tow trucks responding to calls from owners of all brands of cars with intelligent key problems.

The standard M35 and M45 have real rosewood trim with a subdued semi-gloss finish. Sport models have genuine aluminum trim in place of the wood, although the rosewood is available as an option. The aluminum trim has a new ribbed texture for 2008, while the rosewood is a bit more brown and less rosy. Chrome trim rings around buttons and gauges subtly enhance the luxury look.

The driver's seat proved comfortable, especially with the Sport Package, which adds larger side bolsters. It's easy to find an ideal position with the 10-way power adjustments. The ventilated seats warm or cool the derriere with a fan. Sport Package M's also feature unique stitching on the steering wheel and shift knob. There's lots of technology available here and it works well. The Bose sound systems are exceptionally good; audiophiles will find them worth the price. New for 2008 are a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback, and XM NavTraffic real-time traffic reporting.

The navigation system also impressed us. We like using the birds-eye view, which presents the map in a 3D format that creates a sense of distance and perspective. The voice activation system works well, too, if not quite as well as the system in the Acura RL.

Rear-seat passengers will be happiest with the Premium Package, which adds heated, reclining back seats. The controls are located inside the rear-seat center armrest. The package also includes a DVD system with an LCD that folds out of the ceiling and is controlled with a remote. Separate rear-seat climate control is included with this package. Even without the Premium Package, however, the rear seats offer plenty of leg and headroom.

Trunk capacity is 15 cubic feet, about average for this size car, and the opening is on the small side. The trunk lid has scissor type hinges, which, unlike gooseneck hinges, don't intrude into the usable space. A pass-through opening is provided for carrying skis and other long items.

Overall, we found the living quarters in the M very pleasant. People who bought the 2006 model agreed. They loved its interior and features, according to a study by J.D. Power and Associates, the market-research firm. In Power's Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) study, the 2006 M cars ranked first in the mid-size premium segment, ahead of the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Lexus GS.

2009 Infiniti M35x Driving Impressions

The Infiniti M does not drive like a big car. Part of the reason is aluminum. The hood, trunk lid and doors are all aluminum, reducing the body's weight and helping lower its center of gravity. Also, the electrically controlled rack and pinion power steering is precise, with good road feel.

The M35 has one of the stronger V6 engines available, and it propels the M35 at a decent rate. The five-speed automatic transmission works well and shifts quickly. Drivers who want more control can use the manual mode, which works better than similar systems in some other cars, thanks to a short-throw shift lever more akin to that of a manual transmission in a sports car.

The M45 is a rocket, and it gives you the urge to floor the gas pedal just to feel the exhilarating acceleration from its V8 engine. Its EPA-estimated highway fuel mileage is only a couple of miles per gallon lower than with the V6. City mileage is the same.

The Sport Package includes what Infiniti calls Rear Active Steer. This system turns the rear wheels up to 1 degree, which isn't enough to be seen, but it helps turn the car into a corner more quickly and helps stop it from sliding out on exiting. Without trying two cars back to back it's difficult to determine how effective the rear-wheel steering is on the road. We haven't done that, but we have driven the Sport model and found it to be very stable, handling more like a good lightweight sports sedan in lane-change maneuvers.

Those who live in slushy, snowy climates should be wary of the Sport Package, however. These cars are equipped with sticky speed-rated tires, which are designed for lots of grip on dry pavement, and aren't much good in snow. Better to choose the all-wheel-drive M35x or M45x, which come with the same general-purpose, all-season tires as the base models. And with all-wheel-drive, the x-models add an element of confidence and security in sloppy climates, without a significant toll in fuel economy.

The M35x and M45x come with the same electronically managed ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel-drive system found in the G35x sedan and the FX35 crossover. We were less impressed with the overall effect of the M35x. The strength of the V6 engine is lots of power and torque, which in turn means good response and acceleration. Yet this is neither the most fuel efficient nor the smoothest V6 on the market, and that bit of not-so-luxurious coarseness seemed to be magnified in the M35x's all-wheel-drive powertrain, or at least in our test car. The AWD system itself is not as smooth or seamless as those in some other luxury cars, such as Audi's quattro system. During hard bursts of acceleration, the Infiniti's front wheels can generate a front-wheel-drive-style torque-steer effect, in which power from the engine twists the steering wheel in the driver's hands. Moreover, as power spreads out amongst the four wheels, it can create a driveline lash that comes across to the driver as a jerk somewhere in the bowels of the car. It adds up to a less-than-luxurious experience we haven't noticed in rear-drive Infiniti Ms. However, the M35x could still be a good choice for wet or snowy locales.

We haven't tried the new V8-powered M45x, but we have to wonder if its even more potent engine wouldn't exacerbate our complaints about the V6-powered M35x.

The RearView monitor, included in the navigation system, is impressive. It has a camera located in the back bumper that projects a view toward the rear onto the in-dash LCD whenever the driver shifts into Reverse. It's a great safety item as it can help a driver see objects or children behind the vehicle that are otherwise hidden from view. Infiniti's version goes one step further and displays a line on the screen that indicates the course of travel as the steering wheel is turned. It's a neat idea that works. Drivers still need to pay

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Infiniti M35x reviews

2009 Infiniti M35x Review Summary

What reviewers liked most about the 2009 Infiniti M35x:

What reviewers liked least about the 2009 Infiniti M35x:

2009 Infiniti M35x Comparisons:

Best one-liners about the 2009 Infiniti M35x:

2009 Infiniti M35x Introduction

2009 Infiniti M35x Walkaround

2009 Infiniti M35x Interior Features

2009 Infiniti M35x Driving Impressions

2009 Infiniti M35x Final Word

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