Sage Automotive Group
2008 Infiniti G35
World-class sports sedan. edited by New Car Test Drive
Walk Around
When the Infiniti G35 was redesigned for 2007, it was an evolutionary styling change from the first-generation model (2003-06).
The grille has crossbars that flatten at their extremes, an expression the car's stylists liken to sword blades. Compound, multi-element, L-shaped headlight housings wrap around the fenders. A one-piece fascia with three large air intakes across its lower reaches embraces the front end. The tops of the front fenders flow over into the hood, emphasizing the G35's width and enhancing its planted look.
The side view presents a relatively long hood, steeply raked windshield, fast backlight and brief rear deck, giving the G35 more the look of a sporty coupe than the four-door sedan it is. Recessed door handles sit almost flush with the sheetmetal. Tires snugly fill slightly flared, circular wheelwells. A rocker panel accented by a deep indent along the bottom of the doors pulls the sides of the G35 closer to the road.
Large, LED taillights repeat the L-shape of the headlights, crossing over from the fenders into the trunk lid. The trunk lid dips several inches into the rear fascia, compensating somewhat for the restricted opening imposed by the short rear deck. Proper dual exhaust tips exit beneath each side of the fully integrated rear bumper.
Interior
2008 Infiniti G35
The interior is lively and friendly without being fussy or overly busy. There's luxury aplenty, but tempered by a focus on function, on connecting the driver to the car while at the same time providing passengers a pleasant and comfortable environment and entertaining diversions.
Audio and climate controls are conveniently located out in the open, on the face of the center stack, audio above and climate below, as they should be. A large, multi-function, knob-like control in the panel beneath the screen at the top center of the dash controls some functions, but its duties and operational planes are limited and minimally distracting.
The navigation system is controlled by this knob. Voice commands can be used for many operations. The navigation system offers a Birds Eye, which gives a perception of distance, incorporating a horizon and, depending on the available mapping data, three-dimensional building footprints for the local surroundings. It's neat to look at, though the regular overhead view the system uses works better for us. The XM Satellite Radio system provides real-time traffic updates, where available.
The cabin is trimmed with aluminum alloy, finished in what the designers call Washi, a texture intended to recall traditional Japanese rice paper. The optional African Rosewood trim looks as authentic as it is. Violet hues dress up white-on-black gauges.
The seats are comfortable, with thigh support a bit above average; even so, we wish the manual thigh-support extensions on the Sport Package seats were standard or at least available across the line. The adjustable torso and thigh bolsters on the Sport seats do what they're supposed to but favor slender bodies. The gas pedal and the rest for the driver's left foot are on different planes, leaving the knees at different angles, which is not the most comfortable position for long drives or for spirited motoring on winding roads.
The Bose Studio On Wheels delivers a sound that's richer, fuller, more intricate and crisper than any system we can recall in cars costing thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars more than the G35. Although we're not prepared to go as far as Infiniti and compare it with a custom-configured, high-tech, in-home system, we stepped directly from a G35 sedan into a $100,000-plus European sports coupe with that marque's top-level sound system and could not distinguish a significant difference between the two. The G35's system's digital processing and eight-channel equalizer no doubt play a huge part, but our ears told us that almost as important is the Bose-designed speaker array. Infiniti claims, for instance, that the G35 is the first in the industry with a three-way, 10-inch subwoofer in each front door; the remaining eight speakers are traditionally located, with another 10-inch woofer in the rear parcel shelf, a 6.5-inch, full-range speaker in each rear door, three mid-range speakers across the front of the cabin, and a one-inch tweeter in each A-pillar.
Interior roominess is competitive for the class. Wide rear door openings leave room aplenty for legs, knees and feet when getting in and out.
Trunk space is competitive for the class.
Cubby storage includes a respectable glove box. The front center console provides as many as three cup holders, one inside the covered storage bin, and a can holder is molded into the hard-plastic map pocket in each door. Two cup holders pop out of the front of the fold-down, rear seat center armrest; a unique compartment masked by a Velcro-type flap on the right side is the surprise. The back side of each front seatback has a magazine pouch.
