New G35: It doesn't get much better than this

When Infiniti introduced the G35 some four years ago, it became an instant hit, accounting for a third of the sales at the upscale division of Japan's Nissan. The entry-level luxury car was just one of many Nissan/Infiniti products from a company that was on the financial ropes and being pushed into the market by Nissan's new CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Ghosn's mantra: "There are no problems at a car company that good products can't solve." The new G35 helped solve Nissan/Infiniti's problems, along with fresh product line that included the return of the Nissan Z, Murano, Xterra and Altima and Infiniti FX35.

But that was four years ago, almost an eternity in automotive time, and the star at Nissan/Infiniti has begun to dim as sales have fallen below 2005 levels. Predictably, Nissan is responding. There's a newly designed Altima, Sentra and all-new sub-compact Versa for '07. From Infiniti, there's my test car for the week - the nicely updated, second-generation G35 sedan, which delights well beyond expectations.

So remarkably near perfect is the new G35 it comes close to rendering the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS and Cadillac CTS irrelevant. It offers as much cachet, more performance and attention to quality, and less deprivation all at a downright bargain price.

The G35 is seductively athletic in appearance with a style that's more evolutionary than revolutionary. The chrome slat grille with the prominent Infiniti logo is meant to resemble the razor-sharp edges of samurai swords.

Minor changes in the sheet metal are most noticeable in the subtle undulations of the curvaceous front fenders, one-piece fascia and swept-back multi-element headlight housings. The windshield is steeply raked and flows back to a short rear deck with a chrome-edged spoiler built into the trunk lid.

Tight-fitting wheel openings, LED taillights and chrome-tipped dual exhausts add to the terrific looking stance. It's classic versus extreme, yet enough to turn plenty of heads.

The instrument panel is wrapped with metal trim that Infiniti tells us is textured like fine Japanese rice paper. Optional African Rosewood trim is real. Both look great. Gauges have a fine dress-watch appearance with white-on-black illumination trimmed in violet hues. Beautiful.

A large knob on the dashboard intimidates because you have visions of BMW's dreadful iDrive system. Instead the multi-functional control located just below the navigation screen is easy to use with a simple menu of controls. Most controls - like the climate control and audio system - have their own knobs and buttons on the instrument panel.

My tester was equipped with an optional touch-screen controlled navigation system. All auto manufacturers would do well to make their navigation systems as easy and logical to use as Infiniti's BirdView system.

If you like gadgets and technology, there's enough here to satisfy: intelligent cruise control package, rearview monitor camera, lane-guidance system, compact flash slot for playing MP3 files, XM Satellite radio and a 9.5 GB music hard drive with Gracenote CD database, and keyless entry/start system.

But the hallmark of the new G35 is performance. Enthusiasts won't be disappointed. All G35 sedans are powered with Nissan's wonderful 3.5-liter V-6 engine now rated at 306 horsepower, up from 280 last year. All come equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode (except 6MT trims, which have a six-speed manual shifter). Traction and stability control are standard on all G35s.

Performance is incredible. The G35 will reach 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in just 5.5 seconds and cover the standing quarter-mile in just 13.9 seconds. This car screams.

Handling is remarkable with well-controlled body movement. Brakes are flawless. Some may find the ride too firm on Sport models.

The G35 sedan is available in five trim levels: base, Journey, x (all-wheel-drive), Sport and Sport 6MT. Base G35s come with 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon HID headlamps, leather seating, power front seats, automatic climate control and full power accessories.

Journey adds dual-zone climate control and six-disc CD changer. X adds all-wheel-drive and heated seats; Sport bumps up to 18-inch wheels, firmer suspension, bolstered seats and a sport steering wheel. And, Sport 6MT is a manual transmission.

While the G35 comes in either sedan or coupe, only the sedan has changed for '07. A new version of the coupe will follow later this year, and for now only comes with the smaller 293- and 275-horsepower engines.

The sedan seats five, but save the rear for kids or smaller adults. Trunk space is more than adequate for a vehicle this size.

Safetywise, all the expected seat belts and airbags - including full-length curtain and front-seat side airbags - anti-whiplash front head rests and even a first aid kit are standard.

For 2007, the new G35 jumps to the top of our entry-level luxury sedans and is close to perfection. Very close. Looks, quality, handling, acceleration, equipment and price - all exceptional when compared to the competition. Move over BMW, I'll take the G35.

 

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